Living in a boathouse with floor-to-ceiling windows is a luxury many people can only dream of, but it’s the reality for this lucky and hardworking couple in France who transformed an old cargo boat.
Jérémie Malvy and his wife, Sara, live in a stunning boathouse in Paris. It almost doesn’t feel like they’re in the city because they’re far from all the hustle and bustle of the center.
Contrary to the usual feeling of being inside a watercraft, this boathouse—named “Panjab” after Jérémie’s hometown of Punjab in Pakistan—feels very open. It is filled with plants and has large floor-to ceiling windows that allow natural sunlight to enter.
The main idea behind living in a boat is to be closer to nature, and Panjab surely allows Jérémie and Sara to do so.
Sara stated that there is one drawback to having a beautiful home docked on Seine.
“It’s even it’s even problematic to be in such a boat because actually we don’t go outside anymore. We are almost forcing ourselves to go outside. Okay, I will go to a place to eat. But is it better than my home? No,” she explained.
For 11,000 euros, Jérémie bought this cargo riverboat used to transport cereals. It was in good condition when it was bought, but it took nearly two and a-half years to turn it into a modern home.
While it had been a long wait, Jérémie and Sara can say it was all worth it transforming this old boat to a floating house with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Living near the water also carries a deeper significance for Jérémie, who moved from Pakistan to France decades ago. He couldn’t speak French and lived on the street—often under the bridges of the Seine—and would speak to the river.
But after establishing a chain of successful organic grocery cooperatives and restaurants, Jérémie began to build his dream home.
He didn’t want to lose his connection with the river, which was there for him during his most difficult moments, so he bought a boat with an all-glass front that would give him a constant view of the water.
The downstairs of the boathouse has been submerged in water for half of its length, providing excellent insulation and acoustics. Jérémie and Sara get an eye-level view of the water—even one of the bathroom windows opens and allows them to touch the river water.
Jérémie said that the river flowing around the Panjab carries all of his stress away. This constant connection with nature has provided them a refuge—away from all the noise and worries.
The video below shows you how to tour this beautiful boathouse. For more videos like this, visit Kirsten Dirksen’s YouTube channel.
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