Floating Holiday Homes in Rügen with WALCO V

Between 2009 and 2010, ten new floating holiday homes were added to the Wasserferienwelt “Im Jaich” marina on Rügen, Germany. The project, designed by Drebing Ehmke Architekten and built by HOKO Fertighaus, relied on WALCO V connectors to ensure rapid, precise, and durable timber frame assembly.

The first generation of floating homes at the marina was developed between 1998 and 2000, when authorities classified them as boats. For the second generation, legal standards changed, and the structures were formally recognized as houses, requiring a much higher level of planning, environmental approvals, and compliance with the German EnEV 2009 energy standard.

Key outcomes included:
Prefabricated timber frame construction with wall modules assembled in the marina’s own hall.
WALCO V connectors enabled fast and precise element joining, even without advanced assembly experience.
Reduced assembly time from five to three days per unit thanks to the slide-in connector system.
Durable construction for marine environments, with fully galvanized connectors ensuring corrosion protection.
Niedrigenergiehaus standard achieved through insulated timber walls with cellulose infill (U-value: 0.22 W/m²K).

Two housing types were developed:
Single-story units with approx. 46 m² of living space.
Two-story units with approx. 72 m² of living space.

Each home was prefabricated as a kit, fully assembled in the marina’s hall, and then lifted by crane onto pontoons before being moved to the water. The use of WALCO V and RICON connectors ensured millimeter accuracy, simplifying both exterior construction and interior finishing.

The floating houses, styled in Nordic-inspired colors and equipped for year-round comfort, quickly became highly popular. Today, they are often booked years in advance by visitors seeking a unique waterfront experience.