Company

Houseboat Villa is a Finnish, Savonlinna based company which has produced floating holiday homes since 2020. We wish to offer people the possibility to enjoy well-earned holiday moments in the midst of beautiful nature surrounded by peaceful lakes in spacious ships built to accommodate different types of uses. At Houseboat Villa we believe that remote work, business meetings and representation events succeed the best in cosy spaces and beautiful surroundings. We are inspired by experiences, time spent together, relaxation and holiday activities being fulfilled in the luxury ships we manufacture.

The entrepreneur behind Houseboat Villa is a long-standing shipbuilder Juha Pärnänen, who also enjoys boating in his leisure time. When he unfastens the ropes of his boat and steers it to Lake Saimaa, he becomes detached from the outside world. Boating creates a feeling of freedom, and awakens a sense of connection with surrounding nature.

Because of his shipbuilding background and boating hobby, Pärnänen got an idea of the floating luxury home. His aim was to build a houseboat that was suitable for spending holidays in all year round – unlike traditional summer boating this would become one of the most important criteria for the ship along with mobility and safety.

Houseboat Villa’s first luxury model Big Cat was launched in the autumn 2020, and the company is also planning a smaller model, hybrid model, electric model and a restaurant boat Bar Cat. Slow and dignified movements are joined in the floating holiday home. Additionally the expenses of Big Cat’s usage are far less than in the quicker boats.

Pärnänen has a 30 years’ experience of shipbuilding, and with his earlier company Jonmeri Yachts, he has furnished large cruise ships for Silja Line, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines, but also many cruise ships of smaller companies. On land Jonmeri Yachs has been responsible for decorating of Mäntyniemi, the official residence of President of Finland and Finnish National Theather.

In shipbuilding Pärnänen believes in modular building, which speeds up completing the boat. Modular products are made as completed as possible in the factories of various co-operation partners before being joined at Inkilänniemi dockyard in Savonlinna.

The parent company of Houseboat Villa is Janwall Oy Ltd, which also led by Pärnänen. Janwall specializes in personnel leasing for concrete industry, but has also done some minor work in furnishing ships and served as a consulting aid for a foreign shipbuilding company.