When it comes to architecture, few people would consider building away from dry land, yet as the need for more homes increases, so does a shortage of plots! To combat this shortfall, a handful of nifty designers have found an innovative solution. These inspiring floating pads prove that you don't need a strip of land to create a truly spectacular place to live, so let's step off terra firma and take a look at the world's most impressive buoyant buildings...

Located in the Weesperzijde neighborhood of Amsterdam, this inspiring houseboat was designed to provide its owners with a holiday-like feeling all year round. Offering luxury living on the River Amstel, the property was designed by Jasper Suasso de Lima de Prado and Jorrit Houwert of local firm, +31ARCHITECTS.

Known as Watervilla Weesperzijde, the owners of this gorgeous pad were seeking a contemporary houseboat, which maximized the link between the water and their home’s interior. 

The architects achieved this by creating a waterside retreat with an entire wall of glass, which opens up to unite the two elements. 

Covering 2,152 square feet, the floating villa also boasts a gorgeous outdoor terrace which is permanently moored alongside the entire length of the villa – so the homeowners can step outside whenever they like!

A floating staircase leads down to a basement level where the bedrooms and bathrooms can be found. In fact, the master suite even boasts its very own in-room bathtub. Now that's what we call luxury living!

The brainchild of Polish architect, Dymitr Malcew, this elegant floating house was designed to highlight the special and unique experience of living on water.

The stunning villa benefits from being entirely enclosed by the natural environment, allowing the home's lucky resident to cut themselves off from the digital world. Malcew was inspired to create an innovative floating home that has all the luxuries of a penthouse apartment. 

As a designer of experiences, Malcew looked to create an innovative floating home which had all the luxuries of a penthouse apartment. Segmented by glass, the villa is divided into three living quarters for cooking, socializing and sleeping and offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a lounge, kitchen and a generous outdoor terrace. 

Malcew used extensive over-sized sliding windows to maximize views and to allow for the exterior landscape to seamlessly blend with the interior. The base of the property can be constructed on a floating platform, offering flexibility of location, while all the internal rooms can be customized to meet the needs of the individual client.

Contemporary and entirely unconventional, this off-grid home showcases just how stunning life on the water can be. If you're happy to live in complete seclusion, that is... Love this? Take a look at these incredible underwater homes. 

Known as DublDom, this modular floating house was created by Ivan Ovchinnikov of BIO-architects.

Designed in 2016 to be entirely universal, the floating property is just 172 square feet in size and offers an outdoor deck covering just 75 square feet.

Ovchinnikov was always aware of the weight during the build, constructing the house from LVL timber beams in order to make it as light as possible. Sprayed polyurethane foam keeps the home nice and insulated, double-layered windows were used for maximizing thermal performance while the interior of the bathroom was created from coated waterproofing, which is much lighter than traditional ceramic tiles.

Inside, the floating home boasts a kitchen, bedroom, lounge and shower area. The kitchen is equipped with a built-in refrigerator, oven, stove, fireplace mantel, washing machine and storage. Much of the convertible furniture can be folded and converted to free up internal space. 

The home was designed for factory production, making it quick to install and simple to transfer from one location to another, either by helicopter or lorry! See more factory-built houses that take the graft out of building.

Due to its incredible number of canals, Amsterdam is rife with houseboats. Historically, these fabulous floating homes were created to aid the city’s housing shortage but are now seen as extremely desirable pieces of real estate!

Designed by Julius Taminiau Architects, this prefabricated floating house was influenced by Japanese Tatami rooms, which have rice straw covered mats laid in blocks to form the floorplan. The designers found that the Tatami grid creates a standardized design that reduces waste during the building process. With the exterior cladding made to look like Tatami mats, the home has a light reflective finish that mirrors the water subtly.

The house was built in a factory-style environment in the town of Hardenberg, around 60 miles from central Amsterdam. Upon completion, the pad was transported on the water to its final location.

The property's interior is also inspired by modern Japanese interior design and offers an ultra slick and contemporary vibe, with multiple levels and plenty of glazing. With lots of clever built-in storage solutions, the home is also incredibly practical for a busy family.

