HOUSE BOAT

The client approached us to design a houseboat for leisure trips along the coast in Pondicherry. He specialises in building wooden structures. Wood is a suitable material for the house boat as it is lightweight, 3 times lighter than steel. The roof is made of a lightweight tensile membrane.

The hull is a shallow flat bottom type suitable for shallow waters made of steel. The boat will move through the backwaters at a speed of 10NM. It is in constant gentle motion.

The most special experience is on the deck, where you can visualize the constant motion. Walls are openable so you can have this experience from anywhere. You should be able to see, hear and feel the water wherever you are. We want to enhance the idea of floating by using fluid shapes. The roof invokes the form of a surfboard that glides on water.