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While it feels as if the world has started to turn upside down because of pandemic travel restrictions and the effects of global warming, conflicts and the energy crisis, the urgency of having a refuge that has a high level of self-sufficient energy, as well as the option to move around despite all the challenges, has surged around the world. Caravan sales spiked in recent years and although they provide a good enough solution, the question arises: Why not re-design a fully solar-powered motorboat with high-end tiny-home characteristics and create a slow-motion travelling nest?
This "boathome" has to be understood as an independent architecture that can be placed into different scenarios, yet always on a water surface.
Once linked to solitude, belonging and real estate ownership now shifts to a network of commodities that can be moved to different places.
Itinerant forms of architecture have an extended history through different cultures and times. Moving from place to place in search of food, water and other forms of sustenance, was originally performed out of necessity, and more recently, out of willingness.
Nowadays the architectural agenda addresses mobility and domesticity as part of the design debate to challenge our notions of public-private and temporary-permanent.
During Summer and on sunny days in winter, the boat is fully self-reliant on its solar panels covering the roof and as well as one additional panel on each side. The boat is equipped with large battery storage in order to deliver the energy for the engines as well as the home appliance and technical needs of the boat.
A pellet stove was installed to satisfy the heating demand and wood pellets are a source of renewable energy.
The owner plans further ecological improvements such as a water purification system that reduces the reliance for fresh water supply as it filters the river or lake water that the boat is on into drinking water quality. A biological sewage treatment unit to be added as an upgrade to the ecological standard of the boat, will convert used water into drinking water.
With an overall length of about 15 m and a maximum width of about 4 m, the boat includes a set of innovative solutions in terms of solar energy, heating source, water and waste management. Advanced technology and electronic features also make the boat "smart and self-powered."
The boat celebrates creativity by being highly customizable and highly efficient and extremely practical because the whole house is being used all the time.
Some key transformable features were applied in the sleeping areas: a wide bed which fully disappears when not in use, with a comfortable sofa in its location instead. This is followed by a fully hidden bed with a function to close the control stand, which hides the more technical equipment of the boat, achieving a calmer sense of home. In the living area, a hidden foldable desk is included in a cabinet, providing the needed spot for “boat office” activities. Additionally, another fully removable table with multiple options for attaching and usage is located in the kitchen area. Nevertheless, the design brings in as many outdoor views and as much fresh air as possible while maintaining privacy to this “inner world.”
The client loves travelling and has visited many countries. Spending longer stretches of time in Berlin in recent years, she developed the strong desire to spend more time near and on the water and purchased this houseboat. The client was already involved in several personal space design projects and therefore brought in a lot of own ideas, she for example likes to experiment with fabrics and patterns she collected over the years and has also designed furniture pieces.
This compact space is testing flexibility in micro-dwellings where each room assumes multiple programmatic roles.
Some key transformable features were applied in the sleeping areas: a wide bed which fully disappears when not in use, with a comfortable sofa in its location instead. This is followed by a fully hidden bed with a function to close the control stand, which hides the more technical equipment of the boat, achieving a calmer sense of home.
In the living area, a hidden foldable desk is included in a cabinet, providing the needed spot for “boat office” activities.
The boat is "smart and self-powered" by including a set of innovative solutions in terms of solar energy, heating source, water, and waste management.
In the future, people could free themselves from too many possessions and embrace denser, but quality spaces and thus achieve more flexible ways of life.
http://www.crossboundaries.com...
