The house is located in the heart of Suzdal town on the bank of Kamenka river.
The building we were refurbishing was an abandoned hotel. Ensemble, which is a private country house now, should preserve the history of the estate that existed here before the hotel as well as become an important part of the town’s panorama that opens from the monastery walls on the opposite bank of the river.
Location
This is one of the most picturesque locations in Suzdal. Soviet director Andrey Tarkovsky has filmed here one of the crucial scenes of his picture ‘Andrey Rublyov’.
The further we worked with this project the more we knew about the area. Right on this very place filmmaker Andrey Tarkovsky filmed his movie ‘Andrey Rublyov’, or, to be exact, the novel about the making of the church bells. The Soviet production team had no idea how to build the set right, so it was a huge experiment. They dug a big hole, where the scene of bell-casting was filmed. Eventually, everything has turned out just right.
That was exactly how we felt when we started the project. We have never worked with traditional architecture before, in other words, we didn’t know how to ‘cast the bell’. Eventually, it turned out just right.
The point of renovation was to define the building’s merits as well find a place for artistic expression. This is how the concept of dense, straggling line of huts was created. These wooden ‘izbas’ are delicately united with a modern structure — the house is merged into the town’s skyline although it still subtly stands out with its contemporary forms.
Minimalist structure shines through the gaps between ‘traditional’ facades either with narrow, arrowslit windows or with roof-piercing towers. Neutral background defines the wood-carved lace of window frames and ledges.
Traditional decor contrasts with a modern black metal terrace. Minimalist structure reduces the historicism of the wooden parts, although this space does have an element of a play. Among the pillars there is a wood-carved column. This is the element of traditional wood construction, which is a source of inspiration for many generations of artists — among them is the sculptor Constantin Brâncuși.
Materials used in facades are used in interior decoration as well, uniting both sides of the house. The principle of wood and concrete combination make the walls a perfect background for furniture and decor.
Just like the house itself, the interior has a constant interaction with its surroundings. The windows are cut in such way that the owners see a different landscape from every room — a quick tour around the town can be done without leaving the house.
This house is a place for relaxation and rest. Main inspiration was taken from a traditional Russian country house called dacha with a distinctivly rustic and nonchalant image.
In this modernized version of a dacha, icons of collectible design are mixed with vintage finds and custom-made pieces. Art and impressive library give a personal touch to the project and make the space look lived-in.
