Houseboats

Regular readers may remember the Koda, an attractive concrete tiny house that hit the market in 2017. Designer Kodasema recently followed it up with the Koda Light Float, a model with similar styling that's made from timber instead of concrete, and is installed on a pontoon.

Arkup's incredible concept for a floating house on stilts has been built and it's for sale for a cool US$5.5 million. Packing solar power, stabilizing hydraulic stilts, and its own engines, the first model was recently unveiled during the Miami Yacht Show.

This appealing little houseboat was designed by Quebec boatbuilder Daigno. Named Le Koroc, it's available in two versions, catering either to fishermen or those who just want a tiny dwelling that floats. It also features solar power and a space-saving interior layout.

Naval architect Maxim Zhivov​ and Baikal Yachts have come up with this combination houseboat, dock and seaplane​ mooring, and the entire thing is transportable by truck, meaning that it really does offer a relocatable lifestyle for pilots and water enthusiasts.

Following the loss of their 100 year-old houseboat to a fire, architect Michelle Lanker and her husband Bill Bloxom decided to design a modern replacement. Named Houseboat H, the high-end floating dwelling features significant environmentally-friendly design, including a burgeoning fish habitat.

Dubbed “Haarlem Shuffle,” this floating home is located on the Spaarne River in Haarelm, Netherlands. The 210-sq m (2,260-sq ft) home stretches over two levels and is designed to offer the occupants privacy while also capitalizing on natural light.

With concerns about rising sea levels and attractive land always in demand, there's something to be said for a house that floats on water. With this in mind, we highlight the best examples of floating homes we've seen so far – from classic prefabricated houseboat to luxury models for the ultra-rich.

Residential architecture is going through an exciting time and this is reflected in the homes we've covered during the past 12 months. A floating off-grid luxury pad, a 3D-printed house, and a sustainable home that can be built in a few days all feature in our pick of the best houses of 2017.

Florida-based company Arkup has floated the concept of an off-grid, liveable luxury yacht. Powered by 30 kW of solar and twin electric thrusters, these high-class, ultra modern double decker units have hydraulic legs capable of stabilizing and lifting them out of the water.

Italian mini-yacht company Jet Capsule has unveiled an updated version of its UFO (Unidentified Floating Object) off-grid floating home. The UFO 2.0 is larger and more refined, and the firm hopes to get this one built with the help of a crowdfunding campaign.

There are lots of people who like the idea of living on water, but for whom the idea of living on a boat doesn't, well, float their boat. The Chichester floating home offers a solution to this, by giving residents the comforts of a house with the benefits of a waterborne lifestyle.

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