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In this series, Mark Evans charts the exploits of individuals, couples and families who aspire to leave landlocked suburbia behind to live in the ultimate waterside dream home – stunning ‘aquatic homes’ that float on water.
2018
The Baris family live in the Netherlands, in the heart of canal country with dreams of building a floating home on the local waterways. Their ambitious design includes floor to ceiling windows along the length of the first level, and a fun underwater space on the ground level with a den and bedrooms for the kids. Narrow locks, shallow water and low bridges threaten the new build every step of the way, but the home finally makes it to its’ new mooring site and the family begin a new idyllic life on the water.
Linda’s dream is to build a floating home and moor it at Maple Bay Marina on Vancouver Island, positioned so it overlooks her favorite nature reserve–Chisolm Island. When the extra weight of the glass requires complex engineering to stop the walls from collapsing, the building process proves to be more complicated that she had originally expected. In the end, her spectacular floating home nests on the emerald waters of the bay, offering 360 degree views of the surrounding nature.
Valentin and Daria’s dream is to escape their cramped city apartment with their young son, and live on the Thames in their own floating home, right under the iconic Tower Bridge. They create their own design converting an old barge into a three tiered contemporary floating apartment, but are met with the challenge of moving their new finished home back to London. After a hair raising journey, they finally make it to England and their eye catching floating apartment becomes a new attraction next to Tower Bridge.
Lee and Justine want to transform an old steel hull boat into a 2 story floating house on the River Medway near Rochester, England. With only 16 weeks to build, the crew must battle bad weather and the enormous daily tide that lifts and drops the boat, twice a day. To make matters worse, when Justine’s huge diesel powered oven needs to be lifted on board, the weight of the oven causes the house to tilt, threatening it to collapse. The result is an amazing house with sleek modern interiors and upper decks that provide the perfect platform to soak in spectacular views of the river.
Karen and her boyfriend Tom have decided to build a houseboat on England's Grand Union Canal in the tranquil ambience of the stunning Colne Valley. When space becomes an issue for the build team, they may have to compromise on the design.
Fed up with her cramped city apartment, sportswear manager Marsha sets out to build a spacious two story floating home on the idyllic Multnomah Channel near Portland, Oregon with an open living space and unobscured views of the river.
After 30 years living on River Itchen in Southampton, Gerald sets out to design and build an extraordinary new home, a futuristic fiberglass house, made at Shamrock Quay Marina, designed and built by his 27 year old son, Aidan.
Joan is a floating home veteran but she’s taking the plunge and sinking her savings into a pair of brand new monster mansions worth a million dollars each. She’s not holding back on the high end finishes, luxury open plan lounges and kitchens, a sun deck on each of the three stories and a custom lighting plan. The pair of million dollar mansions squeezes through the locks and canals of Seattle at night before a team of tugs ease them into their moorings. Finally, we see the luxury interiors come together as the dream becomes reality for Joan.
2021
Classical pianists Masa Tayama and Rhiana Henderson dream of combining their two passions, music and canal cruising. So they’re risking Masa’s life savings to commission a one of a kind aquatic home come floating concert hall and hotel.
After surviving a heart attack 15 years ago, newly retired 55 year old boating enthusiast Colin Stewart's embarking on a bold life adventure. He's planning to spend half the year cruising Britain's waterways on a high spec narrow boat,'Tickin Along'
A couple who’ve fallen in love with the UK’s waterways sell their massive house in South Africa as they set out to build a bespoke floating home in Bedfordshire.
A couple in Amsterdam hope to turn a titanic 254 ton industrial cement carrier into their dream waterborne home, in just seven months and on a budget of £135k.
Harry dropped anchor in Birmingham in his student days, splashing out £4500 on a 1970's canal boat. Now he has £1000 to bring this modest vessel up to date.
Aart Simons and Nanouk Kropman met through a love of sailing. To fulfil their shared dream of living on water, they have bought a disused 1950s Dutch cargo ship - but transforming this old hunk of metal will be a logistical, financial and emotional ride of a lifetime.
