Living on the water is not a unique idea in the Netherlands. Part of the charm in visiting Amsterdam or any other seaside NL city is the canals peppered with sundry forms of houseboats. But native Amsterdam architect Herman Hertzberger recognized that houseboat living was not always charming for its residents, but rather uncomfortable. And so Hertzberger's Amsterdam-based Architectuurstudio set their minds to developing comfortable, roomy housing that could take advantage of the ample watery real estate.

Hertzberger, who heartily embraces the idea of learning by doing, designed the first watervilla in 1986. It floated on foam-filled concrete and rose up from the water in a cylindrical tube shape. An updated Watervilla prototype, built in Middleburg in 2004, sports a hexagonal frame of six 10-millimeter thick hollow steel tubes that are two meters in diameter, providing better stability and flexibility over the original design. The steel pipes are ten millimetres thick, built to last and require little maintenance. The advantage of hollow steel pipes, compared to concrete floats, is that they can be simply trimmed using ballast until the requisite draught and stability are achieved. The tubes, which can support 135 tons and won't rock in choppy water, also can double as extra storage space.

The floating base supports a three-storey steel structural frame with steel-plate and concrete floors. The cladding is a prefabricated, low-maintenance skin made of lightweight steel plates. It is assembled over a 60-centimeter-deep steel frame with foam insulation. The interior can be finished in a number of materials to fit the owner's tastes. And prefabricated manufacturing allows the house to be built on a quick four-month construction schedule.

The three-level design with connecting spiral staircases also offers complete freedom in configuring the floor plan to fit the family's needs; for example, the living areas could be put at the top floor to take advantage of views, or positioned on the ground floor for ease of access. The Middleburg prototype has the living/dining room and kitchen on the centre floor and is completely surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Three bedrooms, a bathroom, and storage space occupy the ground and top floors. Each level has generous outdoor terraces, and a gangway provides access from shore. In all it contains 156m^2-. Plenty of room for living.

One of Watervilla's best features, of course, is the ability to move the entire house easily from one location to another. Or, more practically, it can be rotated on its location to take best advantage of solar heating in the winter or to diminish direct sunlight in the summer. Two steering wheels allow the house to be rotated 90^o. It can even be fitted with a small onboard motor to allow for ease of movement. The prototype includes standard heating and cooling systems for the region, but the house also can be fitted with under floor or wall systems or photovoltaic and other energy-saving devices.

In recent years, the prototype was purchased and occupied by the Monfil family who enjoy the independence and freedom of water living, without the limitations of a boat-like space. Hertzberger is often credited with anticipating and stimulating social developments and changes-perhaps the Monfil's soon will live in a floating watervilla neighbourhood.

 ©Architectuurstudio Herman Hertzberger retains all copyrights to Watervilla and its images.  Used by permission.

Source:  Motta Architettura S.r.l., "Herman Hertzberger ‘Magister ludi della spazio'; Architectural Record, Oct. 2003.