Marine

Prefab houseboat gives water babies a taste of landlubber luxury

Prefab houseboat gives water babies a taste of landlubber luxury
The houseboat's amenities can be controlled via an iOS or Android mobile app
The houseboat's amenities can be controlled via an iOS or Android mobile app
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The goal of the recently-launched Bluefield Houseboats is to offer a luxurious living experience on the water
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The goal of the recently-launched Bluefield Houseboats is to offer a luxurious living experience on the water
Bluefield Houseboats offers various options and sizes, depending on what the customer wants
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Bluefield Houseboats offers various options and sizes, depending on what the customer wants
The interior includes a living room, dining room, and kitchen
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The interior includes a living room, dining room, and kitchen
Inside the main living area
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Inside the main living area
Bluefield Houseboats is currently working on a fully off-grid option for its models, but for now the homes get electricity and water from land-based utilities
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Bluefield Houseboats is currently working on a fully off-grid option for its models, but for now the homes get electricity and water from land-based utilities
The entire roof is a terrace accessible via stairs
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The entire roof is a terrace accessible via stairs
Bluefield Houseboats' models are permanently moored but can be towed to different locations if required
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Bluefield Houseboats' models are permanently moored but can be towed to different locations if required
The houseboat's amenities can be controlled via an iOS or Android mobile app
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The houseboat's amenities can be controlled via an iOS or Android mobile app
View towards the kitchen area
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View towards the kitchen area
A render showing Bluefield Houseboats' two-story model
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A render showing Bluefield Houseboats' two-story model
A render showing Bluefield Houseboats' two-story model
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A render showing Bluefield Houseboats' two-story model
Internally, the houseboat sports natural wooden flooring, hardwood doors, and natural tiles
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Internally, the houseboat sports natural wooden flooring, hardwood doors, and natural tiles
Inside the bedroom
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Inside the bedroom
The houseboats are permanently moored but can be towed to another location if required
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The houseboats are permanently moored but can be towed to another location if required
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View gallery - 18 images

The UK's recently-established Bluefield Houseboats aims to offer the kind of living experience you'd usually expect from a nice house or apartment, but on the water. To this end, the firm uses prefabricated construction, energy-efficient design, and home automation technology in its houseboats.

The houseboat pictured is the firm's debut model. It's a single-story home with a total floorspace of 500 sq ft (46.5 sq m). Its interior looks quite roomy and light filled thanks to the generous glazing, and shared spaces include a lounge, dining room, and a kitchen.

Elsewhere in the home lies a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, plus a second bedroom and a bathroom. The entire roof is available for use as terrace space and is accessed by a staircase on the exterior of the houseboat.

The houseboat is clad in powder coated aluminum and cedar. Internally, it sports natural wooden flooring, hardwood doors, and natural tiles. It is permanently moored and features no motor of its own but can be towed to another location if required.

Internally, the houseboat sports natural wooden flooring, hardwood doors, and natural tiles
Internally, the houseboat sports natural wooden flooring, hardwood doors, and natural tiles

Bluefield Houseboats told us that it's currently refining an off-grid package that will be made available for purchase, but for now its homes get electricity from a standard hookup. It has created multiple other designs too, including a two-story home, coffee shop, restaurant, and studio.

The firm also says that its houseboats are well-insulated and relatively air-tight, which means that they should be energy-efficient to run. The internal temperature is controlled by electric heaters and an efficient Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery system.

An Elan automation system offers fine control of the on-board sound system, LED TV, interior and exterior lights, and heating and ventilation systems via iOS or Android device.

The model pictured costs £225,000 (about US$274,000).

Source: Bluefield Houseboats

View gallery - 18 images
4 comments
4 comments
Nik
This seems incredibly expensive, for what is, in effect, a mobile home with floats.
Glenn™
I agree, this is too expensive but I thought it resembled more of a modified shipping container then a mobile home.
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really neat.
I agree with the other posts, it seems like a lot of money for something that size (a mobile home on pontoons?).
Jason Catterall
Hopelessly overpriced.