Fancy Living In A Luxury Eco-Houseboat?

Waterfront homes are certainly impressive, but what about living on the water itself – and in a sustainably-crafted, architecturally-designed houseboat, no less? The Silverlake estate in Dorset has teamed up with houseboat specialists to bring this particular vision to life, and we’ve got all the details.

Inside Silverlake’s Luxury Eco-Houseboats

From cosy cabins to sprawling villas and even bespoke new-builds, there’s no shortage of spectacular second homes on the UK market – but none of them happen to float. At least, not until Silverlake’s brand new collaboration is unveiled: a selection of luxurious, sustainably-designed houseboats, set to launch in 2026 and available to purchase from next month.

Silverlake has collaborated with luxury floating apartment experts at Waterpod on the first set of homes, the Lutra collection (named after England’s only native otter). Exclusively available at Silverlake, this limited-edition offering will comprise two-bedroom and three-bedroom houseboats complete with customisable living areas, floor-to-ceiling windows, and huge roofdecks. (You can even opt for a hot tub and outdoor mood lighting, too.)

The second set of houseboats – created in partnership with sustainable architectural studio Koto – comprises two distinctive designs: Uku, an intimate one-bedroom retreat featuring handsome cladding and swathes of glass; and Shio, a sculptural two-bedroom home with an indoor-outdoor layout and a vast terrace.

CGI

The floating eco-homes represent the latest addition to Silverlake, though there’s already plenty to explore: stroll through meadows, woodland and nature reserves; spend a day fishing, swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding on the water; or check out the on-site restaurant and spa. Just 10 minutes from the west Dorset coast, the private holiday estate guarantees some magnificent views across the rolling countryside (and the all-important lakes).

But what does it really mean to be an ‘eco-estate’? Well, Silverlake’s properties are built using locally-sourced, natural materials, with a focus on energy efficiency (think solar panels and air source heat pumps) and biophilic design, alongside additions like living roofs and bat houses to encourage biodiversity. The estate has even been awarded Building with Nature status – the UK’s first green infrastructure benchmark – in recognition of its commitment to environmentally-conscious living. An expert ecology team also works to support thousands of species within the landscape itself, including otters, dormice, wild birds, and even Dorset’s native reptiles.

Of course, if you don’t fancy becoming the proud owner of a floating home, there’s a variety of residences on offer – or you can simply book in for a staycation. As far as we’re concerned, however, life on a luxury eco-houseboat sounds rather exciting…

The houseboats are sold directly through Silverlake. The starting price for a one-bed, inclusive of mooring but excluding delivery, is £220,000. For more information, visit silverlakedorset.com