A houseboat for life
Who: Julia H. and Dave B.
Where: Berlin
What: Houseboat
With what: Engineered wood flooring Trendtime 8 Oak Smoked Elephant Skin wide plank
The two kitesurfers Julia H. and Dave B. are naturally adventuresome. The desire to combine city living with water and wind led them to the joint idea of building a houseboat. "We live in Berlin," says Julia, an elementary school teacher, while looking at Dave, who is a freelancer in the online sector. Like many Berliners, both of them are drawn to traveling. The option of being able to change their geographical focus at any time was one of the reasons for the joint project. Realising it took a lot of time and commitment. But one important step is now done: "It floats and it is balanced. Moving this behemoth from land to water was pretty exciting," says Julia H.
The interior finishing came next. Wood was to be the main material outside as well as inside, to create a perceptible connection to the surrounding nature even indoors. In the search for the perfect floor for the interior areas, they immediately noticed Parador's high quality. They applied to our "40 years - 40 projects" contest. And they were delighted when Parador decided to support the houseboat project with the engineered wood flooring Oak Smoked Elephant Skin wide plank. The flooring now complements the river panorama of the floating home and will get to see many landscapes and cities.
Click through the photo gallery and find out more about the project!

Julia, elementary school teacher, and Dave, a freelancer working in the online sector, fulfil their dream of a mobile home on the water.

Their passion for kitesurfing shapes their free time. The houseboat project is just as adventuresome.

From the start, they planned each step together. But they never dreamt that it would be this exciting!

Wood became the most important construction material so that the senses could experience the surrounding nature even indoors.

Parador supported the houseboat project with the engineered wood flooring Trendtime 8 Oak Smoked Elephant Skin wide plank and added more buoyancy to the project.

"Moving this behemoth from land to water was pretty exciting." Luckily, the new flooring has a 25 year quality warranty.

Swell-resistant lamellas and all-round edge impregnation ensure outstanding edge swelling protection.

Thanks to its dark and natural look, the new flooring harmonises with the river panorama of the living room.

The houseboat is currently moored in Berlin. The option of being able to change the geographical focus at any time was one of the reasons for the construction of the mobile home.

The Blue Angel, Real Wood, PEFC™, and TÜV Rheinland certifications were important considerations in Julia and Dave's selection of the flooring.