ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. WATER VILLA in Amsterdam, Netherlands by +31ARCHITECTSNovember 1st, 2015 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: +31ARCHITECTS Q: When designing a houseboat or structure sitting alongside a body of water, what are the considerations or alterations you have to make as opposed to a “regular” building? What is the most difficult part to resolve in a floating house? A: There are a few aspects for floating houses that are of the outmost importance: Weight: You always have to make calculations for the weight of the boat because it has to float. the Volume of the hull that is below the water level has to be compensated by the weight of the floating building. If you have a displacement of 1m³ of water you will need to compensate this with a weight of about 1000 kg. Before execution we make calculations off the total weight, including the extra weight that people will need for furniture, books and all other house stuff that they will put in the floating house.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers
 Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Stability: The stability is as important as the weight because if the weight is not balanced it will capsize. It depends on the width of the floating house, the balance/division of the weight and the amount of people. Because it if a lot of people stand on one side of a small boat it could cantilever and/or capsize if you haven’t thought about the stability. Width: The width is of great importance regarding the stability. For example if you double the width the stability will increase exponentially and will be 8 times (2³) more stable. Secondly the centre point of gravity is of great importance. You have to put most of the weight as low as possible under the water level which will make the houseboat even more stable.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: How stable is the houseboat or is there a constant swaying/rocking motion of the water? How does this affect the design decisions made? A: A normal house will always be more stable than a floating house, on the other side a small movement of the boat adds up to the water experience. Q: There is a lot of space, how does this affect your interior design? It is not a nautical project where every square centimeter is saved and space is at a premium. You have however managed to retail that nautical quality of planning and rigor in terms of space used. A: The biggest challenge was to create a double layered floating house with the restricted rule of not building more than 3 m above the water level. With a smart floor plan and section we were able to create a the maximum possible space within a modern and attractive but simple design by a using the all benefits of the water like the reflection of light, the clear view, the dept for the stability and having more storage under the floating terrace and an extra level below the water level.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers We tried to use the natural light as much as possible. At the first place you will find the big glass windows on the waterside but the natural light also comes from a couple of roof windows and by smart cuckoo window which is hidden behind the gas fireplace. The study in the basement is lighted because we created a void in combination with the stairway. Q: What are the materials used in the construction and finishing? Are they nautical materials, construction materials or both? Are the interior walls plastered for example? A: The principle materials for the main supporting structure are reinforced concrete for the hull (open concrete box) with a steel frame on top of it with a steel profiled roof in combination with wooden frames. With these construction materials we were able to make a heavy basement and a strong but light (thin) and sometimes curved constructed roof.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers A concrete hull is perfect for this because it weights a lot and unlike hull made out of steel you don’t have to get them out of the water (each then years) for maintenance. What most people don’t realize is that we add a lot of extra concrete (not constructional) in order to sink the boat so it will be at the right height. The key materials for the facade are the white aluminum cladding panels of Watervilla Omval where produced by Reynobond en by Watervilla Weesperzijde by Kamplacon. The aluminium Windows by Sapa. The benefit of using aluminum is that in the first place it does not pollute the water and secondly it can be easily shaped, fine detailed even with curved forms.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: What was the brief received from the client? A: Most clients/owners who come in to our office always love the typical charms and characteristics of living on the water but don’t like the standard “caravan” appearance of the existing houseboats. Most clients want a houseboat with an open floor plan where they can enjoy the views to the water and the outdoor space to a maximum Q: Have either you or your partner lived on a houseboat and what is the attraction? Why is it becoming more and more popular in the Netherlands? A: Unfortunately nobody from our office has ever lived on a houseboat. If we had the change/opportunity to live on this specific water house we wouldn’t hesitate to do so. One of the main reasons and advantages for people to choose for a floating water house is that you have a close relation/feeling/contact/experience with the water.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers In the Netherlands we have a long tradition in dealing with water, we have a lot of it and it gave a lot of problems in the past. The extensive amount of water combined with the Netherlands (meaning = low land) being one of the densest countries in the world made people to look for alternative ways of living because 26% of our land is below sea level. The kind of clients are the same as clients who ask an architect to design a normal house the only difference between them is that the clients have a strong connection and attraction to the water. There is a wide range in the kind of people that live on houseboats. Interesting is that everywhere you see houseboats there is a strong social connection between the owners. That is typical to living on the water.