Watervilla / +31ARCHITECTS

Architects: +31ARCHITECTS
Area: 200 m²
Year: 2015
Photographs: Ewout Huibers
Building Contractor: Post Arkenbouw Marknesse
Design Team: Jasper Suasso de Lima de Prado, Jorrit Houwert
Cabinets: Forsa meubels
City: Amsterdam
Country: The Netherlands

Watervilla, designed by +31ARCHITECTS, is a modern floating home on the river Amstel in the Netherlands. The villa features a film frame-like glass façade, large sliding doors, and a floating terrace to maximize the connection to the water. The basement contains bedrooms and bathrooms, accessed by a floating staircase. Smart details include integrated sun screens and an LED-lit facade. The floating structure, based on a hollow concrete box, can be relocated without environmental impact.

Living on the water is becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands.

Living on the water is not only popular for its unique appeal but also due to new governmental and urban planning strategies to manage water-related challenges. Much of the Netherlands is below sea level, protected by dikes and dunes. However, climate change has caused increased rainfall and higher river levels, leading to more frequent flooding as the sea level rises and water has nowhere else to go.

One solution for flooded land is to regulate it and create large water basins instead of building more dikes. These basins allow for attractive urban developments on the water while also serving as buffers during heavy rainfall. The primary requirement for these urban developments is that they must float; otherwise, the basins cannot function as intended buffers.

Generally, there are two basic principles for constructing floating structures. The first is the pontoon principle, which involves creating a solid platform that is lighter than water. The second is the ship-based principle, involving a hollow concrete box open at the top. The air inside the open box gives it buoyancy.

The pontoon principle is advantageous in shallow water but offers less stability and must be very light. In contrast, the hollow concrete box provides more stability and allows the space within to be used as part of the building. Both types of floating constructions are connected to the quay with flexible connections, enabling them to rise with changing tides.

The floating system can be relocated quickly without causing environmental damage. A new house can then be placed in the original location, making this method highly sustainable and durable. The floating houses designed by +31architects utilize the hollow concrete box principle.

The clients of +31ARCHITECTS were inspired by the design of the modern “Watervilla the Omval,” located further downstream on the river Amstel. They wanted to build a modern watervilla that maximized the connection between the living area and the water. The result is a contemporary watervilla featuring a film frame-like glass façade on the waterside.

In this watervilla, large glass sliding doors were installed on the waterside, providing an unobstructed view of the Amstel from the living area and kitchen. To enhance the interaction with the outdoors and the water, a floating terrace runs along the entire length of the villa. The floor extends seamlessly from the inside to the outside, maintaining the same color and height. This not only makes the living area feel larger but also frames the glass façade nicely when viewed from the water. The minimal physical barrier between the living area and the terrace invites residents to take a refreshing dive into the river Amstel.

Descending a staircase with floating steps leads to the basement where the bedrooms and bathrooms are located. This staircase is situated within a large void, with a large window directly adjacent to it, ensuring ample natural light reaches the basement. The project incorporates many smart details, such as three large sun screens fully integrated into the edge of the flat roof. With the push of a button, these sun screens slide out automatically, providing a cooling effect.

To add depth to the facade on the quay side, a subtle pattern of holes was incorporated. The house number is revealed by selectively not punching holes in the aluminum panel. During the day, these holes appear as dark dots, while at night, they are illuminated by a large LED strip placed behind the facade. This lighting effect transforms the watervilla into a “Star Wars-like” creation in the evening.

The film frame-like glass façade provides stunning views of the water while occasionally offering glimpses into the residents’ lives. To passing boats, it appears as if a movie is being played, resembling a small, intimate reality show.