If you are a travel enthusiast and like exploring fancy places, you would have seen the scenic homes in the Maldives. Yes, the fancy and gorgeous resorts and bungalows over the lagoons are a special highlight of the place. But they aren’t just a thing for places like the Maldives and French Polynesia. You too can have your own scenic abode over water and enjoy the experience. But, before you set some house goals and hire an architect, don’t you want to know about it? Let’s check out and understand the intricacies and what it takes to build an overwater bungalow.
- Finding the right place for the bungalow
Building an overwater bungalow is a lot different from traditional land construction and brings new challenges. And the first of all challenges will be with finding the right location for your villa. Just like on the land, not all soils and grounds are good enough for construction. You need a stiff and stable ground to set the foundation and the sandy sea bed isn’t that reliable. Moreover, you need calm waters or lagoons and not the shore that is hit hard by waves. So, proper research and approval is a mandatory first step in this journey. - Thinking about getting there
Overwater houses and bungalows are mostly built in calm and serene places with little commotion. You often find them in remote and wild lagoons with little or no settlements. So, you also need to think about getting to your bungalow from the land. And more importantly, having the basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation, electricity etc on board. Also, since you will be in a distant place, easy availability of rations and transporting them to the overwater house is essential. It is something for you and your architects to work out before breaking ground. - Laying the groundwork
Before starting with the actual construction, you need to set up the work floor. Someplace for the labour to secure their supplies and stable ground to work on your bungalow. And that’s the tricky piece of the puzzle, finding the right place to start with. Once you have that, you need a stable foundation for the house. That requires a lot of planning, labour and strategic designing intellect. So, it is better to pick the best architects and team for the job.
- Protecting the ecosystem of the place
The most important aspect of designing an overwater bungalow is to consider its impact on the ecosystem. The sea and ocean ecosystems are very sensitive and even a minor change leaves a cascading effect. Therefore, you need to be mindful of how your construction affects it. Use natural material as much as possible and minimise the interaction with the surface. Also, do not interfere with or modify the natural setup like marshes, corals etc. Something that seems insignificant could be something of great importance to aquatic life. Consult professionals and talk to locals about the habitat and the best ways to adapt to the local environment. - Cost considerations
Building a house is already an expensive project and a considerable investment of time and money. Doing it over water in a natural space adds more complexity and cost. Primarily the logistics, material and structural complexities push up the cost. So, you should plan your finances and the cost of the project. Moreover, for a bungalow on the water, you want to experience nature and the true essence of the place. So, instead of adding too many artificial elements and modern amenities, blend with the surroundings and integrate these components. This can help manage cost and also reduce your footprint on nature.
Overwater bungalows are becoming a popular attraction at beach destinations and many resorts are seeking the opportunity. Many hoteliers are launching new projects to attract guests for vacations and give them a thrilling experience. So, it is a great experience and a project you can invest in. Moreover, if you want to use it as a vacation destination or plan a getaway with friends, your overwater bungalow can be the perfect natural retreat. As for the professionals, consult with various top architects and choose the ones with experience in such projects. Not everyone is capable of bringing your dream to life.
Sean
May 9, 2023
Thanks for the helpful advice, it will be very useful to me.