In November 2005, a launch on the Kiel Fjord caused a stir the likes of which the Baltic Sea had probably never seen before: it was not a ship that was being launched, but a house! It was the first prototype of a "floating house" that a community of shipbuilders, architects, designers and engineers had built as part of the international "Living on Water" project. The starting point of this project is the approach of combining maritime shipbuilding tradition with an ecological, sustainable construction method. Durability, modular construction and ease of repair go hand in hand with resource-saving construction, modern solar architecture and intelligent building technology.

Because it has no propulsion, the "floating house" is not a houseboat in the true sense of the word, but because it can float, it is not a conventional type of property either. It is supplied with energy exclusively from renewable sources. Floor, wall and ceiling heating surfaces ensure a pleasant indoor climate with low flow temperatures, and are also used for cooling in summer. The planners chose the cuprotherm surface heating system from Wieland, the best-selling and most installed copper pipe surface heating system in Europe. Firstly because of its technical advantages over other systems, but also because of its sustainability: despite the challenging maritime environment, the copper material promises durability over the entire life cycle of the "floating house" of around 80 years. After that, it can be 100 percent recycled.

Another special feature of the prototype is that the cuprotherm wall heating is made of clay plaster in a wet construction system, and the copper pipes are attached to reed mats. Because it allows precisely defined flow conditions in each heating circuit, the heating system enables particularly efficient operation that is not only economical but also ecologically optimal.