Are you craving a life at sea? You are not alone. An increasing number of people desire life at sea. As a result, many people indulge in secluded getaways on the river, ocean, or lake, while others move into houses that float on water. Here are some fantastic houseboats and floating homes from around the world.
What’s the Difference Between a Houseboat and a Floating Home?
Houseboats
Like barges and boats, Houseboats can roam through the water and dock where permitted. Therefore, these floating residences can be driven to another port or location when needed.
Floating Homes
Floating homes are almost permanently docked on the water. They are indefinitely moored and are connected to the city sewer and water. That means homes owners can’t just cruise around in their home whenever they feel like it.
Anthénea Floating Condo
The Anthénea, designed by architect Jean-Michel Ducancelle, is an eco-friendly floating, mobile home for luxury travelers. The general design was inspired by the villain’s lair from the 1977 James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me.” The UFO-like structure has taken several prototypes and over fifteen years to complete. The frame is 100% recyclable, meaning zero waste at the end of its lifecycle.
With a diameter of thirty-one feet, Anthénea offers enough space for either a family of four or two adults onboard. The chic interior, inspired by coral reefs, features a circular XL bed, a round bathtub, a lounge with curved sofa and furniture, a bar, a kitchenette, and an underwater observatory, where guests can watch schools of fish dashing through the water or their friends swimming past the window. The rooftop, overlooking the sea, can accommodate up to twelve people.
The company describes Anthénea as a “lotus flower” because it sits atop the seas, blending seamlessly with the marine world with “no impact on the underwater ecosystem.” The pod is equipped with several solar panels, a saltwater filtration system, a US Coast Guard-approved waste treatment system, a state-of-the-art anchoring system, and a sand screw, which has minimal impact on the ocean floor. In addition, it is powered by 100% clean energy, guaranteeing zero emissions.
Finally, Anthénea can be fitted with propulsion and driven with a joystick, should owners want the freedom to change locations when they please. The pod can be moored like a traditional boat, and the company claims it can remain stable in Force 6 winds of 27 knots!
While the 540-square-foot pod can be used as an exclusive oceanic condo, the company also plans to partner with hoteliers worldwide to create floating luxury resorts comprising multiple pods. The Anthénea could also work as a sustainable and luxurious Airbnb or be configured as a high-end floating spa or restaurant.
Eco-Friendly “Livable Yacht”
The 75-foot “livable yacht” is an eco-friendly, hurricane-resistant, flood-resistant, rectangular vessel that creates zero emissions and looks like a luxury flat on the water. It features glass walls, multiple levels sectioned into interconnected rooms, and of course, immediate access to the water.
The vessels offer 4,350 sq ft of living spaces and operate 100% off the grid, featuring rainwater harvesting, water purification systems, and waste management. In addition, it is also equipped with high-grade insulation, 30 kW of solar panels, and 1,000 kWh of lithium-ion batteries. Solar power generates enough power for lights, air-conditioning, and electric engines to cruise 20 miles per charge. Like houseboats, owners can either stay anchored to a particular dock, drive off to a new location, or enjoy a remote backwaters getaway.
The rectangular yacht, designed by Dutch architect Koen Olthuis, with Waterstudio and the Miami-based firm Arkup, has four 40-foot-long hydraulic legs that can grind into the seafloor in shallow water and lift the structure out of the water. This feature is particularly beneficial to guests who suffer from mal de mer, and it keeps the house sturdy so that it doesn’t get knocked around in storms. Impressively, it is designed to withstand 155-mph winds and even hurricanes up to a category 4!
Houseboat H
Architect Michelle Lanker and her husband, Bill Bloxom designed a net-zero floating home, dubbed Houseboat H, that’s certified LEED Platinum and improves water quality and biodiversity. Houseboat H is packed with eco-friendly elements – from renewable energy sources and material choices to its use of buoyant planters to create new aquatic habitats.
This sustainable home is powered by solar and designed for minimal energy use. It floats above a series of buoyant planters, made of recycled plastic, specifically designed to improve water quality and biodiversity. These planters house native plants that grow root systems to purify the water and boost fish habitats. As a bonus, the thriving aquatic habitats can be observed from a large window in the home’s basement.
Upcycled material choices are seen throughout the home. For example, the old-growth cedar logs used in the interior were salvaged from Michelle and Bill’s former antique houseboat, sadly destroyed in a fire.
Large triple-glazed windows that span floor to ceiling offer natural lighting and beautiful views. The walls and roof contain spray foam insulation at maximum thicknesses to minimize energy loss. A green roof also assists in insulation. The home’s low-energy appliances, LED fixtures, and water heater (with an 80-gallon storage tank) for the hydronic radiant floor system, is powered by a 5.43-kW solar array attached to its standing seam metal roof. In addition, the home also features a heat exchanger to collect heat from the lake.
Protozoan 3D-Printed Floating Home
Czech Republic’s first 3D-printed house took only 48 hours to build and a few weeks to dry. The building has a curved body with flowing walls and big circular windows.
The house, called Protozoan, is inspired by nature and organic shapes, particularly by protozoa. The creator, Czech sculptor Michal Trpák, envisioned Protozoan as a home for people traveling in nature or the countryside. It includes a bedroom, a living room with a kitchen, a bathroom, and a big circular skylight, but the most distinguishing feature of all is that it floats on water.
The ‘Prvok’ project demonstrates how 3D printing technologies can create more sustainable housing. Trpák joined forces with a group of architects to develop the 43-square-meter prototype in the Czech city of České Budějovice.
The house includes self-sufficient and eco-friendly features such as a green roof, a recirculating shower system, and utility, drinking, and sewage reservoirs. The house’s exterior printed shell is allegedly three times stronger than traditional concrete and has at least 100 years of life expectancy. Once it has expired, the building material can be crushed and reprinted on the spot.
The 3D-printed floating house can be completed seven times faster than building a conventional brick home, lowering the costs by 50% while reducing carbon emissions and construction waste.
