The Schwimmhaus by German architects Confused-Direction is a green hausboot (oops, house boat) designed to float around or just stay put on the shore. Its modern pre-fab aesthetic sets it aside from most maritime-y houseboats, and a green roof adds freshness and sustainable cred. Still under construction, Schwimmhaus is being built from wood salvaged from an old farm house in addition to other sustainable building materials.

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Based in Oldenburg, just a boat’s float up the Hunte River to the North Sea, Confused-Direction is a young design co-op founded by Flo Florian and Sascha Akkermann. With backgrounds in technical design and carpentry, respectively, Confused-Direction dabbles in furniture, interior and architectural design. You may remember Sascha’s fold-up chaise lounge, the poissonmobile from 2006.

The Schwimmhaus is set for completion this spring. No word yet on whether they’re planning on making the hausboot commercially available but I can imagine a waiting list in eco-conscious houseboat-friendly cities like Seattle or Portland. It’s inspiring to see designers take on alternative dwellings – if we can’t significantly reduce the melting of our icecaps and glaciers, we may all be living afloat someday.

+ Schwimmhaus

+ Confused-Direction