Art Now and Then: Floating Homes

The floating home is limited only by the designer's imagine and how much

a buyer wishes to spend for the convenience of living on the water.

We used to call them "houseboats." But just as it took the manufactured housing industry an entire generation to shed the dreaded term "house trailer," the same is likely to be true with the preferred designation "floating homes." If floating homes brings to mind the floating squalor seen below rather than the futuristic image seen above it's time we redefine just what we mean by floating homes. Each state defines floating homes differently, but in general, they are:
•constructed on a float;
•designed and built to be used as a residential dwelling;
•stationary by being moored or anchored, and not meant for navigation;
•without a means of self-propulsion;
•powered by utilities connected to the shore; and
•permanently and continuously connected to a sewage system on shore.

Life is reported to have started in the oceans with the first creatures coming ashore about 3 billion years ago. With 71% of the Earth’s surface made up of ocean water humans may spend the next few millennia re-inhabiting it.

Living on the water has come a long way during the past hundred years.

With the constant climate changes and soaring heat levels which are results of global warming, the world has become very difficult to live in. Various steps have been taken to curb the problems. Different sets of ideas to maintain pleasant temperatures are constantly evolving from various quarters. One such solution is the idea of living in cool and comfortable floating homes. These floating homes comes in various designs and cost. Some of them are affordable while some others are more appropriate for dreams because they are out of the reach of common men. Check out this list of some floating homes which are really cool, luxurious and classy pieces of design and architecture mainly aimed for the rich and the famous. Wherever dry land touches wet water, there are builders and owners with strikingly modern ideas to do with both. Some are in existence today, others likely soon will be.

Solar powered floating island.

This futuristic floating house project is created by Solar Lab. it is based on the concept of a free floating habitat with extendable boundaries to create more living space. It features an integrated solar power supply, an integrated water purification system and a waste treatment system. It is supposed to be a totally autonomous and great sustainable habitat for the future citizens. Currently, this project is mainly used for developing the Institute of Water and Ecology, based on Lake Constance in Germany. This is going to be the most practical sustainable floating structure that will also highlight the sensitivity of water ecosystems and the various prospects of application of solar energy for creating other future housing projects through an exhibition.

Floating home by Waterstudio, Netherlands

This futuristic floating house with unusual decoration from Waterstudio.NL looks very natural and comfortable. It is quite ornamental and stunning in appearance with a beautiful scenery in behind. The entire exterior of this house is made of concrete materials. Wood is also used as another primary material for building this sustainable floating house. It has a kitchen, living room, bedroom and a bathroom.

This particular Stingray Floating House, for example, was purposed

as a luxury home-away-from-home on the Aegean Sea and

designed to allow others to embrace life on the water.

In keeping with their aquatic purpose, this floating house was designed in the shape of a sting ray, with the stinger serving as the lengthy driveway out to the home’s carport. It’s a two story home with the bottom level devoted to communal family space. And it wouldn’t be a beach house without several large glass windows looking out onto the sea. There’s also extensive deck space featuring a beach, an infinity pool, hot tub, dock for small boats, and a fire pit for those chilly nights on the water. On the second level are three bedrooms spaced out around a rotunda and master bedroom is strategically centered on the top floor, hosting two baths and a dressing area. All in all an incredibly sleek home for a lucky family, or someone with several close friends. As an international 3D & Design Solutions firm, Tangram 3DS works with various clients around the world to create architectural works of art that are cutting edge in design and innovative in location.

This moveable home would be able to withstand winds of up to

156 mph, classified as a Category 4 hurricane.

South Florida, especially Miami and the Keys, was one of several regions that Hurricane Irma pummeled in early September of 2019. The Category 4 storm brought winds of up to 70 mph, destroyed hundreds of houses, and knocked out power for 5.8 million homes and businesses in Florida. A new type of solar-powered home could withstand future storms and rising sea levels. It's designed to be buoyed so that when water levels rise during a storm, it will bob with the water. The luxury homes, which Olthuis and Arkup call "livable yachts," will feature hydraulic jack-up systems to anchor and stabilize them during storms. The systems are designed to lift it 40 feet above the ocean floor to prevent flooding. They will also include systems that collect and purify rainwater for residents to use for their plumbing needs. The team expects the home to cost $2 million to $3 million. From the architect Koen Olthuis and a housing startup called Arkup, the design was presented at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The floating island concept as seen in Dubai.

This floating island home concept has been developed to answer the needs of island owners in Nakheel’s The World project in Dubai. This concept gave birth to another idea. Atoll Floating Islands, a joint venture between Palmerstone and Donald Starkey Designs. Ome is a floating home that is expected to be maneuvered between Dubai’s coast and The World islands. The floating house sits on a monocoque type structure. The design is a combination of styles. It has to be in accordance with the maritime laws and it also has to meet the standards of The World’s developer, Nakheel. This floating house will offer a 10 m diameter seawater pool, large living areas and five bedrooms.

A design variation of the Ome.

The first Ome house will have a 32m diameter form. Ome will also have a sustainable design. The roof will be covered with photovoltaic screens, making it be self-powered, comprising every level of energy source: water, light etc. The structure and design of the Ome floating house is capable of producing approximately 30,000 kW of renewable energy. That means that the energy is more than enough, it can power six households. A facilities management company will provide service and towing support. Atoll decided to build the Omes on the Dubai mainland and if the houses will gain popularity, the project might extend for builds in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and other island resorts or beach locations all around the world.

On the waterfront has now become a prime, prestigious location

The Fennell Residence located in Portland, Oregon is a floating house designed by Robert Harvey Oshatz. This innovative structure has curved glue lam beams, glass exteriors and an expansive sliding glass door to make it even more impressive. It has a master bedroom, a study, a living room with a dining area and extends out beyond the river. What makes this floating luxury home such a stand-out dwelling is the fact that it is equipped with an upper level that offers beautiful views of the surrounding area, and a so-called 'Sky Majlis', an area that is inspired by Arabic-style sitting and communal spaces designed to encourage socialization. However, these spaces are incredibly versatile and are designed to make it possible for residents to adapt rooms to their needs.