Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses: A Contemporary Archetype

On private land near Kyiv, YOD Group has designed Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses, a project that reinterprets the mazanka, a traditional Ukrainian rural dwelling, through a contemporary lens.

The complex draws on this vernacular archetype and transforms it into essential, transparent, and technologically advanced architecture. Volodymyr Nepiyvoda of YOD Group sums up the project’s intent and approach:

«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. 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».

Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses: An experience of connection

The mazanka – from the Ukrainian verb mazaty, “to smear” – evokes an idea of constant care and maintenance. It is simple architecture shaped by the local climate and resources, yet dense with cultural meaning. The project captures its essence, converting its solid masonry massing into transparent façades and its white plaster finish into full-height glazed surfaces.

The result is architecture that dissolves the boundary between interior and landscape. By day, the fully transparent façades erase the perception of limits, making the large reed roof appear suspended above the ground. The project treats its relationship with nature as an opportunity to pare back modern distractions – for example, the houses are not provided with televisions. It approaches hospitality as a deep sense of connection with place, its traditions, with oneself, and with nature.

Tactile, essential interiors

The plan is organized around a concrete core that contains the bathroom and serves as the distribution hub. The sleeping quarters and living room are arranged around this core, forming a fluid space that emphasizes visual and perceptual continuity.

In the living area, a minimalist fireplace reinterprets the traditional pich, the Ukrainian stove that formed the domestic heart of the mazanka. Visible through a circular opening, the fire is both a focal point and an invitation to reflection. The continuous floor, with a stone carpet finish, extends outdoors, reinforcing the sense of spatial permeability.

The interiors feature an eco-minimalist language, with neutral tones and tactile surfaces. Solid wood elements, black-clay ceramics, and a large custom floor lamp made of ceramic and natural fibers introduce measured sculptural accents.

The roof as an architectural device

The oversized roof is the true centerpiece of the project, giving the building an immediately recognizable profile. Its role is not merely as a signature element, however, with the 10 m high dome housing all the building systems. A heat pump provides thermal comfort. The HVAC system integrates supply ventilation, operating through linear slots and diffusers integrated into the dome and central core. This leaves the walls completely free, underscoring the transparency of the façades as an element that defines the complex’s formal identity.

By combining tradition and transformation, Under the Reed Roof reinterprets an architectural typology with strong symbolic value, turning it into a contemporary model of mindful hospitality.

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