5 houses on water (that look really great in winter)
Think that living on water only works when the sun is out? These houses will make you think again
The act of building has a somewhat conflictual relationship with water. Dependent on location - be it the arctic north, the tropical south or any of the temperate climes in-between - snow and ice, rain, and atmospheric humidity are an architect’s greatest adversaries.
Where there is water, however, there is infinite scope for architectural innovation. Our new book Living on Water, features 55 beautiful houses built on or near water.
In it, you'll find a significant contingent of dwellings in which the relationship between land, house, and water (lakes, rivers, oceans, and climatic conditions, such as mist, fog, rain, and snow) is a deliberate design decision.
The careful shaping of a building's volumes may allow for exterior areas to be shielded from harsh winds for instance, creating pockets of habitable outdoor rooms. A large, undulating roof following the topography of the site may create grand eaves that serve as shelter from the sun, or rain.
Living on Water is thoughtfully divided into three thematic chapters dedicated to; houses built to look at the water; houses built to be on the water; and houses built to be reflected by the water. And these aspirational dwellings are shot in every light under every circumstance.
But given the wintry weather right now, for our first look at it we've decided to pick on a few of the ones that still manage to look great in winter. If you like what you see you can pre-order Living on Water here.
