Kyiv-based studio YOD Group has reimagined a rural Ukrainian typology by designing Hata-Mazanka, a trio of guesthouses on a private central Ukrainian estate.
Drawing from traditional mazanka houses and pushing form and craft into a contemporary, climate-conscious language, the project juxtaposes towering thatched roofs with transparent envelopes that dissolve into the landscape.
This blog post examines the architectural concept, materials and interiors, and how YOD Group uses local craft to create a distinct, modern Ukrainian expression.
Architectural concept and form
The project embeds the mazanka vernacular within a sculptural contemporary grammar.
The resulting silhouettes evoke oversized mushrooms or traditional sheepskin hats, turning architecture into a landscape feature as much as a shelter.
The trio’s dramatic thatched roofs rise up to 10 metres, crafting a bold skyline that is both protective and airy.
In plan, a central concrete volume anchors the layout, housing bathrooms and kitchen utilities.
The domed living and sleeping spaces float around the core.
The living areas and bedrooms are wrapped in curved glass walls, which visually dissolve in daylight and make the thatched roofs appear to hover above the terrain.
This tension between enclosure and openness is a signature move.
It aligns with YOD Group’s interest in architecture that engages with its surroundings.
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Structure, roof and spatial arrangement
The thatching is executed with one-year-old reeds sourced from the Odessa region, giving the project a locally rooted material logic and a distinctive textural quality.
Inner domes are clad with wooden tiles inspired by Carpathian roofing traditions, reinforcing a regional dialogue between vernacular craft and forward-looking design.
A restrained concrete core creates a durable, serviceable spine that divides the domed living spaces from the sleeping zones.
Pebble-covered floors extend to the exterior, merging indoor and outdoor experiences.
Interior language and material palette
Inside, the atmosphere is described by YOD Group as modern eco-minimalism.
This approach prioritizes natural colours, tactile variety, and the use of locally made objects.
The interiors weave curved glass walls with earthy textures to blur boundaries between inside and out.
A neutral palette is enriched with wooden accents, plush seating, and layered lighting.
An open fireplace peeks through a round void in the wall—a nod to traditional stoves and a warm counterpoint to the otherwise transparent envelope.
Furnishings and décor are sourced from Ukrainian makers to reinforce regional identity.
Pieces by Kateryna Sokolova for Noom and black clay objects from Guculiya contribute to a tactile, calmly restrained setting.
The design strategy embraces local fabrication and material honesty, producing a spa-like environment that is at once intimate and expansive.
Key design features
- Exaggerated thatched roofs up to 10 metres tall
- Thatching with Odessa-region reeds for regional material logic
- Carpathian-inspired wooden tile domes
- Curved glass walls that dissolve visually with daylight
- Central concrete volume housing bathrooms and utilities
- Pebble floors extending to exterior areas
- Floor-to-ceiling curtains controlled from bedroom panels for privacy
- Open fireplace visible through a round wall void
- Locally sourced furniture and decor from Ukrainian makers
Craft, sourcing and Ukrainian context
Beyond its form, Hata-Mazanka foregrounds local craft and material sustainability.
The interiors’ tactile palette relies on native materials and contemporary design sensibilities, creating a refined, accessible modernism that respects Ukrainian heritage.
The project sits within a broader arc of YOD Group’s work that reinterprets Ukrainian context through inventive lighting solutions and material experiments, such as lamps made from spent ammunition shells and a Bukovel restaurant zoned with mycelium curtains.
These precedents illustrate a commitment to material storytelling and national identity in architecture and design.
Photographed by Mykhailo Lukashuk, Hata-Mazanka continues YOD Group’s exploration of how architecture can engage with landscape, craft, and ceremony.
The trio acts as a field study in sustainable lit and thermal strategies, vernacular revival with modern constraints, and a design language that remains deeply anchored to its place.
Why this design matters for architecture and engineering
Hata-Mazanka demonstrates how a bold volumetric gesture—an oversized thatched roof—can define a project’s identity. This approach does not sacrifice comfort, privacy, or environmental sensitivity.
The combination of a strong, durable core with lightweight, transparent envelopes shows a practical approach to climate-responsive design. The roof offers shelter and shading, while the glass enables daylight and views.
Pebble floors provide a natural thermal mass that helps regulate temperature. For practitioners in architecture and engineering, the project offers a blueprint for blending vernacular forms with modern techniques.
It emphasizes local supply chains, craft-based detailing, and user-controlled privacy systems. Hata-Mazanka stands as a reimagining of Ukrainian rural housing, showing that architectural innovation can honor tradition and promote sustainable, human-centered design.
Here is the source article for this story: YOD Group crowns glass huts with 10-metre-tall thatched roofs
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