According to the legend, Kiev is a city built on seven hills. One of them is Tatarka – a historic neighbourhood in the centre of Kiev which forms a narrow meandering hill between Podol and Lukyanovka. The plot where a single-family
house is going to be built is located right on this hill and it can only be reached
from nagornaya street by means of taking a narrow side street down the hill,
which leads to a distinctive amphitheatre-like valley.
We used this landscape
feature in the creation of living environment, locating the main volume on the point
of the best possible perception of the whole territory. The main living space is
raised and has connection with the whole plot along its perimeter. Thus, we achieved
an interesting walking scenario around the territory and ensured a nice view over
obolon district both from the terrace and the dining room. steep slopes are uncomfortable
for walking, therefore in some places they were cut on the terrace level, which
increased the net area of the territory and provided a space for a lounge zone
with barbecue.
In the south-east
the tree crowns were partially pruned to allow more sun on the terrace near the
swimming pool, while in the south-east the existing trees are supposed to
protect the house from unpleasant western sun rays in summer. Vertical layout is
designed to ensure drainage of rainwater from the hill through the plot.
The entrance
opens into the garden on two sides and is accentuated by a canopy over the
parking.
Living room is separated from kitchen/dining-room and is visually isolated from the active zone of the plot. Located in the cantilevered
part of the volume, the living room is immersed into the garden without touching
it. children’s bedrooms are separated from master bedroom by means of a stairсase which overlooks the city and has a
two-coloured space overlooking the garden. Master bathroom looks south-east.
The study and the guestroom have their own terrace linked to the lounge zone.
The railing on this terrace serves as a visual border which separates the study
and the whole plot from its north-western neighbours. The usage of one and the same
material unifies all elements of the house into one single structure which
merges with the natural landscape and marks the borderline of the living space.
The aim of the project is to create an environment where the house itself might
help its dwellers perceive the surrounding, slopes of the hill in particular,
as natural protective walls and natural greenery – as a wallpaper pattern which
changes over seasons.