Under the reed roof guesthouses

Set within a private estate in central Ukraine, Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses present a contemporary reinterpretation of the Ukrainian hata mazanka, the archetypal rural dwelling shaped by climate, ritual, and locally available materials. Designed by YOD Group, the project revisits vernacular memory through light, transparency, and a single dominant architectural gesture: the roof.

Rather than reproducing tradition literally, the guesthouses distil the mazanka to its essential ideas. The thick whitewashed walls and thatched roofs that once symbolised care, cleanliness, and order are here translated into an architecture where clarity and openness replace opacity, and where the roof assumes both symbolic and spatial primacy.

Oversized and sculptural, the thatched roof defines the project’s instantly recognisable silhouette. Rising above fully transparent façades, it evokes both the tall traditional headwear found in Ukrainian folklore and an oversized mushroom emerging from the landscape. During the day, the uninterrupted glazing visually dissolves, allowing the roof to appear as if it were floating above the terrain.

This gesture anchors the buildings within their cultural lineage while asserting a distinctly contemporary presence. The roof is not an accessory but the conceptual and spatial centre of the project, unifying form, memory, and environmental performance.

Inside, the spatial organisation is deliberately simple. A central concrete core contains the bathroom, flanked by a bedroom on one side and a living area on the other. In place of a television, a minimalist fireplace becomes the focal point of daily life. The live flame, visible through a circular opening, offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Ukrainian stove and encourages a slower, more contemplative rhythm of inhabitation.

Flooring extends seamlessly from interior to exterior through a continuous stone carpet surface, enhancing the sense of immersion in the landscape. Barefoot movement becomes part of the sensory experience, reinforcing the idea of the guesthouse as a place for emotional and informational detox rather than distraction.

When privacy is required, dense yet visually light curtains can be closed via an automated control panel by the bed, allowing guests to modulate openness without disrupting the architectural clarity of the space.

The interior language follows the principles of eco minimalism, articulated through a restrained natural palette and a strong emphasis on tactility. Objects and furnishings by Ukrainian brands reinforce a sense of place without slipping into overt regionalism. Soft textiles, textured wood, and handcrafted elements establish warmth within an otherwise pared back spatial framework.

A large custom floor lamp crafted from ceramics and natural fibres becomes a sculptural accent in the bedroom, subtly balancing the scale of the expansive roof volume above.

The inner surface of the roof dome is clad in wooden tiles that reference traditional Ukrainian shingles. Rising to a height of ten metres at its apex, the dome amplifies verticality and openness while discreetly housing all engineering systems. Heating, cooling, and ventilation are fully integrated into the architecture, leaving walls and glazing visually uninterrupted.

A heat pump system ensures year round thermal comfort, while concealed air conditioning and supply ventilation operate through linear slots and exhaust outlets embedded within the dome and central core. Technology here is present but invisible, reinforcing the project’s commitment to calm and spatial clarity.

Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses demonstrate how vernacular architecture can be revisited without nostalgia. By decoding the cultural essence of the Ukrainian mazanka and reassembling it through contemporary materials and spatial strategies, the project offers a quietly radical model of hospitality architecture rooted in place, memory, and restraint.

Rather than staging tradition, the architecture allows it to be felt through light, proportion, and atmosphere, positioning the guesthouse as both retreat and cultural reflection within the Ukrainian landscape.

Project Credit

Location: One of the central regions of Ukraine
Area: 50 m²
Year: 2026
Photo: Mykhailo Lukashuk
Architecture and design: YOD Group / @yod.group
Furniture: Noom