On a private estate in central Ukraine, YOD Group has reimagined the traditional mazanka — the archetypal rural home — for the contemporary era. These 50 square metre guesthouses reinterpret the vernacular, translating thick whitewashed walls and thatched roofs into fully glazed façades; while an oversized, sculptural roof becomes the project’s defining gesture. The silhouette evokes both a tall hat and a mushroom rising from the landscape, immediately recognisable and utterly distinctive.
“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,” explains Volodymyr Nepiyvoda, co-owner and managing partner of YOD Group. “We studied the image of the traditional Ukrainian house, distilled its core characteristics, and reinterpreted them through our own lens to create a contemporary architectural object.”
The layout centres on a concrete core containing the bathroom, flanked by bedroom and living spaces. A minimalist fireplace replaces the traditional Ukrainian stove, providing warmth and a visual anchor. Without a television, the design encourages guests to watch the live flame, maintaining connection with the surrounding landscape and supporting a gentle digital detox.
Throughout the day, the glazing dissolves the boundary between inside and out, making the roof appear to float above the estate. Stone-carpet floors run continuously, offering a subtle massage-like sensation underfoot, while automated curtains afford privacy without interrupting the visual calm. Interiors follow an eco-minimalist approach, with a natural colour palette, textured wooden elements and objects by Ukrainian makers including Noom and Guculiya. A large ceramic floor lamp in the bedroom adds sculptural warmth to the serene spaces.
The wooden-clad dome rises to ten metres, concealing all engineering systems and reinforcing verticality. Climate comfort is maintained year-round via a discreet heat pump and ventilation integrated into the roof and core.
Founded in 2004, YOD Group specialises in hospitality and leisure design, translating cultural context into contemporary architecture. Here, in central Ukraine, their Hata-Mazanka reinterpretation offers a modern sanctuary that honours tradition, immerses guests in nature and elevates rural vernacular to a refined, experiential architecture.
Photography, Mykhailo Lukashuk via v2com.
