Photo of the house with round window and black exterior.

Design Team: Tomas Umbrasas, Aidas Barzda, Tautvydas Vileikis
Location: Baltupiai, Vilnius, Lithuania
Structural Engineer: Ekspa Pro, UAB
Engineering: Projektų srautas, UAB
Window Systems: UAB, Sumeda
Wooden facade systems: Brolis Timber, UAB
Size: 181.91 sq.m.
Photgrapher: Norbert Tukaj

About Studio

YCL studio is an architectural collaborative based in Vilnius, Lithuania operating in the fields of architecture, interior, planning, urban space, landscape design, and research projects. The company was established in 2011 and currently growing under the creative direction of the three Partners.

As part of the new generation of Lithuanian architects, we use our international experience to enrich and strengthen local architecture as well as spread the word internationally.

The studio creates unique designs and ideas for investments and developments. From home interiors and buildings to large-scale developments – we combine innovation, planning, and design ideas to make places more welcoming, engaging, and attractive. We are open to collaborations and partnerships to ensure that each work, no matter the scale, could be achieved with great care and charm.

In a vibrant setting, the newly constructed house's laconic shape is clearly noticeable.
In a vibrant setting, the newly constructed house’s laconic shape is clearly noticeable.
The illusion of mirrored elements around the house was intended to reflect the constantly shifting environment, although only somewhat.
The illusion of mirrored elements around the house was intended to reflect the constantly shifting environment, although only somewhat.
The house with the circular window is located in a complex of exclusive residences.
The house with the circular window is located in a complex of exclusive residences.
The house's distinctive dark color scheme sets it apart from others.
The house’s distinctive dark color scheme sets it apart from others.
Simple to recognize as a modern building, it forges a fresh architectural path through an older neighborhood of private homes.
Simple to recognize as a modern building, it forges a fresh architectural path through an older neighborhood of private homes.
A two-story home with a modest garage volume that is the same shape as the house but scaled down to accommodate one automobile.
A two-story home with a modest garage volume that is the same shape as the house but scaled down to accommodate one automobile.
There are different floors in the internal construction. The living room, dining room, utility room, and kitchen are all located on the first floor.
There are different floors in the internal construction. The living room, dining room, utility room, and kitchen are all located on the first floor.
When implemented, an intriguing shape is produced that changes as you go around the house.
When implemented, an intriguing shape is produced that changes as you go around the house.
There is only one round window in the house's north side near the stairs.
There is only one round window on the house’s north side near the stairs.
It induces thoughts of an empty, freshly constructed birdhouse.
It induces thoughts of an empty, freshly constructed birdhouse.
The south facade has a rhythmical window pattern.
The south facade has a rhythmical window pattern.
The monolitic and laconic shape of a birdhouse can remain as strong as possible.
The monolithic and laconic shape of a birdhouse can remain as strong as possible.
A hanging terrace roof that corresponds to the overall composition of the house.
A hanging terrace roof corresponds to the overall composition of the house.
Shapes makes an outdoor family space more inviting even when it rains.
Shapes make an outdoor family space more inviting even when it rains.
A graphic layout of the monolithic architectural house.
A graphic layout of the monolithic architectural house.

The house with the round window is in a dense block of private houses in Vilnius. 182 square meters, a two-story house with a small garage volume, which is an identical shape scaled to the appropriate size to fit one car. The key wish from the clients was to have a big common space not divided by stairs in any way. So we chose to move the stairs out of the main perimeter of the house.

This idea creates an interesting shape that looks different as you walk around the house. The north part of the house with the stairs has just one round window. It reminds us of a newly built birdhouse that waits for its dwellers.

Mirrored details across the house were an illusion to reflect the always-changing surroundings, but not a lot, just a little bit. New houses, new people, sun, day, and night, just a glimpse of the surroundings that are reflected in the rainy look of mirrored details. In the dark thermo wood façade mirrored details create a little bit of color that changes and makes it different with a small chat or dialog with the surroundings.

The garage volume created a private separation from the neighboring plot, but at the same time, it was not attractive to have a volume in a private yard. So we mirrored it and, through illusion, extended the yard into the parallel world. It worked, it looks nice, and the clients love it. The interior structure is divided into floors.

The first floor has a living area, a guest bathroom, a utility room, and a guest work room. The second floor has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a void on the first floor. The south facade has a rhythmical window pattern so that the monolithic and laconic shape of a birdhouse can remain as strong as possible.

A hanging terrace roof that corresponds to the overall composition of shapes makes an outdoor family space more inviting even when it rains. The laconic shape of the newly built house is well visible in very colorful surroundings, easy to identify as a contemporary structure, and creates a new path of new architecture in an older block of private houses.

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