tamás bene designs a compact houseboat for hungary's lake tisza

in october 2019, architect tamás bene was approached to design a small houseboat for lake tisza in hungary. the young clients – réka and balázs – live in a modest apartment in budapest but had the idea of a summer getaway that is not grounded or fixed, but instead allows them to get closer to nature. the project pays homage to their love of the region, and their desire to learn more about it and experience it on a more intimate level. 

images by balázs máté

lake tisza is a vast, artificial body of water that owes its natural ecosystem to river tisza, which passes through it. tamás bene found it interesting to conceptualize and design a dwelling that has no tangible groundwork or foundations. the point of vehicles – their primary function – is to transport. however, the movement of this compact living space intends to enable its inhabitants to experience the natural environment as closely as possible. the boat provides an opportunity to spend time, eat, drink, sleep and awaken nearly anywhere.

the design of the houseboat seeks to assimilate into the surroundings, and even become part of the landscape. to achieve this, the architect looked to traditional cabin fishing boats for the overall form of the floating summerhouse. the modest space is divided between a small kitchen, dining table and sleeping area. circular windows evoke a nautical aesthetic while warm timber finishes help to blend the boat into the abundant trees that line the lake. 

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project info:

project name: a small houseboat on lake tisza

design: tamás bene

execution: tamás bene, réka neszmélyi, balázs máté

aluminium craftwork: mihány csoknádi

leatherwork: appintu

photography: balázs máté

text: tamás bene

special thanks to: dániel eke, áron vass-eysen, anna lukács, andrás beke, marci bene, tamás eke, magdaléna eke, anet gálvölgyi, márton miovác, zsófi zétényi, márton bán, zoltán bodonyi, gergő lászló