Comments on: Schwimmhaus: The Sustainable Modern HouseBoat

By: Jazz

Jazz — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:25:14 +0000

In response to “Logdog’s” question concerning where he might get a permit for a floating home in NW Washington. Start with the Dept. of Natural Rescources in Olympia. However, Washington isn’t giving permits for floating homes the last we knew. We have lived on a small yacht in Seattle periodically and they were not issuing permits for floating homes. The floating homes on Lake Union were grandfathered in. As mentioned by another writer; it is becoming difficult to obtain permits in the U.S. for floating homes. Not because of the use of public waters—-one of the reasons is people are not responsible and discharge raw sewage into the waters.

Jazz

By: LOGDOG

LOGDOG — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:40:19 +0000

My wife and I are interested in constructing a floating home / pod of homes in NW Washington. Does anyone know who an individual would contact in order to explore the permitting process? I realize it may not be an easy undertaking but feel confident if I could obtain the permits I could manage the rest of the factors. Thank you in advance for any useful info.

LOGDOG

By: fahmida ishaque

fahmida ishaque — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:44:25 +0000

hi,i am from Bangladesh.do you give me any idea about construction of a floating house with low costing?

By: whatsthediff

whatsthediff — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:11:16 +0000

I have the more traditional type. Located on the lower Columbia River in Oregon it is made of corrugated tin and floats on huge old growth cedar logs, each the circumferance of a vw bus. Built in 1935, cedar trees of this size were basically nuisance trees, which the loggers fell to get at the desirable Douglas Fir trees. Many of the cedars felled are were left. A few were removed for various purposes including float houses. Mine has a boatwell aft and a small apartment in front. I have owned it for over 20 years and provides a great escape from humanities masses. I can supply you a photo if you like.

By: Nostradamus

Nostradamus — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:28:08 +0000

Timmy’s in the well?

The Dutch would tell you to simply keep an eye on your kids and be careful….

By: cdbaut

cdbaut — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:54:29 +0000

While the design and principles are lovely..one really disturbing thought crossed my mind. Anyone else picture a child wandering off the side of this? Ascestic aside, how about some railing?

By: Schwimmhaus, a Compact Modern Houseboat

Schwimmhaus, a Compact Modern Houseboat — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:21:21 +0000

[...] Crafted with outmost elegance by German architects Confused-Direction, Schwimmhaus is a compact modern houseboat that keeps in tune with the tranquil environment that it ventures into. Built with eco-friendliness in mind, the houseboat sports a green roof and is being fabricated out of salvaged wood from an old farm house in addition to other sustainable building materials. Set for completion this spring, an inflatable model of Schwimmhaus threads the waters of Hunte River for now. The interiors of this green houseboat are also crafted to match the simple yet ergonomic style of the boat and the sustainable design the project aims to achieve. – via Inhabitat [...]

By: ingrid

ingrid — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:12:55 +0000

Hi Stan,
I live in the Netherlands, and a lot of dutch people would disagree with your definition of a house boat. Here they are most definitely not recreational. I’m sure that there would be a market here.
Ingrid

By: StanB

StanB — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:40:15 +0000

I agree with most of Ms. Kain’s comments. However, there is not likely to be much of a market, and certainly not any waiting list in Portland or Seattle, or any other city in the US. The problem is that all US waters that can accommodate floating homes are governmentally-owned and essentially every possible berth that might be available is already owned and occupied. NO more berths are being created, and in fact, in most jurisdictions, governmental agencies want living on the water in a permanent dwelling to be abated. This has already happened in most of the country. The view is that living on the water should not be allowed, because the waters belong to ALL the people, and when people live on them, they are restricting their use for recreation by the general public. Very sad.

And, a point of definition. The Schwimmhaus is, by accepted definition, a “Floating Home” not a “houseboat.” Houseboats are recreational, self-propelled vessels. Floating Homes are permanently berthed dwellings.
Just thought you might want to know.

Stan Barbarich