Often, it is not the vast square footage projects that perplex and/or keep designers and architects up late at night; it’s the small footprint projects. Add in sustainability, natural resources, renewable energy, conservation and sensitivity to site and you have amassed topics that demand attention as important as large scale projects. So it goes without saying that when one thinks of small scale projects that are dwellings requiring ample consideration, a new trend in such living comes to mind; that of the 21st century ‘boathouse.’ Boathouses truly are unique, they span the globe and are associated with privileged private rowing club members, college rowing teams as well modest lakeside inherited shanties. The definition of use of today’s boathouse may vary but the need for protection from the elements coupled with 21st century sustainability and sensitivity has given way to architects, designers and graduate students alike turning out precious diamonds. Innovative and interpretive boathouse designs that sparkle like clear lake water. Move over coveted pool house design commission and bienvenue 'laBoathouse extraordinaire.’
Below, a group of architecture students are given a boathouse design challenge: The objective? to retool houseboat factories to produce energy-efficient housing, creating new jobs and producing more energy-efficient, affordable housing alternatives for consumers alike...and with professors and guest crits alike at the University of Kentucky supporting the effort, the end results were impressive to say the least...least in scale as well. Images below:http://www.uky.edu/design/index.php/features/article/houseboat_to_energy_efficient_residences_hbeer_project/projects#0
Student scaled models of various interpretations and solutions complete with visual mock ups of the trailers (seen behind the houses on the higher elevations) that deploy the efficient boathouses to water's edge.
Another student designed a boat house as a dream project for the Minneapolis Rowing Club. Nick Buck, an architecture undergraduate student at North Dakota State University is in his fourth year of schooling. This project below " was a lot of fun to plan and to play around with structural techniques. Since this was designed during my second year in the fall semester we still have no knowledge about making buildings that can withstand gravity. With that being said I think this guy has a chance to work. I really wanted to have an elaborate cantilever hanging over the river for spectators to use during rowing competitions...The first floor consists of mostly boat storage and other faculty. The second floor is mainly for the public." Image below: http://nickbuck.wordpress.com/tag/minneapolis-rowing-club/
Regardless of type of boat to be stored, kayak, canoe, scull or motor, providing storage and access is aligned. Providing public vs. private use is where the design functionality begins to differ. The following design focuses on a public boat house that provides access for kayaking. A clean modernist approach was created providing a neutral backdrop for the colorful kayak's color to POP adding a dimension of character to the sleek exterior/interior relationship. Images below: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Kayak-Rental-Facility/3309446
John Vierra took 1st place in the Bohemian Flats Boathouse Student Design Competition ( 4th house/ color rendering below). The competition focused on rewarding small-scale design excellence, highlighting the unique aspects of designing a boathouse and building knowledge about materials, products and assembly contributing to a sustainable and safe environment. Just as unique as the redefinition of what is commonly perceived as a boathouse is the creative thought given to open air/breezeway importance esp. as it reduces energy consumption. While not literal boathouses in that they strattle water or are pertched alongside, Paul Rudolf, a student of Walter Gropius' at Harvard, created modernist summer cottages in Florida and explored pitched shutter/screen innovation back in the early 1953's. Fast froward a bit to 1960 and Jack Hall, an industrial designer and builder constructed a similar cantilevered concept in his famed mini modernist masterpiece "The Hatch House" on mid- Cape Cod, MA. which is recenty restored through the efforts of http://ccmht.org/hallhatch.html
Where shutters once opened with minimal cantilevered weights, slotted entire walls are now operated with similar physical initial hoisted effort vs. grid energy expended. Just as convenient is the ability to close-up the structure at night perfect for a boathouse. Images below: http://www.founterior.com/modern-lake-boathouse-a-luxury-construction-design/
Wood slats comprised of re-purposed materials esp. materials that can age gracefully at the waters's edge are more and more prevalent in modern boathouse design. One is either a fan of the shadows the walls cast inside or not, but either way, the shadows from the various times of the day provide an unmatched free-form of contemporary art that plays upon the interior of the space like a floating mobile of sorts. Image below: http://www.viahouse.com/2010/11/integrated-dock-and-house-of-boat-with-two-level-floating-home-design/
Whether a designer/client decide on wood that will weather to a beautiful nautical patina or on mesh metal materials as siding, the end result is still modern and clean without disturbing the view. The purpose of the boathouse is defined for use and aquatic pleasure. Images below:http://www.minimalisti.com/architecture/07/modern-design-boat-house-5468796-architecture.html