Australian Architect-Builder Drew Heath's recent Arkiboat design has become a serial vision with original collaborator/client Ian Ugarte, with the team now offering 'spec-boats' to prospective clients.

Having spent some glorious time in my childhood living in a Housetruck on a farm in Titirangi, I am a blatant Romantic for this stuff, which might also contribute to theories of my continual state of migration.  Sadly I've never set foot on a Boathouse, and its probably fair to say that most New Zealanders havn't either, they just havn't taken off. 

This simple design (the 'prototype') came from the hand of Drew Heath, an Architect and Builder with a unique practice of moving about with his crew from project to project, seeing each one through design and completion.  Not surprisingly the work portfolio of Drew Heath Architects has an established and exhibited an exquisite ability for detailing, which is perfectly suited for marine architecture.  The pared-back planning of the prototype Arkiboat is well-balanced and flexible, aligning each room across the width of the boat.  Larger alternative designs (view here) offer more open-plan variations, and start to appear more conventionally 'domestic' in nature (with internal corridors for example) although it's clearly stated each is to modified by the client.  The prototype –for me at least– feels resolved much more convincingly, and coherently as a design which exploits its unique conditions, and modest intent.


Arkiboat photographed by Brett Boardman

Arkiboat Plan schematic (aligned roughly with photograph).


I'm sure there are some semi-permanent dwellers in some of our cities' docks, maybe they prefer to hold on to their boat status rather than these more cumbersome cousins.  Rivers and lakes, yes we have plenty, but they do seem relatively more volatile don't they, with all the flooding going on.  If you're itching to go, give Drew a call, he might be enticed by a cross-Tasman adventure.

If you know more about the local boathouse scene, I'd be intrigued to hear from you.

Check out the website of Arkiboat, and Drew Heath Architects.