A luxurious floating cottage in Miami
Miami has no shortage of expensive waterfront real estate with private docks and yachts waiting just outside the door. But Arkup and Waterstudio.NL have taken the idea further, offering a new vision of waterfront living: a self-sufficient two-level floating villa where the comfort of a modern home is combined with the ability to move across the water.
Arkup, a Miami-based company developing the concept of livable yachts, teamed with the Dutch architectural studio Waterstudio.NL, known for its work in floating architecture. Their Arkup 75 project does not look like a conventional houseboat. It feels more like a full-scale contemporary villa on water — a luxurious two-storey residence of approximately 4,350 square feet, or about 404 square metres, designed for living, relaxing, and entertaining against a backdrop of panoramic views.
The central idea behind the project is autonomy. A roof area of about 2,300 square feet is covered with 36 kW solar panels, allowing the residence to generate its own electricity. A 182 kWh battery supports an off-grid lifestyle, while a rainwater collection, storage, and purification system helps reduce dependence on external infrastructure. The project also includes modern solutions for water treatment, communications, and more responsible resource management.
Arkup 75 can be understood at once as a home, a yacht, and an architectural response to living by the water in an era of climate change. Unlike conventional waterfront property, this villa is not tied to a single piece of land. It can move across the water, while special retractable hydraulic spuds allow the structure to stabilize itself and rise above the water surface, increasing stability and helping protect it from waves and storm conditions.
The interior is organized like a modern luxury residence. At its heart is a large open living area with panoramic glazing, bringing together the kitchen, dining area, and lounge space. The home includes bedrooms, bathrooms, generous outdoor areas, a veranda, and a rooftop terrace. Thanks to sliding glass panels and large windows, the interior remains constantly connected to water, light, and the horizon.
Special attention is given not only to technology, but also to atmosphere. This kind of home should not feel like engineering for engineering’s sake. It has to be a real place to live — with comfortable furniture, a thoughtful layout, quality materials, and the feeling of a private resort. In one of the early projects, the interior was furnished in collaboration with the Brazilian company Artefacto, known for its contemporary tropical-luxury style.
What makes Arkup 75 especially interesting is the way it blurs the line between house, yacht, and a future model of coastal architecture. For Miami, where luxury life by the water has long been part of the city’s identity, such a floating villa feels less like a fantasy and more like a logical extension of the local lifestyle. It is not simply a way to have a home near the ocean. It is an attempt to live directly on the water — independently, flexibly, and with a level of comfort once associated only with high-end waterfront real estate.