Living on water is not a new phenomenon in Amsterdam, see the many houseboats in the canals of Amsterdam.

But part of the new extension of Amsterdam, IJburg, is a neighbourhood that consists entirely of floating houses. They are not ships, but built from the beginning as ordinary houses, except they float on water.

The homes in Waterbuurt West are a contemporary version of the country's traditional floating barges. They sit atop airtight concrete tubs designed to submerge no more than half a story. To ensure the homes don't float out to sea (or bump into each other), they're anchored to the lake bed by steel mooring poles.

Just like the near-by Jan Olphert Vaillantlaan, the floating houses are each designed individually, so that you get a rich variety of design and colour.

The Waterbuurt West homes are an example of what is possible in low-lying or flood prone areas, such as the Netherlands and in overcrowded cities where there's an abundance of water.

The Floating Village 'Waterbuurt West' is publicly accessible; the jetties are for pedestrians only.