boat’s house at millstätter lake in seeboden by MHM architects

‘boat’s house at millstätter lake’ by MHM architects, seeboden, austriaimage © paul ottall images courtesy of MHM architects

at the base of a steep slope at the water’s edge, rests the ‘boat’s house at millstätter lake’ in seeboden, austria by viennese firm MHM architects.straddling the shoreline, the home is represented in two materials to show the relationship of the footprint over water and land. the volume overthe ground is wrapped with copper panels while the section extending into the lake is clad with lumber planks. the siberian larch strips as well as copper will naturally weather with time for a changing appearance. eventually, the greyed wood will contrast the green patina of the metal exterior.

in terms of nature conservation and water rights, its complex positioning required ten meter deep piers to reach weight-bearing soil to place the basement above measures such as a base grade and an oil barrier. additionally, local rules prevent the installation of a permanent dock, leading to a facade system that appears like a simple cube when not being used. these doors then slide downward towards the water’s surface to form a temporary platform. 

building profile embeds into the sloping landimage © paul ott

facade closedimage © paul ott

opening doors within facadeimage © paul ott

facade doors openimage © paul ott

doors fold down into a dockimage © paul ott

living areaimage © paul ott

view to the lake from an exercise area through a small windowimage © paul ott

corridorimage © paul ott

stairway to roofimage © paul ott

roof top terraceimage © paul ott

at duskimage © paul ott

side elevationimage © paul ott

view of boat house from the lakeimage © paul ott

project info:

planned: 2008/2009built: 2010 to 2012location: seeboden, carinthia, austriageneral design & planning: MHM architects, vienna – matthias molzbichler, sebastian haselsteiner, florian molzbichlergeneral contractor: strabag ag villachphotos: paul ott