Sausalito Houseboat located in Sausalito’s historic floating home community. The design incorporates layering of materials, layering of public/private zones, and split levels to organize space inside a simple cube.
In the word houseboat lies a paradox. Is it more house or boat? Rather than trying to impose the expectations of a house on a boat, we chose to make this floating home decidedly more boat-like and, in doing so, solved many of the problems that plague conventional houseboats.
© Richard Barnes
An open plan that uses levels rather than walls and full floors to divide space allowed air circulation, cross ventilation, and sunlight to penetrate deep into the boat, alleviating the ever-present moisture and dampness found living so close to the water.
Entered from the public dock by a gangplank, the first level floats in the center of the space, holding an indoor/outdoor porch and the principal bedroom. From here, a wide stair leads down to the living level with direct access to the bay.
© Richard Barnes
A kitchen sits between this level and the lower bedroom and garden levels. The interior is clad in painted wood slats, while the exterior is clad in salvaged redwood siding left unfinished to age and patina naturally.
It was a priority for our project to align itself with the ambitious architectural forms from Sausalito’s floating home community’s past. Harkening back to the values that made this place a unique community, and as an alternative to the monster floating homes that are appearing on the docks today.
Project info :
Year : 2022
Design Team : Craig Steely Architecture
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.