Built during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Dzen House was designed with the defiant idea of pursuing serenity through built spaces—even amidst prevalent social unrest. A 1260 sq ft house in Kyiv, Ukraine, the residential building is a curious blend of traditional Ukrainian and Japanese elements adapted in a contemporary way. The client's affinity for Japanese architecture is evident in how they pay homage to it by employing characteristic Japanese elements in the Dzen House—an overarching roof with exposed structure, a tatami area on the second floor and wooden cladding using the yakisugi technique, which involves charring the surface to protect the material.

The owners’ fascination with Japanese culture stemmed from their visit to the country and how the local dwellings assimilated simplicity through their practical approach to aesthetics. "The clients wanted to adopt simplicity in their homes to create a focus on things that are important to them—a lot of which revolved around the idea of how the outside affected one’s inner world," Anton Verhun, partner at the Ukrainian design firm Shovk Studio, told STIR. Shovk Studio designed the Dzen House as an abode for the owner and his family to feel in harmony with themselves and the world—a space where one can savour moments such as watching the rain outside the window, warming themselves by the fireplace, or practising yoga on a tatami near the round window.

The first level of Dzen House accommodates the kitchen and the living room wrapped around the house's core—which has a staircase, bathroom and utility rooms. The layout simultaneously connects the kitchen and living room while slightly detaching them through the amenities in the core area. The architects intended the house to enhance the compactness of space while creating a sense of perceived spaciousness by employing unimpeded circulation in the common spaces. The panoramic windows in the house were positioned to provide the residents with a means for regularly savouring the views of the picturesque neighbouring coniferous garden. Expansive frameless windows in the living room, stretching from floor to ceiling, experientially connect the indoors with the natural surroundings. This level also showcases a traditional Ukrainian element reminiscent of rural dwellings—the rugged manzanka plaster—both internally and externally, making the house an engaging blend of two distinctive cultures.

The second floor has an ambient feel of an attic, as the ceiling of the interior spaces follows the form of the roof’s slope. The level is lined with birch plywood while its exterior is adorned with yakisugi charred wood. This floor has two bedrooms, a study and a retreat for relaxation and meditation—complete with a round window and tatami flooring—alongside a bathroom and utility room. Carrying an austere sensibility, the bed in the master bedroom is designed as a part of the architecture itself, in the form of a platform raised alongside the expansive window. The tatami space doubles as a venue for tea ceremonies and contemplation, offering views of raindrops cascading from the eaves of the overarching roof through the circular window.

The inculcation of Japanese architecture and the extensive use of wood favoured the project’s construction process, as it involved reconstruction and expansion. The Dzen house was originally a one-storey building. Elaborating on how the residential design fits seamlessly into the existing structural systems, without needing considerable alterations, Anton adds, “In order not to put excessive stress on the existing foundation and the walls of the first floor, we built the second floor in wood. Since the wooden frame tends to expand and contract depending on the external and internal temperature, we also chose birch plywood, to decorate the interior walls of the second floor. As the plywood has almost the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the pine used for the second-floor frame, the likelihood of cracks in the corners and surfaces is minimised.”

While the house carries an ascetic character, it doesn’t compromise on user comfort. The concrete flooring on the first level is equipped with an embedded heating system that gently diffuses warmth for optimising user comfort. A continuous supply of fresh air at optimal temperatures is assured by a dedicated ventilation system, creating a cosy indoor environment. The fireplace is designed as the focal point, positioned near the centre of the living room and adjacent to an expansive window, enabling residents to relish the warmth while enjoying scenic views of the garden, particularly during cool weather. The stainless steel chimney pipe of the fireplace passes through the bedroom on the upper level, which warms the room while doubling as a contemporary decorative element.

Drawing parallels between cultures in Ukraine and Japan and how their influences were instilled within the home, Anton explained how both traditions emphasise the use of natural materials, particularly wood, stone and clay. “Both traditions value simplicity and functionality in design. The minimalist approach in Japanese interiors aligns with the practical, yet elegant, aspects of traditional Ukrainian homes. But Japanese design emphasises fluidity and open spaces with flexible room dividers like shoji screens, creating a sense of openness and flow. Ukrainian interiors traditionally have more defined and separated spaces, often with specific areas designated for different functions,” Verhun told STIR. Adopting the values from these cultures to fit with the client’s way of living, Shovk Studio concocted a space that borrows from the past, while holding onto its unique identity. The interior design of the Dzen House invokes curiosity in the way we perceive traditional architecture and its adaptation in a multicultural blend.

Project Details

Name: Dzen House
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine 
Architect: Shovk Studio
Area: 117 sqm
Year of Completion: 2022