Set over two levels, the houseboat's lower floor lies partially below the water line. Offering three bedrooms, a double-height living space near the entrance and a rooftop terrace kitted with solar panels, the houseboat is a triumph of floating architecture. 

This glamorous zero-emissions floating home is actually an electric yacht with a tiny house structure on top. It was designed in collaboration between Waterstudio and Arkup to be entirely self-sufficient, providing the owners with luxury while minimizing their carbon footprint.

Featuring waste management, rainwater harvesting and water purification systems, the floating house is designed to be able to withstand strong winds, floods and even hurricanes. The property can even be anchored on four 40-foot-long hydraulic legs, allowing it to be entirely stationary. 

The home boasts two noise-free electric thrusters, which allow for the best possible maneuver-ability, propelling the yacht up to seven knots per hour. The floating house also features a 2,300-square-foot roof with 36kW solar electric panels, which generate sufficient green energy to allow for off-grid living.

With two outdoor decks and four en-suite bedrooms, the floating house can sleep up to eight people at once and benefits from a 775-square-foot living room, a fully-equipped open concept kitchen and double-height ceiling.

Spacious, elegant and entirely luxurious, the floating yacht offers 2,260 square feet of internal space and the possibility to capture truly remarkable panoramic views. Bliss! Fancy living without bills? Check out these incredible passive homes that cost nothing to run. 

Designed by the architects at Mano de Santo studio, Punta de Mar was conceived in order to better link the natural world with daily life and to allow its residents to awaken all five of their senses.

The floating pavilion was curated to promote a lifestyle rich in disconnection, relaxation and wellbeing, and can be transported by land or towed by sea, allowing it to be moved to different areas for truly exclusive experiences.

With a passive heating system, the home regulates its own temperature while a water tank stores all the home's waste for low environmental impact. 

Covering just 796 square feet, the floating pavilion has an abundance of windows reflecting the ocean inside and offering the illusion of ample internal space. Ideal for two people, the home is divided over two floors and boasts a master suite with a bathroom and a private terrace.

The roof also boasts an incredible 365-square-foot deck, which offers plenty of space for relaxing and entertaining while surrounded on every side by blue water.

Being able to select the size, location and style of a house isn't a new concept but now you can do the same for a private, luxurious island...

Developed by Amillarah Private Islands in conjunction with Christie’s International Real Estate, these floating islands use the latest state-of-the-art green technology, which keeps their environmental impact minimal. They are also entirely customizable to your preferred size, style and shape.

Described by Amillarah as a piece of art you can live in, these incredibly luxurious private islands for sale are designed for providing ultimate privacy and freedom​ – just so long as you have a few million in your bank account!

This new initiative allows the super-rich to own a self-sufficient, eco-friendly private island just about anywhere in the world. You can essentially create your dream home on your very own strip of land and place it in any suitable body of water, wherever you like.

The stuff of daydreams, owning your own bespoke island can now be a reality. Escape the hustle and bustle of life and take to your own private pad, entirely surrounded by the ocean. We can't think of anything better than that, can you?

Designed for a competition that sought ideas to ease London's housing crisis, this prototype floating house could be the future of the British property market. Created by Baca Architects in association with Floating Home, the angular modular pad finds itself on the idyllic waters of the Chichester Canal, on the south coast of the UK.

The prefab home was assembled in a factory and features insulated wooden panels clad in cedar. The building was lifted into position using a crane and floats on concrete foundations that weigh over 40 tons. The prefabricated shell was then placed on top to complete the structure.

Known as The Chichester, the buoyant property was inspired by narrow boats and offers a gorgeous contemporary interior as well as extensive glazing.

Inside, the home sits over split levels and boasts an open-plan layout with a generous kitchen and a bright living room, with fantastic canal views. A staircase leads up to an outdoor terrace that sits on the home's flat roof, making it a fantastic space for entertaining.

Baca Architects hopes that soon similar prefabricated floating houses will utilize previously unused waterways across London. Both practical and affordable, the home offers the chance for Brits to experience life on the water, in a truly unique and luxurious way. Loved this? Check out these flat-pack tiny homes you can build in a flash.