Here in Metro Vancouver, our land has natural and planned boundaries where homes can’t be built, such as parks and the agricultural land reserve. We’re also hemmed in by mountains, the U.S. border and bodies of water. In fact, the Lower Mainland is surrounded by water in the form of rivers, oceans and lakes.
Float homes are one solution that features truly waterfront living with ocean or river views at a fraction of the price of land-based homes. Neighbours include herons, sea lions, bald eagles and many other forms of wildlife. While this style of living may not be for everyone, float homes do come in single-family, apartment/condo, custom-built or modular pre-fabricated options.
Float homes also exist in other B.C. locations and abroad. Seattle has float homes on Lake Union, dating back to about 1895. Not to be outdone, New York City is planning a float-home community of 19 highrises, 29 to 138 metres tall, on Manhattan’s Pier 40, with 450 living units for all budgets. Serbia offers floating apartments and hotel rooms on the Danube River.
While a rising tide floats all boats, how exactly do these homes stay afloat? They rely on a concrete pad filled with dense Styrofoam, moored within a marina. Although they can’t be driven like a boat, they are portable and can be towed to other locations. Using the latest engineering and innovation, newer models are more self-sustaining, with solar panels and a built-in sewage treatment plant that discharges clean water while older homes still require daily waste-removal service.