Studio MARSA’s Compact Floating Cabin On the Sava River
Located on a stationary pontoon along the Sava River in Mačvanska Mitrovica, Serbia, Sava River House is a compact floating cabin designed by Studio MARSA for leisure use and weekend stays. Measuring eight by six meters, the project is conceived as a flexible open-plan structure that supports both everyday retreat and occasional gatherings.
The cabin’s architectural form is shaped by its orientation toward the river. A mono-pitch roof slopes toward the shoreline, allowing the interior volume to increase in height upon entry and enhancing the sense of spatial expansion. Views are carefully framed throughout the interior, ranging from broad river perspectives visible from the lounge to more controlled glimpses of the shoreline through smaller openings, such as the horizontal kitchen window.
Constructed on site, the cabin employs a timber skeletal structure with mineral wool insulation. The roof is formed using laminated teak beams, while the exterior is clad in wood. The structure is mounted on a 10-centimeter aluminum base welded to the pontoon, creating space for a double-layered insulated floor system. As a floating structure, the project required careful attention to load distribution, influencing both material selection and construction methods without altering the intended spatial or functional qualities.
View from the coast
Material continuity between the exterior and interior reinforces the relationship between the building and its riverside setting. Wood and metal are used consistently throughout, referencing both the natural landscape and the site’s maritime history. Interior joinery adopts deep green tones drawn from the color of the river, while restrained red accents reference nautical navigation markers, further situating the cabin within its water-based context.
The interior layout is organized with service functions concentrated in the first third of the plan, accommodating the kitchen, bathroom, and utility space. The remaining area is dedicated to a combined lounge and dining zone, which opens directly toward the river. This spatial arrangement prioritizes openness while maintaining functional clarity within a limited footprint.
The project is situated in a town with a long shipbuilding tradition, including the historically significant Sava Shipyard. Drawing on this context, the design by Studio MARSA references the relationship between modernist architecture and nautical construction, combining principles associated with Corbusian open planning and functional clarity with the archetype of a river cabin. Nautical influences are reflected in the emphasis on clean-lined interiors, natural light, and direct engagement with the surrounding water.
Cabin at day, as seen from the river
Dining zone with the corner window to access water for downstream swimming
Entrance area joinery
Lounge corner window framing the view of the pedestrian bridge
Green tone of the kitchen joinery referencing the river hues
Corner window in late afternoon
Cabin at night as seen from the river
Interior as a single, reconfigurable space
Atmospheric lighting in the lounge
‘Service-zone’ joinery inspired by the riverside colours and pioneers of modernist design
Cabin at night
project info:
name: Sava River House
architect: Studio MARSA | @studio__marsa
lead architect: Aleksandar Stanković
location: Sava River in Mačvanska Mitrovica, Serbia
photographer: Ivona Petrov
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
