The floating house designed to split in half if a couple breaks up

If you think asking your loved one for a prenup would be way too awkward, just wait until you see this. 

Amsterdam-based design and engineering practice Studio OBA has developed a floating home, that can split apart, so that couples can literally drift apart when they, well, feel like they’ve figuratively drifted too far apart.

Inspired by the plentiful canals and floating architecture of Amsterdam, Studio OBA developed a modern house boat that is made up of two separate prefabricated units constructed from lightweight carbon-fibre elements and wood.

When love is in the air the two units can slot together to form the foundation of the modern property, which has been dubbed Prenuptial Housing.

If or when (depending how cynical you are – and lets face it, if you want one of these, things probably aren’t going great) the relationship takes a turn for the worse, the units can split apart, thanks to a connecting mechanism that allows them to detach and go their separate ways (just like their owners).

“The challenge of the project was to design a house that consists of two autonomous units that appear to be one,” said Vincent Ringoir who runs Studio OBA with fellow Technical University of Delft students Xander den Duijn and Gerben van den Oever.

“Due to the way we designed it, the house responds to the flow of the relationship: when all is well, the house remains a unity. But when couples separate, the house – literally – drifts apart as well.

“The biggest challenge was to search for a geometrical shape that is easy to connect, looks like one house when connected, but remains aesthetic when it becomes separated.”

The team thinks the floating home could be especially useful for couples in Belgium, Portugal and Hungary, where divorce rates are reportedly among the highest in the world.

But wait! What if you and your partner have a dramatic on and off again relationship, that is worthy of its very own soap opera? 

Have no fear, if you both decide to rekindle your romance, you can apparently reconnect the units, transforming your lives into a never-ending game of property Tetris. 

The unusual home is the brainchild of self-proclaimed PR and pop culture expert Omar Kiri, who enlisted the help of Studio OBA, to create the concept house he thought of while searching for a home with his girlfriend.

“With the increasing number of divorces each year, our concept is – regrettably – becoming more and more relevant,” he said.

“I especially like the fact that we can stabilise the home front during an otherwise very hectic time. With this concept you namely don’t need to relocate after a break-up.”

While it may make the break-up process easier, there is the slight possibility that it would put a bit of a damper on the excitement of moving into a new home with a loved one.

“I can imagine that discussing whether to buy a house that can split apart when things aren’t going well, might be awkward,” acknowledged den Duijn from Studio OBA.

“Although it also might be a solution for couples that want to live together but on the other hand know they just sometimes need some time alone as well.”

If you aren’t convinced that a forever home is for you and your partner, you (may want to reconsider buying property together) may not need to wait to long for your own prenuptial property.

With Kbiri already in discussion with several investors, the team hopes to build a prototype as soon as possible and begin taking orders in early 2017.

Now all you have to do is convince your partner, that nothing says romance like a property that can split apart if you break-up.