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House Boat

House Boat®: a concept designed to adapt our construction methods to flood-prone areas

Located on the Savoie Technolac site, in a flood-prone area, this inland port where ten house-boats are moored hosts cutting-edge companies and business incubators.

The beauty and uniqueness of the site led us to conduct a sensitive architectural study, enabling the integration of tertiary activities in harmony with a natural environment that must be preserved.

Built with lightweight metal frames on stilts, their simple construction method makes them flexible and versatile. Arranged here in a comb-like layout around a central pier, this concept can be adapted to other sensitive sites by modifying the composition.

Client : SCI House-Boat
Location : Le Bourget-du-Lac, France
Size : 2 752 m²
Status : Delivered
Date : 2008
Key points
  • Lightweight structure.
  • Adaptable construction method.
  • Flood zone.
  • Recyclable and durable materials.
Environmental perfomances
  • Preservation of the natural environment.
  • Light and removable constructions.
  • Use of recyclable materials (steel, glass, wood…).
  • Sun protection and thermal comfort in summer.
  • Low-impact construction site.
Download the project sheet
House Boat au Bourget du Lac
Plan des coupes du talu des houses boats

Intentions – Design Approach

The House Boat layout is simple, modular, and extendable in length. The open-plan design and exterior walkways offer great flexibility in terms of use. The interior can be adapted to suit various programs: enclosed offices, open-plan workspaces, storage areas, workshops... the combinations are endless.

The buildings are arranged in a comb-like pattern around a central pier, to which the access walkways and exterior corridors are moored. Made of lightweight, demountable metal frames, the walkways are constructed from zinc-coated steel to reduce weight and minimize corrosion.

Large glazed openings throughout the structure capture solar energy in winter, while generous roof overhangs provide natural shading in summer, enhanced by the surrounding woodland trees.

This is a very simple building: the walkway allows for easy cleaning of the windows, while the roof overhang shields from the sun and its slope directs fallen leaves straight to the ground—no gutters needed. The design is entirely guided by use and functionality.

That summer, I was alone at the office, calm, open to ideas shaped by sensations. It was then that I realized continuing the landfilling would be a mistake. It would be far more interesting to elevate the buildings, to place them above the lakeside landscape.

Jean-Loup Patriarche
Croquis de house boat

House Boat is about creating attractive work environments that appeal to talent and foster interaction between communities. It embodies the spirit of open innovation. In this context, workspaces—and the way they are designed—become a key ingredient in daily success and productivity.

Salle de détente dans un House Boat

Here, the atmosphere strikes a subtle balance between constant interaction—which helps everyone work better and faster—and the calm needed for focused work.

The spaces also make it easy to create moments of conviviality. A shared kitchen and terrace, open to all, allow for afterwork gatherings or informal meetups.

This project responds :

  • To the need for flexibility from the various companies present.
  • To the wish of some independent workers to be able to work in a place that preserves the serenity of their home while allowing them to meet other professionals.
  • To the request of local authorities or public bodies wishing to offer a new model (compared to business incubators and business centers), with modern and more attractive solutions for entrepreneurs.
  • To the possibility of building in regulatory-constrained areas with significant flood risk.

The atmosphere, a subtle mix between constant interaction and an ability to maintain the level of calm necessary for work.

Team

Patriarche (Architecture, Interior Architecture, All-Trades Engineering, Environmental Quality, Cost Management, BIM, Landscape, Signage)
Partners: Keops, Duverney

Credits

©Julien Lanoo

©Patriarche

Programme

Offices
City Light Omnia