Inside and Out of Amsterdam's Modern Houseboat, the Watervilla de Omval.

This tautly designed houseboat, Watervilla De Omval, floats in the Amstel river of Amsterdam. The design has, unlike most floating houses, a very contemporary design without losing the characteristic appearance of the typical houseboat.



Living on the water gets more and more popular in Holland. The clients/ owners who come to the office of +31 Architects always love the typical charms and characteristics of living on the water but don’t like the standard “caravan” appearance of the existing houseboats. More and more people want to live on a contemporary houseboat that has been designed for their specific needs, the houseboat at De Omval is an obvious example of this wish.


above: livingroom detail and bathroom


above: fireplace in the livingroom

The clients wanted a boat with an open floor plan where they could enjoy the views to the water and the outdoor space to a maximum. The distinguished curved line of the facade directly derives from this desire and the restriction that the boat couldn’t be more than three meters above the water.




The living area and open kitchen are located on the waterfront, from here one has a panoramic view at the Amstel and you can enter the floating terrace.





Following on from the living area and kitchen the bedroom is located on a split level. The split level introduces an open route to the ground floor of the boat and, at the same time, makes it possible to create a terrace on the south side without exceeding the maximum building height.






To accentuate the round lines of the facade it is carried out in with shiny aluminum. The white plastered walls and ceilings follow the curve of the facade creating a seamless transition from the exterior to the interior.




Floor plans:



+31ARCHITECTS was founded in 2005 by Jasper Suasso de Lima de Prado and Jorrit Houwert. They both graduated at the Technical University of Delft in 2001.

Location: Amsterdam
Architects: J. Suasso de Lima de Prado, J. Houwert
Area: 200m2
Building contractor: Ardesch/Dijkhuis groep
Photographers: Iwan Baan, Colin Morsch/ Gianni Basso

information and images©+31Architects

The MetroShip. A Modern Luxury Houseboat For $250k.

The MetroShip by Ballinger & Co. is a modern houseboat, conceived of in London and hand-made in the USA, which also happens to be offered in this years' annual Neiman Marcus Christmas Book as one of their legendary "Fantasy Gifts" for $250,000.




The 48ft x 12ft modern houseboat was inspired by the open plan of NY loft spaces and has 7 foot high interior ceilings. After 7 years of design & development, the floating modern retreat is completely outfitted with the finest appliances and furnishings including a Viking and Gaggenau kitchen, Italian marble bathroom vanity with Kohler shower, a Bang & Olufsen stereo sound system, Sony LCD HD tvs , Nintendo Wii, an LG washing machine and the W Hotel bed.




INTERIOR SPECS & PHOTO GALLERY:

Flooring: Armstrong single-piece waterproof vinyl wood flooring

Living Area: large open plan NYC loft style living for comfortable year-round living




Bedroom:
* oversized open plan bedroom with W Hotel bed
* Optional bedroom ‘pods’ available that rise up from floor level at the push of a button




Kitchen:
*Oversized island with hand-made white gloss cabinets
*Centrally located in the boat for better stability


Countertop:
* Faux-granite acrylic countertop
* ’green’ recycled faux-granite countertop optional

Appliances:
* Viking integrated fridge / freezer and dishwasher
* Gaggenau in-cabinet oven and electric cooktop
* Stainless steel sink with chrome mixing faucet
Bathroom:

*Italian curved-glass vanity
* Kohler frameless glass shower
* Sloan touchless water-conserving faucet
* Household style touch-flush lavatory


Laundry:
*LG steam all-in-one washer / dryer:

Heating / Air Conditioning:
* Remote-controlled (with thermostat) electric air with heater
Electrical:
* Solar-powered exterior LED lights
* Halogen interior downlighters
* Touch sensitive light switches
* Chrome power outlets


Audio / Visual:
* TV connections, satellite-ready, internet-ready
* HDTV projector for movies, computer or gaming
* Sony LCD flat screen TV
* Jamo Danish-made in-wall speakers
Sewage / Water :
* High pressure water pump
* High capacity tankless water heater
* Fresh water tank
* Holding septic tank with pumping system


EXTERIOR SPECS & PHOTO GALLERY:


Dimensions:
* 48ft length x 12ft width (beam) x 7ft (interior height)


* 12ft width (just under 12ft) makes the MetroShip easy to transport across the country without the need for an escort vehicle in most States:

Main Structure: Aluminum hull (optional Fiberglass or Steel Hull or Deep 'V' Aluminum Hull)

Frame / Walls: Maintenance-free aluminum grid wall construction


Floors:
* Aluminum frame with waterproof floor panels

Roof:
* Fiberglass single-piece roof system
* Roof deck is ready to be converted into additional outdoor living area
Windows:
* Double-glazed Low E premium windows in wood frame

Doors:
* Double-glazed Low E premium doors in wood frame:


Power:
* Optional 90HP or twin 60HP Honda outboard motors available
* Optional two transoms for two engine placement available
* Optional helm station available
* The MetroShip is built for comfortable living not speed


One of the Fantasy Gifts in the 2010 NM Christmas Book, below is the description from their catalog:

On the 50th anniversary of our His & Hers gifts, we present the ultimate romantic retreat: the MetroShip houseboat. With a 48-foot by 12-foot open floor plan and 7-foot-high interior ceiling, it has been designed and built as an intimate luxury loft that just happens to float. Richly appointed, it offers the best in comfort, technology, aesthetics–and portability.

Open and airy during the day with waterproof hardwood floors and double-glazed windows, at night it truly glows with sophistication thanks to maintenance-free translucent thermal aluminum walls. Inside, it's all about the two of you. Set the remote-control central air conditioning and heating, and put on some music. The living area includes a next-generation media center with Bang & Olufsen stereo, high-definition projector, Nintendo® WiiTM gaming console, and Sony® LCD flat-screen monitor for movies, computer, gaming, and Internet projection. Grab a bottle of wine from the gourmet kitchen island. It features handmade cabinets, a Viking® refrigerator/freezer and dishwasher, and GaggenauTM in-cabinet oven and cooktop.

Slip into something more comfortable in the spa bathroom with an Italian curved-glass vanity, touch-free faucet, and Kohler® frameless full-size shower. The high-capacity tankless water heater and LG steam washer/dryer come in handy–as does the roomy master suite with a luxury W Hotel bed. Not that you'll be in any hurry to get anywhere, but there are twin 60-horsepower Honda outboard engines. And when it's time to transport or dock, the lightweight aluminum hull and 12-foot width make it easy.

One His & Hers MetroShip Luxury Houseboat
Price: $250,000.00
item no. CBF11_04833
Call 1.877.9NM.GIFT for details.