{"id":172886,"date":"2025-08-24T23:24:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T23:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/172886\/"},"modified":"2025-08-24T23:24:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T23:24:13","slug":"this-floating-home-in-seattle-is-inspired-by-pura-vida-philosophy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/172886\/","title":{"rendered":"This Floating Home in Seattle Is Inspired by Pura Vida Philosophy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tWhen designing his new home, Seattle<\/a>-based architect Paul Wanzer chose to think inside the box but off of the land altogether. A principal at\u00a0Hoshide Wanzer Architects + Interiors<\/a>, he teamed up with\u00a0Dyna Builders<\/a>\u00a0for a modern cubic volume floating on Seattle\u2019s Portage Bay. His design inspiration? The Costa Rican philosophy of pura vida, which emphasizes connection with nature, simple pleasures, and easy living.<\/p>\n

\n\tAll three of those tenets are found within the one-bedroom, two-bath abode, which replaced an aging houseboat<\/a> that had occupied the slip for decades. The prior home had sat on an old-growth log float that was likely from the early 20th century, so Dyna built a brand-new concrete float for Wanzer\u2019s new residence. The rectangular structure was then built in a shipyard before being towed into place.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Pura<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tSlender support columns set just in from the building\u2019s envelope allow for curtain walls of glass in the open-plan living space.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndrew Giammarco<\/p>\n

\n\tThe design team made the most of the 1,780 square feet available to them, allowing for almost unfettered openness to the watery landscape while also recognizing the need for privacy in such tight quarters. The dining and living areas on the main level are flanked by soaring walls of glass, with blinds, shutters, and screens allowing Wanzer to decide exactly how much transparency he wants at any moment. And, if he desires total privacy, the main-floor library can be completely enclosed, serving as a respite for seclusion, work, or creative play.<\/p>\n

\n\tThroughout the home, the materials and colors used nod to the nautical setting. White oak floors take you from room to room, where bookmatched white teak casework is a reference to the boating community. A cozy window seat in the upstairs primary bedroom, meanwhile, looks out on a vegetated sedum roof, giving it another connection to nature.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Pura<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe rooftop deck adds to the livable space.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndrew Giammarco<\/p>\n

\n\tA couple of key outdoor areas add to the small footprint\u2019s livability. Telescopic glass panels slide open to connect the main living area to a small deck for barbecuing, as well as a floating dock for kayaks and other watercraft. Up top, the rooftop deck has plenty of space for outdoor dining and lounging. The furniture is all movable, including the fire pit, giving Wanzer the ability to reconfigure the setup as needed.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile not all houseboats are as chic as this Portage Bay beauty, pretty cool versions do occasionally pop up for sale. A couple of years back, a\u00a0funky floating home<\/a>\u00a0hit the market for $4.9 million in California\u2019s Santa Barbara, and more recently, a $4.7 million\u00a0two-bedroom houseboat<\/a>\u00a0was listed late last year not too far from Wanzer\u2019s place in Seattle.<\/p>\n

\n\tClick here<\/a> to see all the photos of the Seattle floating home.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Pura<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndrew Giammarco<\/p>\n

\tAuthors<\/p>\n