AND
NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.........WATER MANSIONS
Back
in the late summer of 2004 I was contracted by a client who wanted me
to design and engineer a luxury houseboat. That in itself
isn’t
so unusual, except for the fact that it had to resemble an Italian
villa. I have to admit I was a little skeptical. But my mind soon
changed after consulting with the client, whose prior experience with
houseboats and appreciation for classic architecture convinced me that
this could be a unique opportunity to do something very special.
“Form versus function” is always a balancing act,
and no
where is that more applicable than in the design of boats. So besides
the desired aesthetics qualities the client wanted, this houseboat was
to be 50 feet or under, a single story structure, have a spacious roof
deck, and have open interior living spaces in keeping with the mansion
style of high ceilings. There had to be two bedrooms, each with their
own bathrooms, a living/dining area for entertaining, and a large
gourmet kitchen. In addition, the houseboat had to be motorized (not
just a floating house) and fully self-sufficient. It also had to have a
robust structure.
The first job was to draw up a general arrangement and fit an interior
that would meet the client’s needs. This pretty much dictated
the
beam of the vessel (26’8”) and, in part, the type
of hull
form we would use to support the house. From a weight, beam and
hydrodynamic point of view, a simple catamaran hull was the only real
choice. It also made for an extremely stable platform on which to build
the house.
In parallel
with the general arrangement study, we were also working on
the exterior look of the house, which was critical to the success of
the project. With classical architecture not really being my forte, I
brought in a well respected New England architect (and college buddy)
Chris Hoell to design the façade. Chris took the photo that
had
been supplied by the client of an actual Italian villa, and produced
exactly the desired look and feel we were after.
With the conceptual phase of the project in hand, we set about
engineering the hulls, cross-beam structure, and house. The geometries
of the hulls are simple developable surfaces, each eight feet in beam.
Steel was the material of choice for the hulls and cross-beam, given
its strength, durability, and relatively low construction costs. These
structures were engineered to the American Bureau of
Shipping’s
scantlings rule for displacement-type power vessels. A check of the
cross-beam structure was made using the Dinsenbacher criteria for
estimating loads on catamaran cross-structures.
The decision was made to build the house as a wood-framed structure
using marine grade materials. However, due to the unique styling of the
house, it was necessary to find a durable, whether proof, light-weight
material that could be used to simulate old-style masonry work. It just
so happens that there is a company in Rhode Island that makes exactly
the perfect product for this application. Dryvit is a commercial
exterior wall and insulation system that can be textured and colored to
just about any finish you could want. It has a proven record in adverse
environments and it’s relatively easy to work with.
Residential
building codes, along with ABYC standards, were used as the basis to
design the house structures.
As mentioned in the client’s criteria, the houseboat needed
to be
a self-propelled, self-contained vessel capable of operating in
protected waters (harbors, rivers, inland water-ways, etc.).
One
of the reasons we proposed a catamaran was for its easily driven, low
drag, hull form. In gauging the power requirements, we conducted a
power analysis and determined that a single 250 hp engine would push
the houseboat along at a cruising speed of 8 knots. The engine will be
on a hydraulic retractable mount. To aid in the maneuverability of the
vessel, there will be a bow thruster in the port hull. In addition,
there will be an onboard generator, inverters and batteries providing
more than enough power for all domestic needs. The houseboat will carry
adequate fuel and water stored in the tanks located in each of the
hulls.
Interior
Description
The arrangement of the interior was not only meant to compliment the
grand style of the house, it was also meant to be quite functional. The
main boarding area is from the after lower deck, where there are also
port and starboard swim platform/dingy landings. The primary entrance
into the house is through the galley with a half bathroom on the
starboard side. The gourmet kitchen is well equipped with a full-sized
refrigerator, an electric countertop stove and oven, a trash compactor,
a stacked washer and dryer unit, and a dumb waiter that serves the
upper deck.
The galley opens up into a large central entertaining area complete
with a formal dining space and a generous floor plan for a comfortable
lounge suite. Three-quarter height windows bath this space in natural
light. In the forward end of the houseboat there are two luxurious
staterooms, each with their own full bathroom. Besides direct access
into the main living area, each of these cabins also has French doors
opening up onto the forward lower deck.
The
upper deck will be the place to be during the summer months. There
will be room for a Jacuzzi, a bar, a dining area, and a barbeque. The
helm stations (port and starboard), will also be located on the upper
deck so that the operator of the houseboat will have a clear field of
vision when driving the vessel or approaching a dock. There are two
stairways up to this deck, one forward and one aft.
Unfortunately,
the Villa Houseboat has yet to be built, but Van Gorkom
Yacht Design definitely realizes the potential for this type of
houseboat in any architectural style, from classic to
contemporary. We like to call them “Water
Mansions”. We feel that the overall elegance and
style of
the houseboat does not have to be compromised by the practical aspects
of having a motorized vessel.
Back
in the late summer of 2004 I was contracted by a client who wanted me
to design and engineer a luxury houseboat. That in itself
isn’t
so unusual, except for the fact that it had to resemble an Italian
villa. I have to admit I was a little skeptical. But my mind soon
changed after consulting with the client, whose prior experience with
houseboats and appreciation for classic architecture convinced me that
this could be a unique opportunity to do something very special.
In parallel
with the general arrangement study, we were also working on
the exterior look of the house, which was critical to the success of
the project. With classical architecture not really being my forte, I
brought in a well respected New England architect (and college buddy)
Chris Hoell to design the façade. Chris took the photo that
had
been supplied by the client of an actual Italian villa, and produced
exactly the desired look and feel we were after.