Houseboats
Imagine living with the water around your neck. Well, exactly, on top of the water, relentlessly sailing the seas like Jack Sparrow or moored like Chanquete in his Dorada.
When the soil is not solid ground we speak of houseboatsThey are a full-fledged space species. The official definition defines them as boats that have been designed or modified to be used primarily as a human habitat. Some are motorised and therefore able to move around, and others are not, anchored to a dock forever and ever. Now imagine getting up in the morning and jumping out of bed into the water for an early morning swim; having hot coffee for breakfast al fresco, never having to worry about mowing the lawn and never missing a sunset... You know that sunsets on the water are more sunsets. And all this without giving up hot water, electricity, gas, wifi and so on. Trendy, isn't it?
When we talk about a house, we always say it is four walls and a roof, but why doesn't anyone mention the floor?
Houseboats, this unconventional habitat historically tinged with a certain sordidness, is suitable for independent spirits, people who walk on the wild side of life, who don't want to put down roots and live in a permanent holiday state, but don't want to. There are many who opt for living on a houseboatThey are a trend, gentlemen! But let's take it in parts, because there are many types, from those that promote a simple, economical and reduced to the minimum life, to true mansions on the water. There are handcrafted designs based on ancient designs, sometimes with centuries of history, to prefabricated design houseboats super-fancy and with all the comforts of modern life, even home automation.
The first houseboat that we remember is the very first houseboat in the world. Noah's Ark. And if you've always wondered what it looked like, here's a wooden replica made to the design of the original as described in old documents. Quite a tourist attraction in Kentucky... What a thing.
In the Netherlands, also for tourism purposes, we find the Houseboat Museum in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam, where you can visit the boat Hendrika Maria 1914 and find answers to questions such as: Is it possible to have electricity on the water, what about sewage, is it not cold, wet or dark on board?
Leaving the tourist attractions to one side and focusing on houseboats for private use, we find this "one-family house" in Berlin, the OdinThe ship was built on the waters of the Tiergarten Park. With a length of 30 m and a beam of 4.5 m, it was used to transport grain and gravel until its retirement in 1994, and then became the property of a sculptor who renovated it, preserving its historic character, and converted it into a home for his family.
Also in Germany (Oldenberg), there is this floating loft work of Confused Direction. Small (14×3 m), with a green roof of plants, minimalist white interiors and designer furniture, it's cute. Inside it encloses a spacious living room with kitchenette and a bathroom on the lower level; upstairs there is a bedroom that overlooks the main space. It is a ecological houseboatThe 250 year old recycled timber structure, zero emissions and a 250 year old recycled timber structure taken from an old barn, anyone else?
The Canadians, who do everything very well, sign this two-storey gable-roofed houseboat anchored on an island in Lake Huron, in the Great Lakes. This beauty is the fruit of a concern for MOS ArchitectsHow do you design a spacious houseboat, open to its surroundings and with all the comforts of home while avoiding the impact on the landscape as much as possible? By painting the wood white and with roofs that let in wind and light depending on the needs and the season. The main technical challenge was to adapt to the drastic change in water level in Lake Huron, for which a floating base of steel pontoons was devised, allowing the house to adapt to the water level. Pure engineering.
From other architects, Designs Northwest Architectsis this marvel in Seattle, Washington. It had to accommodate all the comforts of a modern home and at the same time blend in with the historical character of the Lake Union floating district. Its cubic shape and rational structure with an industrial feel give the space a solid and functional appearance, with quality details and a certain retro touch.
As you can see, from the sordid past of early 20th century houseboats, strongholds of dock workers or shady businesses (or both), of social exclusion or the famous floating prisonsIn some cases, such as in the great bays of the west coast of the United States, they have formed entire neighbourhoods that are privileged enclaves. Sausalitofor example.
In Spain, unlike other European countries, there is no tradition of houseboats, and with the exception of a few tourist sites, there are hardly any references beyond the well-known Chanquete's boatof course. And that's a pity, because we don't lack coastline and good architects, either.
Well, don't despair, because this is a growing trend. For the time being, you can always opt for the pile of houseboats available for holiday rental in cities such as Seattle, California, New Orleans, Paris, London...
When we talk about a house, we always say it's four walls and a roof, but why doesn't anyone mention the floor? Houseboats, boats that have been designed or modified to be used as living quarters, are a kind of living space in their own right.
