http://www.gizmag.com/airbnb-floating-house-river-thames/37578/pictures#18

Airbnb creates fully-functioning floating house

Floating House at Number 1, The Thames, offers 
bespoke living quarters including two bedrooms, 
a bathroom and a living room (Credit: Airbnb) 

Have you ever dreamed of living in floating house 
in which you simply cast off and sail away? Well 
now's your chance. Airbnb is offering the 
opportunity of a night's stay at a house that 
is floating along the River Thames in London, UK.
The Floating House was designed by brothers 
Steve and Nick Tidball of TBWA  The house walls 
and garden extend below the waterline, in part 
to mask the base upon which they are floating  
Despite appearing to have two floors from the 
outside, the Floating House actually has only
one  Inside, the Floating House has been kitted 
out to feel like a real home  

Floating House at Number 1, The Thames, is an 
unusual place at which Airbnb users can win a night's 
stay as part of a promotional contest not unlike the 
former KLM aircraft that we featured last year. 
Marketing aside, though, it is also an impressive 
feat of construction.

Inside, the Floating House has two bedrooms, a 
bathroom and a living room. Not only that, but 
it has a garden outside complete with dog kennel 
and wisteria.

The house was designed by twin brothers Steve and 
Nick Tidball, of the TBWA advertising agency. 
According to Airbnb, they were briefed to create 
something that would enable guests to see the city 
in a different way. The design will not only 
provide views of London from its famous river, 
but references the city's townhouse architecture.

Consideration was given, in particular, to how the 
house would look standing alone. It was decided 
that the "picturesque homes of Primrose Hill and 
Hampstead" and even some influence from Pixar's 
animated film Up would give the "fairy-tale" look 
which was being aimed for.

It is made from six steel shipping containers that have 
been clad in wood and is built upon a floating 
base. By using a uni-float pontoon as the base 
instead of more conventional steel barges, it 
was easier to create a shape that would accommodate 
both the building itself and the accompanying garden.

The house walls and garden extend below the 
waterline, in part to mask the base upon which 
they are floating. The floor in the house itself, 
meanwhile, is raised over 1.5 m (4.9 ft) higher 
than it would be in a normal house, again so that 
the base can be contained and hidden underneath 
the structure.

There are some clever touches in order to provide 
all the facilities required for hosting guests. 
Water tanks hidden beneath ensure that guests are 
able to have showers, and outlet pipes are routed 
through the dog kennel in the garden. There is a 
generator hidden in the roof to provide power.

The whole structure was prefabricated off-site 
and assembled on the water using a floating pontoon 
and cranes. As per Port of London Authority 
requirements, it is not self-propelled, but 
instead has a hidden mechanism for being towed. 
A tug boat is used for towing, but is kept at a 
30-m (98-ft) distance to help maintain the 
illusion of an independently floating home. 

According to Airbnb, this is the first time 
a structure of this style has been allowed 
on the Thames. It was launched yesterday 
and will remain on the Thames until Friday. 
More information is available in the following video.