In this new series, presenter Mark Evans charts the exploits of individuals, couples and families who aspire to leave landlocked suburbia behind to live in stunning aquatic homes that float on water. This opening episode meets Mark and Holly in Chichester, as they design, build, launch and furnish a unique floating home in an area of outstanding natural beauty. They want to design a ground-breaking floating house in the middle of all the narrowboats and pleasure cruisers moored along the Chichester riverbank. The design has unique features, such as cedar baffles that prevent outsiders looking in, and a beautiful mezzanine leading to a rooftop deck-space for socialising. But transporting the boat's superstructure to Chichester in one piece and on time proves a challenge. And then they must fit it all together.
Mark Evans meets Dwayne and Janet, who have a dream to design and build an experimental oversized houseboat, so they can take their home with them anywhere on the vast network of UK canals. Never having lived on the water before - nor even driven a boat - taking the plunge with building their own floating home from scratch is a huge challenge. Also, water-loving couple Lydia and Wout live on an old steamship and have decided it's time to modernise and join a small community of floating homes on a canal south of Amsterdam. Will they be able to get their spectacular home, with its wraparound deck, to its mooring?
Mark Evans follows British-born Steve King and his friend Rick Keith, who meet up in Maine, New England, every year to restore old boats. Now Steve wants to make his own tiny floating home - and, by using recycled materials, he plans to spend no more than ú7000 on it. There's also Michelle Lanker and Bill Bloxom - outdoor-loving environmentalists who want to make a floating home with a breathtaking design: the curved roof of their boat will be covered in grass and solar panels. They also plan a huge underwater basement, with a window looking out into the fishy waters below. But making the window thick enough to withstand the elements proves a real struggle.
Mark Evans follows Vancouver thirtysomethings whose dreams of a floating home become reality when they find a company able to build what they want within budget, with stunning views of both the mountains and the city. Plus, a couple in Ladner on Canada's west coast, whose wish list includes a large three-storey layout with sun decks.
Mark Evans follows water-loving couple Shirley and Russ, who enjoy kayaking and living on their yacht. Now they want to join a large community of 600 floating homes in Canada, designing a luxury ranch-style home, including wraparound sundecks for year round entertaining, a bar area and pool table on the upper levels. Plus, adventurous retirees Glenn and Margaret build a nautical-themed floating home in a marina on Vancouver's north shore with stunning sea and mountain views, which will allow them to stay close to their family and friends, yet away from the hubbub of inner-city life.
Mark Evans meets Milt and Judi Taylor, who want to swap their Oregon apartment for a floating home in the forests around Portland. In Amsterdam, Roy and Rianne create a floating starter home.
Susan Dunn is passionate about building a stunning floating home using the latest in contemporary design in Seattle, Washington. And Harry Janzen and Tina McComb dream of a massive three-storey wilderness retreat.
After 30 years of living on the River Itchen in Southampton, Gerald sets out to build a futuristic fibreglass home designed by his son Aidan
Adventurous young professionals Ani and Charles take on a rusty old oil barge in Hampton on the Thames they want to turn into a rustic first home
Naval architects Valentin and Daria are leaving their cramped London apartment to live on the Thames in an eye-catching three-tier floating home next to Tower Bridge.
An ambitious barge conversion on the River Medway hits stormy weather and rising tides. And there's a deluxe home in the Netherlands with cool underwater bedrooms.
A canal boat conversion with twin showers and a very big bed on the Grand Union in London. And in Portland, Oregon, a spacious two-storey floating home turns into a dramatic build.
Follow the fate of two luxury North American homes
Caravan fans Ben and Michelle refurb an amphibious vehicle in Bristol
The return of the series following people who aspire to live in stunning homes that float on water. Classical pianists Masayuki Tayama and Rhiana Henderson have a dream of combining their two passions, music and canal cruising. So they are risking Masayuki's life savings to commission a one-of-a-kind floating home that is also a concert hall - and a hotel.
Newly retired 55-year-old boating enthusiast Colin Stewart, who survived a heart attack 15 years ago, is embarking on a bold life adventure. He is planning to spend half the year cruising Britain's waterways on a high-spec narrowboat, called Tickin Along.
Trish Urquhart and Richard Beynon have fallen in love with the UK's waterways through many years of holidaying in their own narrowboat. Now the couple have made the radical decision to sell their house in South Africa and build a bespoke floating home in Bedfordshire.
Jeroen and Lianne Gels are stepping onto the property ladder in Amsterdam. In seven months, they plan to turn a 254-ton industrial cement carrier into their dream waterborne home.
Young entrepreneur Harry Smith sets out to convert a 1970s canal boat that he bought during his student days - but he only has £1,000 to bring this modest vessel up to date.
Aart Simons and Nanouk Kropman met through a love of sailing. To fulfil their shared dream of living on water, they have bought a disused 1950s Dutch cargo ship - but transforming this old hunk of metal will be a logistical, financial and emotional ride of a lifetime.
Netherlands fisherman Jan and his wife Geja embark on a new adventure, building a custom-designed floating home that will be part of a pioneering aquatic village
Celebrating 30 years married, Kurt and Roberta set out on a new adventure, trading their Seattle house for a luxury floating home near Vancouver
Suffolk boatyard specialists Mary and Simon's dream is a futuristic aquatic pod. They're experts in their aquatic field, but have they taken on more than they can handle?
Alan and Val put their savings on the line for a high-tech boat as a unique way to help them spend time with their family. But first they need to learn how to live on the water.
Seasoned floating homeowners Pat and Sue Willan are planning to spend their retirement on a huge, state-of-the-art Dutch barge. But will their expensive tastes sink the project?
In Surrey, Linda and Mark need an upgrade on their cramped floating home and Linda's doing it by herself. Is enthusiasm and passion enough to get the job done?
In Kent, John tackles a cut-price riverboat restoration with various ingenious workarounds.
After 25 years living in New Zealand, Keith and Pam dream of touring the UK's waterways. But it's their first boat and they'll need to learn the ropes quickly.
A German couple want to live closer to nature. They build a novel high-tech caravan that floats on water. But will their radical design work?
Londoners Lily and Natasha are in their mid-twenties and keen to get onto the property ladder. Currently renting a one-bed flat in east London, they have impulsively decided to buy a 35-year-old narrowboat at a knock-down price that needs considerable work. They are determined to save money and do all the work themselves, but it's a significant challenge as neither has any experience of fixing up - or living on - a boat, let alone any knowledge of plumbing, electrics, fabrication work or anything renovation-relevant.
