# Flood-Fighting Villas The 'Watervilla' is a Luxurious Floating Home Built to Buffer Heavy Rain By Christopher Magsambol | Published 2015-10-27 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/watervilla References: [archdaily](http://www.archdaily.com/775827/watervilla-plus-31architects) & [plus31architects](http://www.plus31architects.com/) The 'Watervilla' is a luxurious [floating home](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blatto-boat) built in the Netherlands on a shallow dock. Most of the country is below sea level and during times of heavy rain, it is common for flooding to occur. Rather than building a house that would be susceptible to flooding, architects designed the Watervilla to float on water, eliminating the chance of damage. Not only is this [luxury abode](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hidden-villa) stunning to look at, it also functions as a buffer for rainwater, which helps decrease possible flooding. The Watervilla was based on an earlier floating house made by the same architects, but more technology and a [contemporary design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/garde-hvalse) sets this new one apart. The glass facade of the Watervilla provides homeowners with unobstructed views of the water, which they can observe from the home's modern furnishings. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 61% | Activity: 53% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Floating Homes:** Opportunity to develop and market luxurious floating homes as a solution to potential flooding problems. - **Rainwater Buffering:** Innovation opportunities to create homes and buildings that can effectively buffer rainwater to prevent flooding. - **Sustainable Architecture:** Demand for sustainable architecture solutions, such as floating homes, to combat the effects of climate change. ### Where This Applies - **Real Estate Development:** Disruptive innovation opportunities for developers to create and sell floating homes in flood-prone areas. - **Architecture and Design:** Opportunities for architects and designers to develop innovative solutions for rainwater buffering and sustainable architecture. - **Flood Resilience Technology:** Demand for technological advancements in flood-resilient infrastructure and building materials. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Elevated Flood Refuge Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lift-house.md) - [Modern Floating Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pura-vida-floating-home.md) - [Flood-Mitigating Wooden Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ushijima-architects.md) - [Recycled Plastic Floating Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mast.md) - [Biodiverse Floating Housing Developments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/floating-neighborhood.md) - [Sustainable Floating Cork Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-float-1.md) - [Floating River Cabins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/floating-river-cabin.md) - [Climate-Responsive Prefab Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drop-pod.md) - [Hydro-Positive Microhomes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-on-groundwater.md)