An Off-Grid Floating Home Brings the All-Black Aesthetic to the Canals of Amsterdam

In a former industrial canal in northern Amsterdam, Dutch design firm i29 architects built an all-black, timber-clad home that stands out for its angular form. It’s just one of the 30 unique water-based dwellings that comprise Schoonschip, an experimental neighborhood that emphasizes sustainable and communal living.

To achieve the client’s desire for a "surprising house shape" while still maximizing the 325-square-foot plot, i29 implemented a four-floor design wrapped in an all-black, waxed-wood envelope—features that intensify the sculptural quality of the home. "It has a pitched roof," explain the architects, "but the coping of the roof is turned diagonal to optimize usable space on the inside, and achieve an outspoken architectural design on the outside." The home provides 525 square feet of indoor living space, and two outdoor terraces add another 120 square feet.