For the last six years, my partner and I have lived on a boat. First a narrowboat and then just in time for the arrival of our son, we upgraded to a larger widebeam. We spent the winters in Bristol Harbour and the summers out on the River Avon.

Summer in particular has been special, the feeling of our house being immersed in nature is something I’ll never forget. Swans, kingfishers and bats were daily visitors. Otters and owls were a rarer sight, but always present.

People would often ask if it was hard living in such a small space, and whether it was cold in the winter. But when we moved onto our well appointed widebeam these were not really the challenges. It was as big a small flat, so with a well thought out layout (and lots of furniture that doubles as storage!) space wasn’t a huge concern. And we had central heating. The hardest thing was living off grid.

There was no endless water supply waiting at the turn of a tap. We had to move the boat to a water supply to fill the tank every couple of weeks. Even then we’d only have the equivalent of 16 litres per person per day- the UK’s average water consumption is ten times that. Fresh water became precious, the sight of a tap left running made me shiver. Likewise, electricity wasn’t always something we could take for granted. Most of the the year our solar panels gave us more energy than we could use, but in the winter we had to use our power frugally.

Though at times this lifestyle was challenging, it helped us to think about balance. By stripping things back, we started to understand what was truly necessary and what was habit, convenience, or luxury. We also experienced how thoughtful design can transform small, constrained spaces. Storage had to be smart. Materials had to work hard. Things often had to serve more than one purpose.

At Barefoot Architects, we bring this spirit into our projects. Of course, most of our clients want a good supply of running water and power throughout the year. But the principle remains: resources are not limitless, and our buildings must respect that reality. Designing with care, whether through super insulation, efficient layouts, natural light, or renewable energy, means creating spaces that tread lightly, yet feel generous and uplifting.

With the imminent arrival of our second child we are leaving the water for dry land. It’s a sad moment, but with two children we feel the balance will tip and the challenges of these limitations will outweigh the joy this life has given us. We’re also very much looking forward to having a dishwasher and enjoying long showers, when our children allow them!