Schoonschip is a floating village consisting of 46 households that aims to create Europe’s most sustainable floating community. And one of those homes, designed by i29 architects, is a dwelling that most people can only dream of yet it was realised on a very tight budget, respectfully. Based on an urban plan by Space&Matter, over 100 residents moved into and revitalised a disused canal and established themselves a living on the water. The location has a strong industrial past but today it is one of the most rapid changing city parts of Amsterdam transforming into a more multifunctional living area.

Intended to be an urban ecosystem embedded within the fabric of the city, the floating neighbourhood makes full use of ambient energy and water for use and re-use, cycling nutrients and minimising waste. Not to mention creating space for natural biodiversity. We like that. A smart jetty connects the 46 floating households with each other and the quay.

As for i29's Floating House design, it features a typical yet surprising house shape with a beautiful dark timber facade. The floating volume has a pitched roof, but the coping of the roof is turned diagonal in the floor plan which gives an optimisation in usable space on the inside and an outspoken architectural design on the outside.

All areas of the home are in open connection to the atrium which comprises three floors. The layout is extended with a split level connection to a loggia terrace just above water level. The interior and facade play with the views on the outside, while views appear and disappear while moving through the home.

Floating Home has a simple and unified architecture and interior design that leaves a strong impression. At the same time the floating home is extremely energy efficient, eco-friendly, and built with a small footprint. Sustainability goes further with the implementation in the smart grid of the floating village. Energy can be even more valuable when you share it.