floating home
Sarah Biren
Sarah Biren
September 10, 2020 ·  4 min read

Self-Sustaining Floating Home Offers a Perfect Getaway

In 2015, a new kind of home hit the headlines: a self-sustaining floating house called the Floatwing.  

There are few things as relaxing as sitting on a dock or in a boat and listening to the gentle waves around you. So many people love to plan vacations and getaways centered around pools or the beach. Water is one of the best escapes from the stressful routine of regular life. Well, if you enjoy quiet, calming getaways, this may be the perfect choice for you. 

A Floating Home That’s Off-Grid and Environmentally Friendly 

Floatwing is an off-grid floating home that can sail at the speed of 3 kt (3.5 mph / 5.6 km/h) because of two small outboard motors. Its modular design allows it be stored easily and shipped all over the world. 

Friday, the Portuguese engineering company, created this innovative design. Floatwing achieved maximum energy efficiency by using environmental-friendly energy and materials. Because of this layout, the home has a low carbon footprint with renewable sources, primarily solar, covering 80% of its power needs. It can be completely self-sufficient for a week at least when its fully charged; this encompasses the power required for the electronic appliances. [1] 

There are four elements of that provide different levels of self-sufficiency in this watercraft. The most advanced model has solar and photovoltaic panels and a wastewater treatment system that optimizes activated sludge. The water and waste tanks are capable for use of up to seven days at a time. 

“When charged, the house is self-sufficient for at least seven days,” said Friday. “It produces up to 80 per cent of its annual energy needs.” 

Read: This House On Wheels Comes Fully Furnished and Sleeps 6 People

Customize the Floating Home According to Your Vacation Plans 

You can also tailor the floating home’s layout. Its fixed width is 6 meters (20 feet). However, it can be extended from 10 meters (33 feet) to 18 meters (59 feet). The interior can also be from 28 square meters (301 square feet) and 52 square meters (560 square feet). With all of these ranges of sizing, you can make the Floatwing into whatever you want. For example, you can choose an on-the-lake cottage for a weekend or a summer-long cabin stay, depending on how many people will be on board and where you’re going to float the home. [2] 

“A romantic gateway for two, or a mobile house in the middle of a lake for the entire family or a group of friends, the possibilities are almost endless,” the Friday team said. 

“Whether you want a cosy studio or a fully furnished three-bedroom house with two bathrooms, the freedom of nature is on your doorstep.”  

The Features on Floatwing

The Floatwing includes a kitchen with all the works, air conditioning, a wine cellar, and a barbeque on the upper level deck. Plus, there can be three bedrooms and two bathrooms onboard. A heat pump warms the place, as well as an AC generator and a pellet stove that burns compressed wood or biomass. So if you love vacations during the fall or winter, your home will stay heated and snug. 

The surrounding deck opens straight to the water surrounding the home, and floor to ceiling glazing around the whole structure. This deck is the perfect place to fish and relax. Additionally, the home can become the base camp for other activities like water skiing or sailing. [3] 

“The modular design of the house means that all its components, including equipment and furniture, can be easily stored in two standard containers and shipped to almost anywhere on the planet,” said Friday. 

This floating home is like an extension of the tiny house and off the grid movement. Except now, Floatwing adds the comfort and seaworthiness of a houseboat. For many, living on the water but a dream now coming true. In the Netherlands, floating homes have already caught on and it’s about time the rest of the world got “on board”. 

More about Friday 

Friday is a spin-off from the University of Coimbra. Its team includes all kinds of experts, like engineers, industrial designers, and naval architects. The company explains its goal to be “creating technologically advanced nautical and water related leisure devices and equipment”, with a focus on “modularity, personalized client relationships, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability”. 

They call the company ‘Friday’ to combine leisure and fun with high professional standards to foster “youthful, responsible yet carefree corporate culture, consistent with the weekend spirit that inspired the brand name.” [4] 

See here for more information about customizing your own floating house.

[1] “Prefabricated floating house can be transported to lakes and waterways worldwide.” Amy Frearson. Dezeen. October 19, 2015 

[2] “Solar-powered floating home in Portugal generates a year’s worth of energy in just six months.” Lucy Wang. Inhabitat. May 29, 2016 

[3] Floatwing https://www.gofriday.eu/datasheets/floatwing.zip 

[4] Friday Official Website. Friday.