+31architects' floating houseboat uses solar power to sail across lakes and rivers

amsterdam-based firm +31architects has developed a series of solar-powered sailing houseboats, which can sail across lakes and rivers to reach any port city, marina, or natural water areas around europe. the floating houseboats come in a long, slender, rounded shape, reminiscent of nautical designs, while their size can vary from the 15-meter-long naturecruiser, with a very compact floor plan, to the 24-meter-long waterloft, whose generous layout makes clever use of the storage space under the deck.

all images courtesy of +31architects

the naturecruiser, +31architects‘ first design that can sail by itself, has already been developed into a product together with manufacturer WSM die wohnschiff-manufaktur, who is building a prototype of the waterloft version. besides mooring the houseboat at a fixed berth in a marina, owners can also unload the trusses and sail over lakes and rivers to reach various destinations around europe. designed to offer maximum experience of the water and surrounding nature, the boat incorporates large window frames on three of its walls that provide plenty of natural daylight and outward views, while it is completed with a roof terrace and a smaller sun deck at its rear side.

the architects’ ambition for this project has been to use sustainable sources and minimize waste, illustrated in the use of solar panels and collectors fitted on the roof to generate enough energy and warm water for the houseboat to be virtually self-sufficient (when moored in a marina). the naturecruiser is also equipped with a hybrid electric drive, as well as a purification system that will clean water from lakes and rivers on board. waste water will be first stored in a water tank and then cleaned in another tank before it is discharged back into the lakes. furthermore, he hull of the boat is made of aluminum in order to protect and preserve the water and animal world.