If you thought Soho House was exclusive, wait until you see this. ArkHAUS is an upcoming members-only social club that’s as innovative as it is stylish, offering multiple solar-powered electric-powered vessels that can be connected to create large floating spaces for working, socializing and enjoying the view – all while supporting local marine research neatly under the ship.
ArkHAUS is the latest creation from co-founders Sam Payrovi and Nathalie Paiva, who together formed CSTM HAUS, which originally started in the Faena neighborhood of Miami Beach. CSTM HAUS has since moved to a more permanent location in New York’s Meatpacking District, on the fourth floor of the “little iron building”.
As experts in coordinating designated spaces for coworking, exhibitions, private events and exclusive socializing, Payrobi and Paiva had their next idea for a members-only club as a floating house flew past them. on the water near Miami Beach.
That houseboat was the floating houseboat Arkup 75 – a 4,300+ square foot vessel powered by solar panels and propelled by electric thrusters. In an interview with ElectrekPayrovi told us that he and his co-founder immediately set out to buy the Arkup 75 and turn it into a floating club, but they weren’t successful because it had already been sold to a private owner.
So the two moved on to the next approach. They spoke directly to the manufacturer, Arkup, and designed their own floating social club – thus ArkHAUS was born.
ArkHAUS is the “world’s first floating solar social club”
The first iteration of the ArkHAUS Social Club is scheduled to open in Miami in early 2023 and will consist of four separate ships (2,120 square feet each, including decks) combined to provide members with an 8,480 square foot club that also includes a 40 x 40 foot swimming pool in its center. Discover the club in 3D here.
As we mentioned earlier, the creators of ArkHAUS specialize in social clubs, so the solar and electric expertise is in the hands of Arkup, which manufactures and supplies the floating vessels and their technology. That being said, Payrobi and Paiva emphasized sustainability and clean energy when designing ArkHAUS.
Each ship is fitted with bifacial solar panels on its roof which have a battery capacity of 12kW, combining for 48kW across the entire ArkHAUS club – far more energy than needed for its daily operation. These solar canopies also help power each vessel’s electric propulsion, which consists of a 10 kW bow thruster and a 50 kW steerable electric thruster.
Although ArkHAUS floats, it will do so above water most of the time to avoid the swaying of ocean waves. Retractable spuds can currently go up to fourteen feet below the surface to hold the club a few feet above the water. We were told that these spuds can also be customized to go further if needed.
The first ArkHAUS footprint will be moored to shore and can recharge from a marine battery if needed. Additionally, ArkHAUS has the two-way capability to send energy back to the power grid if the responsible energy provider allows it.
While the entire club will remain static above the water, each ship has the ability to detach and set off on its own for a morning or sunset cruise. Each individual segment can reach a top speed of 8.5 knots (9.8 mph) and travel 30 nautical miles on a single charge, all without any carbon emissions.
“Party Up, Search Down”
While the top half of ArkHAUS will serve as a club for affluent socialites, its other half will serve as a marine research support vessel. The co-founders of ArkHAUS explained to us that they not only wanted to create a club that is unique and sustainable, but also gives back to its marine environment.
ArkHAUS created the “Party up top, research on bottom” project as part of a partnership with Seaworthy Collective – an incubator specializing in marine biology regeneration projects. The collective uses drones to monitor Biscayne Bay’s temperature, oxygen, salinity and toxicity, while performing tasks such as mangrove restoration and trash cleanup.
Every night, these aquatic drones need a place to dock and recharge, and in some cases download data. As part of the project, ArkHAUS offered its Solar Electricity Club as a space for drones to recharge overnight using excess energy gathered from its solar panels.
Additionally, ArkHAUS can sell its members on the fact that their annual dues also go towards marine research and restoration, not just bar supply.
How much does an ArkHAUS club membership cost you ask? The current annual presale rate is over $6,200 and will only go up from there. At the official launch of ArkHAUS, club members will pay $10,000 per year.
What’s next for ArkHAUS and its sustainable social club?
The ArkHAUS team is in the midst of a private investment round following a successful crowdfunding campaign on Republic it netted over $420,000 of its $25,000 low. At the time, ArkHAUS co-founder and CEO Sam Payrovi said:
ArkHAUS will be the perfect fusion of serenity, excitement, aesthetics and exclusivity. It’s a haven where executives and tastemakers from various industries come together to discuss business, entertain, enjoy high-end dining options, or discuss business, all while on the water in a beautiful and peaceful environment. We are incredibly excited to offer this investment opportunity to public and private investors, giving everyone a chance to own a piece of this evolution in the membership club space.
In addition to the Miami ArkHAUS, its creators envision a club on the northeast coast that can travel south during the cold winter months. The founders of the company said Electrek they would like to open ArkHAUS clubs in seven cities within the first five years. The cities that will be officially chosen remain unknown at this time, but here are some of the locations considered:
- New York
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Paris
- Istanbul
- dubai
There’s still a lot to do here as Payrovi and Paiva envision three steps forward on sustainable mobility inside and outside ArkHAUS clubs, including exploring opportunities for things like electric shuttles around the bay. and even floating landing pads for eVTOLs.
As the old saying goes, “show, don’t tell”, so I think it’s best that I visit the ArkHAUS Solar Club in Miami when it opens and report back. You know… for research.
FTC: We use revenue-generating automatic affiliate links. After.
Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.