For 35 years, Netherlands fisherman Jan de Boer has spent his working week at sea, with weekends on dry land in the large family home where he and his wife Geja raised their six children. But now, Jan and Geja are ready for a new adventure, building a custom-designed floating home that will be part of a pioneering aquatic village.
After celebrating 30 years of marriage Kurt and Roberta Fraese are ready for a new adventure. They've sold their Seattle home and are sinking over half a million pounds into an enormous, uber modern waterborne home on Vancouver Island’s East Coast.
2016
Mark Evans meets Mark and Holly in Chichester, as they design, build, launch and furnish a unique floating home in an area of outstanding natural beauty along the Chichester riverbank.
Mark Evans meets Dwayne and Janet, who have a dream to design and build an experimental oversized houseboat, so they can take their home with them anywhere on the vast network of UK canals.
Mark Evans follows British-born Steve King and his friend Rick Keith, who meet up in Maine, New England, every year to restore old boats. Now Steve wants to make his own tiny floating home, and he plans to spend no more than £7000 on it.
In Vancouver, Aaron and Heather thought a floating home was beyond their means. But when they find a company who can build them an affordable floating starter home, with stunning views of both the mountains and the city skyline, they dive right in.
Shirley and Russ want to join a community of 600 floating homes in Canada. They're set on a luxury ranch-style floating home with wraparound decks, but the launch is hair-raising - one slip and it will be a disaster.
Milt and Judi Taylor want to swap their Oregon apartment for a wooden floating home in the forests surrounding Portland. Young couple Roy and Rianne are designing and building a floating residence as their starter home to moor in Amsterdam.
Susan Dunn is passionate about building a stunning floating home using the latest in contemporary design in Seattle, Washington. And Harry Janzen and Tina McComb dream of a massive three-storey wilderness retreat.
2023
Suffolk boatyard specialists Mary and Simon's dream is a futuristic aquatic pod. They're experts in their aquatic field, but have they taken on more than they can handle?
2026
Mark Evans tracks their exploits of more landlocked homeowners build a life in stunning aquatic homes. Karen and Tony Ainley are continuous cruisers, spending their time exploring the UK's 4700 miles of canals and rivers, and have decided to go all in and commission a fully bespoke narrowboat, designed entirely to suit their lifestyle.
Alan and Val have put their savings on the line for a high-tech boat as a unique way to keep up with the family. But first they need to learn how to live on the water.
Seasoned floating homeowners Pat and Sue Willan are planning to spend their retirement on a huge, state-of-the-art Dutch barge. But will their expensive tastes sink the project?
In Surrey, Linda and Mark need an upgrade on their cramped floating home and Linda's doing it by herself. Is enthusiasm and passion enough to get the job done?
In Kent, metal worker John tackles a cut-price riverboat restoration using various ingenious workarounds. Can he make a home of his own and finally fly the nest?
After 25 years living in New Zealand, Keith and Pam dream of touring the UK's waterways. But it's their first boat and they'll need to learn the ropes quickly.
A German couple want to live closer to nature. They build a novel high-tech caravan that floats on water. But will their radical design work?
Londoners Lily and Natasha have bought a decrepit narrowboat at a knock-down price. Will their DIY enthusiasm override their lack of knowledge and experience?
Mark Evans meets retired engineer Tony Boynton and his stepson Graeme Stone, as they tackle the restoration of a 40-year-old narrowboat so that the latter can step away from the daily grind and find somewhere peaceful to call homewith his partner Emily. Bu the project presents all kinds of complications - not least the fact that the boat is moored in Lancashire, 130 miles away from their Scarborough home.
Peter and Tracy have been narrowboat lovers for years and cherish their time together on the water as they order a new bespoke boat so that family and friends can cruise together. To bring it all to life, they've turned to experienced boat builder Chris Williams. With over 30 years in the trade, he's crafted everything from classic cruisers to modern live-aboards.
Mark Evans meets Nigel and Tina Powell and their dog Stich, who are planning to live full time on a narrowboat. Stich needs a quiet engine. To keep him calm, the couple have commissioned a fully electric narrowboat. They've also requested a bespoke heart-shaped window at the bow of the boat. Can the boat maker deliver everything,within Nigel and Tina's £230,000 budget?
Mark Evans
Self - Presenter
