Header: Mykhailo Lukashuk
Situated in a private estate in central Ukraine, the Red Roof Guesthouses revisit the traditional aesthetics of hata-mazanka, a historic rural house made of local materials. Traditional Ukrainian vernacular architecture is characterised by simple but effective solutions. The main elements include thatched roofs, whitewashed walls, and regular plastering. The modern interpretation centres on transparency, light, and a striking roof that becomes the design’s central focus.
The fully transparent glass façade allows the flooding of natural light while providing an outstanding view of the surrounding landscape. The crown of the design, the eye-grabbing roof, is intentionally oversized and rises high to the sky to form an instantly recognisable silhouette resembling a traditional Ukrainian hat or an oversized mushroom.
“Our philosophy of terroir design goes beyond working with local materials or familiar forms – it is about uncovering the essence of a place and decoding its cultural meanings.”
Volodymyr Nepiyvoda, co-owner and managing partner of YOD Group
Spatial layout
A central concrete block in the centre of the house hosts a bathroom within. On each side of the block, a living room resides, boasting a minimalist fireplace inspired by the traditional Ukrainian stove. The live flame visible from the circular opening of the fireplace improves relaxation and informational detox, further enhanced by the deliberate absence of the TV and constant visual contact with the surroundings. From afar, the glazed facades appear to vanish into the thin air, leaving the massive thatched roof to visually float above the ground.
The privacy of guests is ensured with thick, but visually light curtains, which are controlled automatically through a control panel next to the bed. The floor, featuring a continuous stone-carpet surface, extends to the outdoors. Pleasant to the touch, the floor invites guests to slip off their shoes and walk barefoot, enjoying its gentle, massage-like sensation.
Technology hidden in the roof
Speaking of the roof, the inner surface of the dome is covered in wooden tiles, mirroring traditional Ukrainian wooden shingles. Rising to 10 meters, the dome creates the notion of openness and verticality while covering all engineering systems, including the heat pump and the air conditioning. Air conditioning is integrated with supply ventilation that works through subtle linear slots located in vertical grilles and exhaust vents situated in the dome and central core.
Collaboration with local brands
The interior design follows the modern eco-minimalist principles, such as natural colour shades and numerous tactile surfaces. Products from Local brands, including furniture by Noom and black clay by Guculiya, enrich the cohesive, clean environment. Large bespoke floor luminaire made from ceramic and natural fibre represents a key bedroom accent, while wooden elements are spreaded throughtout.
By drawing inspiration from traditional building techniques, YOD Group architects have created a hideaway which seems simultaneously modern and rooted in history.
Project info:
Typology: Guesthouses
Location: One of the central regions of Ukraine
Photo credit: Mykhailo Lukashuk
Architecture and design: YOD Group
Team: Volodymyr Nepyivoda, Dmytro Bonesco, Natalia Tymochesko, Yana Rogozhinska
Furniture: Noom
Source: v2com-newswire
