If you drive from Lisbon to Caldas de Aregos, in the municipality of Resende, it will take you almost four hours, and on the final stretch of the journey you will likely see hardly anyone around. We're travelling here, deep into the Portuguese countryside, to reach the tourist river pier in Caldas de Aregos, for a truly impressive sight: Toni Blackburn and Stefan Friese's house boat, moored along with other boats on the water. This has been a real refuge during the pandemic but also more than that. Amidst the natural beauty of the region's green spaces, on the lapping waters of the Duoro river, this home adds a touch of "glamour" to the surrounding landscape. It makes for a rare scene of reassuring beauty.
It may sit amongst other boats, but this is not like any of them. And this is because it is not just a boat, but a house boat. “Living here is like living in a gated community,” confides Toni Blackburn, a citizen of the world who was born in the US and has lived in Japan and Germany, among other countries. For now, together with Stefan, he is investing in Portugal – they have bought land on the Douro in addition to the floating home – and in Mexico, where they also intend to build a property.
As soon as you set foot in the house boat, it is impossible not to wonder: what would it be like if I had one? Everything is carefully thought out, from the kitchen to the bedrooms, right down to the bathroom. The 'clean' and minimalist furniture is sleek and elegant, providing the finishing touch to this house, built by the Portuguese company Gofriday. This is all in a self-sufficient floating house, where solar panels “serve to charge the batteries that power the whole house” explained Rita Barata Castro, Communication Manager at Ecosteel, the company that this year bought Gofriday, thus entering the world of house boats. Given that the Build Construction & Engineering magazine, recently awarded Gofriday in the category of "Most Innovative Contemporary House Boat 2021" this seems like a good decision.
The house boat comes equipped with modern amenities, such as a stove, air conditioning, a fridge, and the glass walls let the space be flooded with natural light. But the standout detail of the house is almost certainly the second floor, which is made up of a terrace with a garden table and some benches. The ideal location to relax, read, and comtemplate the fabulous view of the surrounding natural landscape. Or basically to enjoy life! All of this in a house, that is a boat, that is a house... These amazing structures are the perfect way to live in and enjoy nature, with the comforts of a modern home.
Before long, the hours have flown past and it's time to return to Lisbon. Below are some photographs of Gofriday's boat houses. After all, a picture (or in this case a few) can be worth a thousand words.
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