Peek Inside a Small Houseboat That Blends Into its Lake Surroundings

File this houseboat under: the ideal place to be quarantined. A small houseboat situated on Lake Tisza in the European country of Hungary blends into its natural surroundings. Designed by architect Tamás Bene for clients who yearned for a summer getaway, the houseboat pays homage to the European reservoir and allows its dwellers to experience the lake on a more intimate level. A warning for those who have been cooped up in tiny apartments in big cities this quarantine: Houseboat envy will follow. 

For the dwelling, Bene drew inspiration from traditional cabin fishing boats to create the overall form of the boat. Inside, there’s only room for a small kitchen, dining table, and sleeping area. Circular windows give the houseboat a nautical feel, while light brown and white timber give the exterior a warm and contemporary finish. With no tangible foundation, the houseboat allows dwellers to rest, eat, sleep, and wake just about anywhere on the artificial lake, which receives its ecosystem from the nearby Tisza River. 

The design of the small houseboat aims to blend seamlessly into its natural lake surroundings, becoming part of the landscape along the way. With ladders that direct to the roofing, the top of the houseboat even acts as a makeshift second-story space to take in the views. If you spent much of this year fantasizing about floating out to sea to enjoy your own solitude (see: me), feel free to live vicariously through Bene’s houseboat.

Swipe through for more images of Bene’s houseboat design above. Ah, to be quarantined in a houseboat on a lake in Hungary.