A home on the edge of a forest | Horomy Studio

Location and commencement
The customer's first priority was a swift execution of the project. The studio, armed with a comprehensive architectural and interior blueprint, set out to fulfill the client's vision promptly and completed the task from planning to finish within 2 years.   

The second most important requirement; the quest for an awe-inspiring vista, which led them to scout St. Petersburg outskirts extensively, ultimately selecting a prime spot close to the water's edge, overlooking the Finnish Gulf — a location that posed technical challenges yet promised unparalleled views.

Exterior
From a distance, the house appears unassuming, seemingly a single-story structure blending into the forested landscape. It's all about perspective, a closer inspection reveals a cleverly designed lower level nestled into the hillside, offering panoramic views of the Baltic Sea. Large windows flood the interiors with natural light, enhancing the connection with the surrounding landscape.

«In our designs we always focus on the movement of sunlight throughout the home. Here, the first morning rays enter through the skylighted windows above the open-plan kitchen and living room, before passing on to the children's rooms. Thanks to the panoramic windows the main area is bathed in sunlight throughout the day. The light at sunset arrives in the courtyard and also catches the living room», — comment from the architects on their approach to natural lighting.

Quite zone

Each part of the house has its own functional purpose. The ground floor space serves as a quiet zone which is emphasized by the serene conifer forest view. Two children's rooms, each with its walk-in closet and access to the courtyard, flank a spacious master bedroom facing the gulf.

The children's rooms look out onto surrounding trees with bird feeders hanging directly in front of the windows, another reminder of nature in all its beauty, right on the doorstep.

These bedrooms, being for a brother and sister of a similar age, mirror each other in layout but express individuality through their color schemes — dark hues for the boy's room and natural woody tones for the girl's. 

This neutral, timeless approach was chosen deliberately — preferences change over time, especially while growing up. These rooms are easy to adapt to changing interests, for example, through decorative elements and textiles.

Work desks have been placed under the wide windows and, off to the side, floor-to-ceiling windows were installed so the daylight comes from both sides.

As in many other projects Horomystudio performed here not only as an architectural studio but also as a furniture designer. Many items were custom-made. Such an approach emphasizes the exclusivity of each and every project.

Creating these spaces for the customer's son and daughter, the team used a soft but not a deliberately childish design, leading to the concept of wooden furniture with predominantly rounded shapes and smooth lines. The teenagers' wishes were also taken into account — they wanted to add a hanging chair and a folding sofa for sleepovers with friends.

«In regards to the master bathroom on this floor, a high-ceiling effect was achieved by installing skylights. We put together a rather minimalistic interior which seamlessly fits into the concept of the house and received a positive response from the owners», — Horomystudio architects talk about the master bathroom design.

Common areas
The lower level is a space for family and guests to spend time together, the stunning view of the Gulf creating a dynamic and inspiring backdrop. As well as the living room there is a master office on this floor.

The kitchen is functional: it was designed according to the owners requirements, including requested specialized storage areas. From the open-plan kitchen and living room you enter the covered courtyard, designed for year-round outdoor enjoyment. 

Spa area
Because the customer is a "banya" (russian style sauna) enthusiast the designers needed to carefully select the equipment and plan the layout for the spa area. It includes showers, a sauna and a "relax and cool down" room. The spa area is finished with painted wood in deep shades of matte black. Since this space also offers a picturesque Baltic sea view, the design and decor had to be minimalistic.

«The focus was deliberately not put on the interior in order to emphasize the beautiful view», — the architects say.

Staircase
The wooden staircase between the ground floor and the lower level is a complex element of the house but it looks concise, thus not over attracting the attention.

«We invested a lot of effort to achieve this "simplistic" effect. We used the connection of two handrails located on different levels: so in one of the joints, the structural wall becomes a handrail. It was important to connect the elements in such a way that your hand slides smoothly over the surface when you walk down the stairs», — the architects talk about the staircase design.

Materials, engineering
High-tech engineering systems discreetly support the home's functionality, with ventilation and climate control seamlessly integrated into the design. The building's mixed structure, incorporating monolithic and CLT paneling, ensures durability and efficiency.

«We hid all visible elements: for example, air vent grilles and technical lights are concealed in ceiling lamellas and beams. The house is fully equipped with all necessary engineering systems and yet they are completely unnoticeable to the residents», — Olga Vetosheva and Eduard Zakharov say.

Brick, metal on the roof and larch planking coated with deep matte paint were used in the facade decoration. Its black color incorporates the exterior with the interior.

Various types of wood were used in the interior design — oak was chosen for the floors. For the master bedroom walls — ash tree with a dynamic texture especially liked by the owners. These rich ash panels are combined with an oak ceiling with a calm texture.

Architecture, interior design: Olga Vetosheva, Eduard Zakharov (Horomystudiohttps://horomystudio.com/)

Photographer: Dmitrii Tsyrenshchikov (https://tsyrenshchikov.com/ )

Interior styling: Natalia Onufreichuk