The Houseboat, a new summer home built for an English architect and his family, has a deceptive name. Though it is indeed a seaside home, it's also planted firmly on land. The name isn't completely out of thin air, however, as the home's shape is inspired by the underside of a ship's hull.

Mole Architects, the studio behind The Houseboat, opted for the nautical inspiration because of the home's location. Not only is it in the seaside town of Poole, England, but it's also on the garden of the Boat House, a historic 1930s modernist villa built by a local businessman called Mr. Cullen. Boat House is now owned by the same architect who commissioned The Houseboat, making the two buildings appropriate neighbors.

Part of the benefit of the hull-like design for The Houseboat is its structural integrity. The natural arch allows for spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows on the sea-facing side of the home.