Unusual: a small house that floats on the water © Gîtes de France
Placed on the water, this astonishing little house lives to the rhythm of nature. But don’t be fooled by appearances: the maisonette is not an austere wooden cabin and has all the comforts of a real home.
Installed in the middle of a pond, this small house on the water has been designed to offer its occupants a real haven of peace, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A unusual home, which invites you to live to the rhythm of the surrounding nature and guarantees a total change of scenery: to get there, you have to borrow a boat. But this “tiny house” is not a rudimentary wooden cabin and has all the comforts of a real home. An essential aspect for its owner, who built the house himself.
“I didn’t want an austere, uncomfortable cabin” confirms Philippe Shakeshaft, “I wanted something cozy to make you feel good”. This engineer by training, who embarked on this unusual project as in an adventure, therefore bet on the contrast between the cabin spirit and the modern comfort of the facilities. A contrast that can also be found in the architecture of the building, inspired by Nordic constructions. “We find the traditional side of wooden construction, and the more modern side of the large bay windows”. To give substance to this floating house, Philippe Shakeshaft first assembled pontoon elements before assembling the wooden structure. “The most complicated thing was to assemble the frame, but also tobalance the weight of the structure“ he confides. A parameter as essential as it is perilous, if only to install the 700 kg of bay windows … Converted into a guest house, the cabin now welcomes travelers in search of escape. Visit in pictures.
A little house on the water
A small house on the water © Gîtes de France
Cradled by the movement of water, this small house lives to the rhythm of nature and the seasons. This unusual accommodation indeed offers a privileged environment for those seeking peace and serenity. This is what Philippe Shakeshaft wanted: a place conducive to relaxation and contemplation. “The fauna and flora are very rich, we can observe a lot of fish, birds but also deer” indicates the owner who ensured that the construction blends smoothly into the landscape.
A little house on the water
A cabin in harmony with nature
A cabin in harmony with nature © Gîtes de France
The engineer indeed imagined a small house entirely turned towards nature. For him, it was also essential that the project have the lowest possible impact on the environment. The construction was therefore designed to be mobile and as light as possible. The platform is thus removable. “The installations are connected to the existing networks present on the property, but the connections are removable. The structure being mobile, this allows 5 or 6 different positions on the pond, and to be able to change according to the seasons” indicates Philippe Shakeshaft. The hut was also built according to the principles that govern low-energy buildings.
A cabin in harmony with nature
A tiny house with Nordic accents
A tiny house with Nordic accents © Gîtes de France
With its wooden structure and sleek design, the cottage is inspired by Nordic constructions. It offers a cozy and warm interior, which gives pride of place to light thanks to huge bay windows, offering a panoramic view of the landscape. To make the most of it, Philippe Shakeshaft has also chosen not to install shutters. “The idea is to reclaim time. Those who come here come to recharge their batteries, so we live on a different rhythm, like a parenthesis where the rhythm is out of phase, where we take time”.
A tiny house with Nordic accents
A small house that has everything a big one
A small house that has everything a big one © Gîtes de France
If the construction looks like a cabin, it has the comforts of a real home. “I wanted to do something different, unusual, but I didn’t want an austere wooden cabin that wouldn’t be comfortable” underlines the owner. It was therefore fitted out like a traditional dwelling, including at the level of the installations.
A small house that has everything a big one
Comfortable facilities
Comfortable facilities © Gîtes de France
With its 34 m2, the small house offers enough space to accommodate a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom installed on the mezzanine. It is connected to the property’s networks to supply it with water and electricity. “There are also standard toilets, there was no question of installing dry toilets” specifies Philippe Shakeshaft. “Wastewater is treated by phyto-purification” he adds.
Comfortable facilities
A cozy guest house
A cozy guest house © Gîtes de France
From the start, the cabin, named Victoria, as well as its twin Hermione – Philippe Shakeshaft indeed built two small houses on the water – was envisioned as a guest house. Offered on various sites specializing in seasonal rentals, it is also labeled Gîtes de France.
A cozy guest house
A room with a view
A room with a view © Gîtes de France
Upstairs, the mezzanine accommodates the bedroom, which has a privileged view of the pond and its green setting. Perfect for falling asleep and waking up to the rhythm of nature.
A room with a view
A comfortable bathroom
A comfortable bathroom © Gîtes de France
The cabin also has a real bathroom, equipped with a comfortable shower cabin. A room that Philippe Shakeshaft has, again, fitted out with particular care to ensure the best possible reception.
Technical sheet
Project: construction of two floating cabins, Victoria and Hermione Location: Crach (Morbihan) Area: 34 m2 Construction: Philippe Shakeshaft, owner Duration of the work: 14 months
A comfortable bathroom
