Cover Modern minimalism inspired by the spirit of Japanese dwelling
Modern minimalism inspired by the spirit of Japanese dwelling
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Modern minimalism meets nature in this contemporary home in Russia through Japanese-inspired aesthetics
In the urban settlement of Gorki-2 in Moscow Oblast, Russia, just 10 kilometres south of the city centre, a family of four tasked architect Anna Кashentseva to decorate their contemporary style home.
Built in 2023, the full time residence spans 4,090 sq ft, with the layout of the property influenced by the plot and the orientation of the cardinal directions.
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The first floor comprises the communal areas, such as the living room, kitchen, guest bathroom, and home office, while the bedrooms are on the second level, each with en-suite bathrooms and walk-in closets.
The home also includes a laundry area, which Кashentseva altered slightly by broadening the narrow area to include the storage closet in the utility wing and an additional space with storage for ironing.
Above Wooden slat doors emulate Japanese dwellings
Above The custom-made doors and console
Wooden slat doors emulate Japanese dwellings
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“The style of the interior is dictated by the modern and minimalist architecture of the house, and [we made sure that] the external volume is in harmony with the internal space, complementing each other,” says Кashentseva, whose primary goal was to create a sense of comfort and tranquillity for the homeowners, who are open and curious individuals that travel frequently.
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Above Honey-toned wood accents that evoke the colours of a wheat field
Honey-toned wood accents that evoke the colours of a wheat field
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Drawing inspiration from a photo of “a vast, rich wheat field with ripe yellow wheat and the surrounding green forest,” the architect emulated the simple but well thought out Japanese dwelling for the home, incorporating wooden slats and veneer with a natural pattern in shades of summer, August, and ripe wheat.
“I love that the interior evokes the atmosphere of a field of ripe wheat, as if you are walking through it and touching the ears of wheat with your hand,” she muses.
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A lively, colourful accent that enlivens the minimalist living room
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Above Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the inner courtyard and garden
Above The double-sided fireplace clad in honey-coloured wood panels
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the inner courtyard and garden
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This is immediately apparent in the entry hall, where natural travertine flooring and a light fixture by Alexa Hampton complement a pair of wooden slat doors that lead the way into the home.
The double-sided fireplace serves as the heart of the home, with panels of honey-coloured natural wood that span the entire double height of six metres in the living area.
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The cosy dining and kitchen area
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Here, with flooring covered in engineered oak veneer boards, the large floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the inner courtyard and garden dotted with apple trees.
“The warm, dense shade of beige used for the ceiling and walls adds a cosy feel to the space, alongside a custom-made sofa by designer Elena Guseva at her own production facility in Moscow, and a handcrafted rug from Kulturakovrov,” Кashentseva adds.
Through a large, wooden-framed portal, the welcoming ambience leads into the dining area and kitchen, fitted with glass-panelled doors that open into the terrace at the back of the property.
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The home office with a view of the garden
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“In modern interiors, the most challenging aspect is to create depth and breathe history into the project, having a relatively limited set of techniques available,” Кashentseva shares. “One can [address that with] the contrast of textures, materials, and colour.”
She achieved that with a vibrant art piece in the living area, injecting a lively, colourful accent that enlivens the space. Whereas, the guest bathroom on the first floor is bathed in rich green, harmonising with the bathroom sink carved from a piece of riverstone.
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Above Rich green adds vibrancy to the guest bathroom
Above The bathroom carries the overarching theme of the home
Rich green adds vibrancy to the guest bathroom
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Above A seamless movement from room to room
Above Overhead accent lighting in the walk-in closet
A seamless movement from room to room
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To maintain the ceiling height for the rooms throughout the home, all engineering communications and air conditioners were placed ingeniously in closets, corridors, and other utility rooms.
This also allows the overhead accent lighting fixtures of different shapes and sizes to shine, casting warm glow upon custom-made doors, baseboards, cabinets and other wooden furnishings by carpentry master Stanislav Efremov.
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The contrast of textures, materials, and colour in the bedroom
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“It is important to consider where each light fixture will shine, and how the space will change under various lighting scenarios,” Кashentseva concludes. “During the day, some ‘heroes’ come to the forefront, while in the evening, they are supplemented or even replaced by new ‘characters’.”
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Credits
Photography: Sergey Krasyuk
Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
