Designed by YOD Group, Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses offer a contemporary reading of the traditional Ukrainian hata-mazanka, reworked through transparency, light, and a roof that defines the entire architectural identity. Set on a private estate in central Ukraine, the project translates rural archetypes into a refined retreat shaped by clarity, restraint, and strong symbolic presence.
ARCHITECTURE
Ukrainian vernacular homes historically relied on simple yet expressive elements: whitewashed walls, thick plaster, and protective thatched roofs, maintained through regular care. YOD Group distills these characteristics to their essence and reframes them through a modern lens. In place of opaque walls, the guesthouses feature fully glazed façades that dissolve the boundary between interior and landscape. In contrast, the oversized reed roof becomes the project’s dominant gesture, anchoring the building visually and conceptually.
The roof’s sculptural form creates an unmistakable silhouette within the landscape. Its exaggerated proportions reference both a traditional tall hat and an oversized mushroom emerging from the ground, bridging cultural memory and abstraction. During the day, the transparency of the façades creates the illusion that the roof floats above the terrain, reinforcing the project’s lightness despite its strong form.
Inside, the layout is organized with precision. A central concrete core houses the bathroom, dividing the compact footprint into a bedroom on one side and a living area on the other. The living space centers on a minimalist fireplace, a contemporary echo of the traditional Ukrainian stove. The absence of a television is intentional, encouraging guests to engage with the fire and the surrounding nature rather than screens.
Material continuity plays a key role in shaping the experience. A stone-carpet floor runs seamlessly from interior to exterior, enhancing the sense of immersion and offering a tactile, barefoot-friendly surface. When privacy is needed, automated curtains can be drawn, allowing the architecture to shift easily between openness and enclosure.
The interior follows principles of eco-minimalism, combining a restrained natural palette with tactile richness. Furniture by Noom, black clay decor, and textured wood elements support a calm, cohesive atmosphere rooted in local production. Engineering systems remain fully concealed within the architecture, including climate control integrated into the roof dome, which rises to a height of ten meters and reinforces the sense of vertical openness.
Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses presents a contemporary retreat shaped by cultural memory rather than nostalgia, offering an architectural experience that feels grounded, quiet, and deeply connected to place.
See more images and the full project review on ARCHISCENE.
