Architectural office: Studio Martins
Object: ROMANKIV cottage community concept
Location: Ukraine, Kyiv region, Romankiv
Year: 2021

A children's play area in a park — Play ground

A swimming pool and a covered patio — Swimming pool

A concrete walk way and a swimming pool — Walk way

An asphalt drive way and a garage — Drive way and garage

An asphalt drive way and a covered garage with bricks wall — Drive way and garage

A covered garage with bricks wall — Garage

A large swimming pool with lounge chairs — Swimming pool

A swimming pool in front of a patio — Swimming pool

A swimming pool and covered patio with bricks wall — Swimming pool

A swimming pool in front of covered patio — Swimming pool and patio

A covered patio with bricks wall, table and chairs — Patio

The concept of two-story cottages in the ROMANKIV project is inspired by the unique location of the cottage town in the Kyiv region, as it evokes associations with “warm countries” in southern Europe. Typically, houses in such places have white facades. Therefore, light, natural colors, and materials were chosen as the basis for creating the architectural design of the houses. Ukrainian wild sandstone was used for cladding, which serves both a practical function and provides a visually pleasing alternative to a plain white facade.

A massive monolithic beam not only serves a creative decorative function but also acts as protection against sun, wind, and rain. This allows the homeowner to comfortably access the BBQ area or their vehicle without stepping outside. The upper block of the house, resembling a monolithic box, is designed in the form of an envelope that connects with the lower block through a glass roof.

To introduce horizontal dynamics to the facade, we didn’t simply design one floor above another; instead, we “spread” them in different directions. We also added asymmetry to the layout and partitions to make the upper part appear larger than the lower part, creating an artistic pattern on the facade through its sculptural form.

Natural stone structures are much more appealing than plain “boxes” and also offer practical advantages. Therefore, the second floor features a white facade, while wild sandstone was used for the lower level. Another distinctive feature of the ROMANKIV cottage town is the pools with waterfalls. They serve not only a decorative purpose but also facilitate water circulation.

Enjoying the beauty and functionality that harmoniously blends with the natural environment is perhaps the best embodiment of intelligent architectural design. Functionality and modernity combined with ergonomics and natural elements are the principles we strive to incorporate into the lives of people.