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: How much does the houseboat weigh? A: After determining the precise depth, width and height of the hull that is under the water level we can calculate the necessary weight of the boat based upon the actual water displacement with the formula of Archimedes: FA = ρ · g · V To calculate the depth of the boat we have to put the whole design in a data sheet in order to make a calculation of the total weight. What most people don’t realize is that we add a lot of extra weight (mostly in concrete volumes and not constructional) in order to sink the boat so it will be at the right level.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: Is the houseboat able to move to a different location? A: The boat can be moved to a different location without any problem. You will need a towing boat or tug to do so since most of the houseboats do not include an engine. Interesting fact is that most water houses are being built more than 150 kilometers from the mooring place. After the water houseboat is finished it has been towed away tot the mooring place sometimes a trip of more than two days.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: How do you avoid floods? A: The floating house has the benefit that it can move (vertically) with fluctuations of the water level. These fluctuations can be caused by tides, heavy rainfall or other flooding situations. Most of the floating houses are fixed by a vertical sliding system that makes it possible to move vertically without moving horizontally. Floating house needs to have a minimum freeboard. The freeboard is the distance between the water level and the closest point where water could enter the floating house.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers The minimum height of the freeboard depends on the water-weather conditions and on the regulations of the insurance companies. In the inner waters such as lakes, canals and rivers the minimum freeboard is at least 35 cm. Due to the possible fluctuations all connections like water, gas, electricity and sewerage are connected by flexible cables to the main land. Q: What are the main advantages of floating houses and why? A: One of the main reasons and advantages for people to choose for a floating water house is that you have a close relation/feeling/contact/experience with the water. The contact with the water can’t be better realized than with a floating house. With a normal house you have to build a big margin with the water level so it won’t flood, with a water house you can put the opening in the façade only 35 cm above the water level. Another advantage is that In such a dense City as Amsterdam it is difficult to find a building location on land, a good alternative building location in the water of Amsterdam.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Another advantage is that we have lot of land in the Netherlands on which it isn’t allowed to build because the land could be flooded. But if you flood this land or make it possible to be flooded in wet seasons, you can not only put water houses or amphibious buildings in these areas, it also functions as a buffer against the wet season. The surplus of water in the rivers can be retained temporarily in this buffer and become a retention area. Q: What are the principal materials of this construction? Why did you choose these ones? A: The principle materials for the main supporting structure that floats in the water is a reinforced concrete hull (open concrete box) with a steel construction frame and wood on top that that supports the floor(s) and roof. In order to make a houseboat as stable as possible it is of utmost importance to put most of the weight as low as possible under the water level. A concrete hull is perfect for this because it weights a lot and unlike hull made out of steel you don’t have to get them out of the water (each then years) for maintenance. What most people don’t realize is that we add a lot of extra concrete (not constructional) in order to sink the boat so it will be at the right height.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: What inspired your design of Watervilla Omval? A: In our approach for designing houseboat architecture we always look for a contemporary and modern design without losing the characteristics of the typical houseboat. The biggest inspiration is the water itself. In our design we try to maximize the view to the water and if possible make the living areas as close to the water as possible so you are able to feel and even touch it. Q: What are the principal materials of this construction of Watervilla Omval? Why did you choose these ones? A: The principle materials for the main supporting structure are reinforced concrete for the hull (open concrete box) with a steel frame on top of it with a steel profiled roof in combination with wooden frames. With these construction materials we were able to make a heavy basement and a strong but light (thin) curved constructed roof. The key materials for the facade are the white aluminum cladding panels by Reynobond and aluminum Windows by Sapa. The benefit of using aluminum is that in the first place it does not pollute the water and secondly it can be easily shaped, fine detailed with curved forms.