Luguet saw floating homes as a way to make communities more resilient. He teamed up with Nicolas Derouin, an executive who shared his passion for the ocean and renewable energy, to create Arkup in 2016.
"We wanted to provide the next generation of floating homes or house boats that would be self-sufficient, sustainable, and also mobile," Derouin told Business Insider.
Luguet and Derouin partnered with the Netherlands-based architecture firm Waterstudio, which specializes in designing floating homes.
Both Arkup and Waterstudio envision a future where entire neighborhoods are built on the water in major cities like New York and Miami.
At 4,350 square feet, the home contains a customizable layout of four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. It's also mobile, so it can be driven to new locations.
The wind speed of a Category 4 hurricane ranges from 130 to 156 miles per hour.
Although the home is designed to bob with the water during a storm, Derouin said the studs help stabilize the structure to prevent motion sickness among residents.
"We wanted [residents] to be as safe and comfortable in the house as they would be on land," he said.
Scientists predict that the US could see nearly 6 feet of sea-level rise by the end of the century under the most extreme climate conditions. Arkup's homes would clear these water levels, Derouin told Business Insider.
The homes also have zero emissions and are powered by rooftop solar panels.
The company hopes to use modular construction to build multiple units on the water. Derouin said Arkup has been in talks with private island owners about developing floating communities.
The company is also interested in creating more affordable models, such as a floating complex of student homes. Derouin said Arkup is looking into building a "ranch" of smaller yachts that are each around 1,600 square feet. By building smaller, he said, Arkup can reduce its price tag.
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