Far be it from us to make light of climate change and its implications on city infrastructure (or any other aspect of daily life for that matter), but if the growing trend of floating homes is any indication of the future of housing, sign us up.
Baca Architects, who were responsible for the UK’s first amphibious house, have released a design with Floating Homes Ltd that’s over 10 years in the making. It was recognized in the top 10 winners of this year’s New London Architecture’s housing competition, and for good reason.
In part a response to London’s own housing shortage, the Chichester house (so named for its residency on the Chichester Canal in southern England) is a modular, open-plan design that is also sensitive to the realities of rising sea levels that threaten many water-adjacent communities with flooding.
Inspired by narrow canal boats, the replicable design was created to fill the 50 miles of unused water the firm calls “bluefield,” giving aspiring homebuyers a relatively affordable way to own in a city with a housing crisis akin to that of Silicon Valley. The firm estimates the city’s canals, basins and marinas could support about 7,500 of these floating homes in total, with little disruption to existing neighborhoods.
These little homes spare nothing when it comes to beautiful, design-forward details. It’s probably not big enough to raise a family in, but for a young couple or a pair of retirees, it has more than enough space, including a rooftop deck for sunning, dining or socializing.
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