Floating homes in North America are typically found in the Northwest – Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria. In Europe, floating homes are canal boats or houseboats, although as you’ll see below, Sweden and Denmark have floating homes that aren’t boats. In the Northwest, floating homes are regular home structures on floating raft-like platforms.
Many floating houses are an eclectic style incorporating bright color schemes and unusual home designs – but then they’re unusual to start with given they float. Most floating houses are situated in floating home communities connected with a network of docks and waterways. Many people who live in such homes walk or boat to work in the downtown area in which the homes are typically located.
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Our picture gallery features floating homes in Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Victoria and other places.
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Seattle Floating Homes
Magnificent floating home on Lake Union, Seattle, WA designed by Designs Northwest Architects. See the entire house (inside and out) here.
Floating homes in Seattle, Washington. The Home on the left was in the movie Sleepless in Seattle
Close-up of the floating home in Seattle that was featured in the movie Sleepless in Seattle.
Portland Floating Homes
Minimal landscaping needs can be another selling point for those looking for a veritable ‘home on the sea’.
Houseboats along the waterfront in Portland, Oregon
Floating home neighborhood in Portland, Oregon
Floating homes in Portland, OR. Homes have slide off boat dock.
2-story green floating home in Portland, Oregon
West Coast contemporary floating home with dock and boat in Portland, Oregon
Vancouver Floating Homes
Vancouver is also home to a great many beach homes.
“Waterfront living on a red floating home at Granville Island, Vancouver, BC”
Floating homes next to Granville Island in False Creek, Vancouver, British Columbia. Source: Manny Hernandez
West Coast floating house in False Creek downtown Vancouver, British Columbia
Floating home in Coal Harbor, downtown Vancouver, British Columbia
Victoria Floating Homes
Take note of the unusual architecture and color schemes of these incredible homes.
Floating Home Village at the Inner Harbor, Victoria, British Columbia.
Picture of a row of floating homes in Victoria, British Columbia
Picture of 2 floating homes each with distinct design styles in Victoria, British Columbia
Floating houses at Fisherman’s Warf – Inner Harbor in Victoria, BC
Floating houses at the edge of a floating home community in the Inner Harbor, Victoria, B.C.
2 story green floating house at Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria, BC
Blue 2 story floating home with upper-level sun deck in Victoria, BC (inner harbor)
Floating houses in Victoria, British Columbia
Photo of a floating house neighborhood in Vicotria, BC
Europe
There are many floating homes throughout Europe. Here are a few examples.
Netherlands
Floating home “villa” by Framework Architects + Studio Prototype. This is a huge floating house and is stunning. See more of this house here.
Czech Republic
Floating home by Milan Řídký, located in Marina Vltava, Nelahozeves, Czech Republic. See the inside of this boat here.
Sweden
Houseboats in Malmö, Sweden
Denmark
houseboats in a row in Denmark
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Other
Two-story floating log home on large barge
Small floating home with wrap-around deck that doubles as a boat dock
One-story floating canal boat home with wood exterior
Entrance to floating home neighborhood
Close-up of purple 2-story floating home with dock and large sloping skylight
Contemporary floating home with attached dock
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