An architect’s country house is not just a comfortable space for living, but a real manifesto of the values of its owner. The director of the ZROBIM Architects studio, Andrus Makovsky, decided to experiment with architectural forms and turned to panoramic glazing. It provided access to views of the pond, bridge, and landscape sculptures on the site. He also wanted to ensure that the building could be expanded in the future when the existing space was not enough. The modern style of the house was emphasized by rethinking the traditional lifestyle in the suburbs through the prism of the half-timbered style.
Location: Minsk
Area: 157 m2
Author: Studio ZROBIM architects
Photo: Kasia Cheese Hammer
The ZROBIM Architects studio team sought to move away from the usual sloping roof and massive beams in favor of more unusual solutions. As a result, the grid of panels was filled with frameless glazing, hiding the structural columns – now they are not visible from the outside. In combination with a complex system of terraces, this technique made it possible to blur the boundaries between the interior and exterior, “letting” nature into the building. However, work on the project was accompanied by sudden difficulties – for example, a large landfill on the territory, which Andrus turned into two artificial ponds. Respect for the surrounding context is also evident in the design: changing the height of the site served as the basis for creating a cantilevered house that extends above the ground. A laconic entrance lobby leads to a small atrium, which gives rise to different traffic scenarios without traditional corridors. From here, guests can enter a public space with a two-sided sofa and TV area. Next to them are a simple kitchen set and a free-standing island table made of white stone. The latter can also be used as a bar counter – the body has a niche for chairs. The composition was completed with an elegant pendant lamp. It is almost invisible against the background of the removable wooden slats that cover the upper part of the walls and ceiling. In addition to their decorative purpose, they provide access to communications. The warm texture of wood enlivened the dining group: the rich shade of the table here is emphasized by light chairs, and the final touch was the iconic Vibia pendant. In the remaining rooms, active wood is combined with concrete elements – self-leveling floors, panels, and monolithic arches. Almost all the furniture and lighting for the project were produced according to the author’s sketches in order to reflect the needs and character of the owner in the design.
The most important thing about our X that it is for
those who are in a hurry