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: What is the biggest challenge for this floating house? The biggest challenge was to create a double layered floating house with the restricted rule of not building more than 3m above the water level at the location of Watervilla Omval. With a smart floor plan and section we were able to create a the maximum possible space within a modern and attractive but simple design by a using the all benefits of the water like the reflection of light, the clear view, the dept for the stability and having more storage under the floating terrace and an extra level below the water level. Q: What shape has the volume of the house of Watervilla Omval? A: The shape of the house is clear, simple and modern. To make a subtle transition between the higher and lower level it we created this distinguished curved line in the facade that was also derived from the desire to have a roof terrace on top and the restriction that the boat couldn’t be built more than three meters above the water. The curved angles at the bottom of the volume accentuate the idea of a floating volume just above the water level.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: What spaces has the Watervilla Omval and how is the distribution? A: The house has a big living room with an open kitchen. From here you have a smart stair in a split-level that brings you, if you go up with a few steps, to a beautiful roof terrace or downwards to the half lowered bedroom or further down to a voided study which is connected to a hall where you will find the bathroom, storage and at the end of the hall you will find another sleeping room. Q: How is the interaction between inside and outside at Watervilla Omval? What type of light you use and why? A: The curves shape from volume is continued from the outside with curved ceilings and walls into the interior. Besides that the level of the living room is equal to the level of the floating terrace: you can easily walk outside. And if you want to enjoy the sun all-day you can open a roof window automatically and follow the stair outside to the roof terrace which has a glass railing which will give a clear view to the surroundings. We tried to use the natural light as much as possible. At the first place you will find the big glass windows on the waterside but the natural light also comes from a couple of roof windows and by smart cuckoo window which is hidden behind the gas fireplace. The study in the basement is lighted because we created a void in combination with the stairway.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: You think that this house of Watervilla Omval has an original design? Why? A: We think this house has an original form because of its subtle rounded shapes and integrated split-level which gives it a modern look without losing the characteristics of a floating house. Q: The design of the spaces and furniture of Watervilla Omval are also yours? A: Yes all custom-made furniture, except free standing furniture. Q: Do you have experience with water, housing on water or water sports? Why you deal so intensive with this problem? A: The major part of projects we do at the moment are water houses, until yet we have designed about ten of them. We do not approach the water as a problem, by creating floating houses you have the benefit that it raises together with the water whereas a normal house next to the river will flood.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: In our country (Hungary) houseboats do not exist, what is the tradition or historical background in Netherland? A: In the Netherlands we have a long tradition in dealing with water. We have a lot of water and this gave us a lot of problems in the past like the flood disaster in 1953. The extensive amount of water combined with the Netherlands being one of the densest countries in the world made people to look for alternative ways of living. Q: In a few words: why do you propose to live on water houses, what are the advantages for this (apart from the geographical and city planning context)? A: One of the main reasons for people to choose for a floating water house is that you have a close contact and feeling with the water. The contact with the water can be better realized with a floating house then a normal house. With a normal house you have to build in a big margin with the water level so it won’t flood. With a houseboat you can put the opening in the façade only 35 cm above the water level.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Another advantage is that we have lot of land in the Netherlands on which it isn’t allowed to build because the risk of flooding. If you use this land as a retention area you can not only put water houses in the water it also functions as a buffer against the wet seasons. The surplus of water in the rivers can be retained temporarily in this buffer. Q: Do the hollow concrete box not make people become seasick and how is it to live on a houseboat in wintertime or in bad windy weather? A: To avoid movement of the houseboat you have a few important principles to deal with: The main principle to create a stable houseboat is to create a lot of volume (weight) under the water level. The second principle is to put most of the weight of the boat as low as possible (it is better to have a heavy basement and a lightweight top) The third principle is to make the boat as wide as possible. There is a lot of difference between a houseboat which is five meter wide or seven meters wide. If you use these principles you will have a stable houseboat without the slightest risk of being seasick.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Living on a houseboat in the winter has the advantage that the temperature in the water is always higher then above the water so it gives a good natural insulation (in the summertime it even helps to cools down the boat). Most of the time the heating in summertime gives problems because the lightweight top construction that is not able to accumulate heat in comparison to heavy building construction principles. Q: Witch social class or kind of people are your clients, who wants have floating houses in the Netherlands? What is the social context of these projects? A: The kind of clients are the same as clients who ask an architect to design a normal house. The only difference between them is that the clients mostly have a strong connection and attraction to the water. There is a wide range in the kind of people that live on houseboats. Interesting is that everywhere you see houseboats there a strong social connection between the owners that is typical to living on the water.