In the Buenos Aires Delta, especially in San Fernando, a housing trend inspired by European cities like Amsterdam began to consolidate. These are floating houses designed to be installed in bays, nautical clubs, and bodies of water, integrating modular architecture with direct contact with nature.
Although the Argentine regulations formally enabled this type of construction in 2018, the Casas del Agua project had begun much earlier. Its promoter, Fabián de Martino, took the idea after observing how different European cities responded to the lack of urban land with housing on the water.
Over the years, the proposal ceased to be a rarity and transformed into a growing real estate and tourism alternative. Additionally, interest quickly expanded among investors linked to temporary rentals and rest experiences associated with the natural landscape of the Delta.
San Fernando promotes a new relationship between housing and the environment
Currently, there are around 39 floating houses distributed in the San Fernando area. A significant portion is intended for tourist rentals, while others function as permanent residences or weekend getaway spaces.
The houses are manufactured at the Hard Craft shipyard and have structures prepared to withstand weather conditions and variations in the water level. Thanks to pontoon systems and special materials, the constructions naturally accompany the rises without the risk of flooding.
Additionally, the units have approval from the Argentine Naval Prefecture as non-motorized floating constructions. This allows them to be moved between different bodies of water using authorized trailers, without creating permanent interventions on the coastal soil.
The smallest model has 73 square meters and is sold fully equipped. On the other hand, the duplex versions reach larger dimensions and are oriented both towards residential use and premium tourism.
Slow tourism and sustainable living in the Delta
The growth of these homes is also linked to new forms of tourism more associated with rest, silence, and environmental contact. In different sectors of the Delta, several floating houses began to offer accommodation with proposals centered on the natural experience.
Some units are located on the island of the San Fernando Club, where access is by boat. Others are installed at the Yacht Club Buenos Aires and even have small rowing boats for internal mobility.
Furthermore, certain complexes incorporate services such as jacuzzis, private pools, and panoramic terraces. However, the main attraction continues to be the possibility of coexisting with the movement of the river and the riverside ecosystems.
The most ambitious project plans to build about 100 floating homes in the Eastern Canal, within the first section of the Delta. According to its developers, the initiative aims to create the largest floating complex in Latin America.
The environmental benefits of floating homes
Experts in sustainable urbanism point out that this type of construction can provide solutions to urban growth and pressure on terrestrial ecosystems. By not requiring clearings or intensive soil movements, they reduce part of the environmental impact associated with traditional urbanizations.
Moreover, floating homes promote modular construction models, with lower material consumption and shorter construction times. In many cases, they also incorporate efficient systems of thermal insulation and low-energy consumption technologies.
On the other hand, this type of project promotes a closer relationship with aquatic environments, encouraging less invasive recreational activities and a greater appreciation of the Delta wetlands, which are essential for water regulation and the biodiversity of the region.
However, specialists warn that the growth of these developments must be carried out with strict environmental controls to avoid pollution, alteration of watercourses, and pressure on sensitive areas of the riverside ecosystem.
