Surprisingly Traditional And Familiar House Built On A Boat

For some people, living on a boat is no longer a metaphor but something very real. Transforming a boat into a space where you can actually live like in a regular house is not an easy task. BBVH Architects Rotterdam had to do such a project and they completed it this very year. Their task was to transform a Belgian barge into a cozy boathouse.

Turn a barge into a home14

Located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, this boathouse looks very familiar. It has all the things a regular house does. The owners chose this 40 meter long Belgian Spitz to become their new family home.

Turn a barge into a home14

They wanted to preserve most of the original features out of respect for the love and dedication the captain had given to the ship so they decided not to demolish the steering hut but to preserve it. They also preserved the deck house and the machine room. No changes were made to tne engine either because the owners wanted the boat to remain navigable.

Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14
Turn a barge into a home14

The main idea behind the project was to make a light and airy houseboat that would feel cozy and inviting. The architects built a large patio while the entrance is via a smaller patio. The interior of the cargo hold was insulated with 4” of foam and covered with plywood. The floor is cast cement. As for the interior, it’s inviting and it has all the functions a regular home has.