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: What are the specifications for water houses regarding; communication, electricity, garbage, sewage etc? I am interested about details of building too. A: The specifications are not different from normal houses. The only restriction is that everything needs to be flexible to deal with the fluctuations of the water. The most difficult part is the sewage. The concrete casco lies beneath the street level so you need a pump to bring it above the concrete casco and the sewer level in the street. It isn’t possible to make a hole in the concrete casco at a lower level, it could leak. An interesting point in designing water houses is the weight of the boat. To calculate the depth of the boat we have to put the whole design in a specially made excel sheet in order to make a calculation of the weight. Despite that we make the casco’s out of concrete we always need to put in extra weight to get the boat at the right level.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: Are waterhouses stabile and durable like normal houses? Any specification in the choice of materials? A: Waterhouses are as durable like normal houses when you use a hollow concrete casco. If you use a steel casco you will always get problems with rust. The part above the waterline can be made out of every (light weight) material you want and as durable as you want. The only restriction you have is that it shouldn’t be too heavy because of the stability. A normal house will always be more stable than a floating house. On the other hand a small movement of the boat adds up to the water experience. Q: Witch kind of architectural ideas, or office or project influences inspired you in the last time? A: In our approach of houseboat architecture we always look for a contemporary and modern design without losing the characteristics that is own to the appearance of the typical houseboat.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: Can you tell from what century/year on water houses are common and what are the newest phenomena or details in building of water houses? A: In Some books about Amsterdam is mentioned that there were already living people on ships in the seventeenth century (since 1650). During the last century it became more and more common to live on water since the harbor function of Amsterdam was not any longer in the centre of Amsterdam but outside the city. In the construction history it all started first with ships that were converted from carriers to places where people could live. After that people started to build boats especially to live on, most of these boats were/are build with the hollow concrete casco. The hollow concrete casco principle is based on the ship; it is a hollow concrete box which is open on the top. Due to all the air which is in the open box it gets the ability to flow. The newest principle is the pontoon construction; you make a solid platform that is lighter than the water. Most of the time these pontoon constructions are made out a kind of PS insulation material. The pontoon principle has the benefit that you can use it in shallow water, compared to the hollow concrete box it has less stability and should be very light. The concrete box has the benefit that you can use the space within as a part of your building.  Image Courtesy © Ewout Huibers Q: Is this alternative way living better for young mobile people? Can old retired people have problems with approaching and transport of the house? A: The connection between the quay and the boat can be made with a flexible ramp. So it should not make a difference for older people. There are examples of houseboats that have the ability to facilitate disabled people. Q: Does there exist a problem that floating houses are easy to approach (no gates, fences etc) and is easy for robbers to get in? A: Most of the time it is actually harder to reach and break in because you are surrounded by water and the only entrance is facing the street. At some sites the boats have a garden at the quay on which you can put a fence if you want. Q: Water houses are usually closed to the bank and opened with large windows to the river. What about the intimacy of the residents against views of the oars and other cruisers on the same level? A: Foreigners are always amazed by the big windows we have in the Netherlands and that it is so easy to look inside a house. Big windows in this regard are typical Dutch and not necessary typical for houseboats. People who want to live on a houseboat really like the view to the outside and the always moving water. It is like a painting that changes every second. If you want your privacy you can always put down the curtains and nobody can see you, but most of the time you won’t see the curtains because the people inside wants to have the amazing view to the outside.  Image Courtesy © +31ARCHITECTS  Image Courtesy © +31ARCHITECTS OFFICE PROFILE: +31ARCHITECTS +31ARCHITECTS is a young and multidisciplinary office operating in the fields of architecture, interior design and urbanism. +31ARCHITECTS is undertaking a variety of work of a variety of scales and values. +31ARCHITECTS doesn’t see it merely as their task to deepen and translate the space allocation program into a design but also give the client an insight into the possible potentials which lie in the assignment. The dialogue between client and architect is essential with each type of assignment.
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Tags: Amsterdam, Netherlands Category: Villa |
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