In 2006, the Guinguette Pirate asked Encore Heureux architectes to produce schematics for the conversion of a boat, the Emile Allard, into a cultural venue. However, ultimately the construction of a completely new barge that was chosen for the Petit-Bain project.
Despite being determined by the constraints of navigation, Petit- Bain is not a boat, but a building floating on the river. Built in a shipyard near Paris, it is situated in a gold triangle next to the National Library François Mitterrand. It measures 40 m in length and 10.5 m wide in order to pass through locks and under bridges and draws 5 meters.
Permanently moored at le port de la gare, the building is composed of three levels with the concert hall in the hull, creating a double height space in front of the stage that is unexpected from the dock. Suspended in the air, above the public, a large buoy coated with mirror facets inundates the room with thousands of light flashes.
In shades that range from bright yellow to pale green, the hull, decks and access underline this island in the city and enlivens the greyness of the dock. In his photographic work on France, Raymond Depardon stated: "The cool colors are supposed to be modern, in contrast to yellow for example. It's hard yellow. And it's beautiful too".
To contrast with the whole hull and the structure made of steel, the superstructure is covered with wood: pine plywood in the restaurant on the inside and vertical slatted larch cladding outside
Client: Association la Guinguette Pirate
Architect: ENCORE HEUREUX architects/Julien Choppin and Nicola Delon Head of project: Margot Cordier, FDI Jehan Ferber, naval expert
Global amount of work:€ 1.7 Million
Total operation:€ 2.2 Million
Surface: 550 m² (+ 365 m² exterior)
Weight: 470 tonnes
Dimensions: 40 m x 10.5 m x 6 m
Delivery: 5 july 2011