Dornob | Design Ideas Daily

The Ark in the Park: Peaceful Green-Roofed Floating Home

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 08:00 AM PDT

netherlands parkark houseboat

There is a certain type of mental connection that we tend to make when we hear the word “houseboat.” Some think of the lovely but necessarily narrow canal boats you find in the UK; others think of the rough-but-romantic behemoths of the west coast of the US. The ParkArk in Utrecht, Netherlands – from Rotterdam-based BYTR Architects – is an entirely different species of floating homes.

green roof houseboat netherlands

parkark green roof

The structure is moored beside a beautiful 17th century public park and is accessed via a footbridge leading from the park. The bridge makes a visual as well as physical connection between the surrounding lush woods and the home’s green roof. An outdoor terrace begins the transition from outdoor area to indoor living space; an external staircase then leads down into the home itself.

living room parkark floating houseboat

seating area fireplace

The interior of the home is surprisingly roomy, with ceilings taller than you might think possible when looking at the floating home from outside. The open floor plan and abundance of windows let the sunshine fill the entire space, adding a visual spaciousness that again belies the home’s relatively small footprint.

continuation of kitchen

dining room

Light colors help that illusion of a much larger space. The pale wooden floors and white walls contrast with the dark wood and copper exterior. The placement of the many windows gives the residents a measure of privacy while maximizing their views of the serene wooded surroundings.

roof parkark houseboat

One of the home’s defining features is a large skylight in the middle of the green roof. The skylight not only allows more natural light to fill the home; it also offers another way for the residents to enjoy the incredible setting in which their home gently floats.

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