This project is inspired by one of the greatest architects, Mies van der Rohe. His philosophy and ideas about how living spaces should function and look are still quite controversial, even for today’s customers. However, I have implemented some of them in this one-storey house for a wonderful couple in suburban Siberia. Simple forms, only two or three materials, greenery, and as much functionality as needed — these are the main ideas of this project.

The main task I needed to achieve was to combine two seemingly contradictory demands: maximum open living space with privacy. The site is located on a street corner, so two sides of the plot are wide open, while the other two are next to the neighbours. The decision to make a solid wall on a cantilever made it possible both to block unwanted views and to help the cantilever itself become more stable in a seismic zone.

The second task was functionality: the garage, private areas, and guest areas had to be divided so that guests would not need to enter the house during a party in the backyard. Moreover, if there are guests in the living room, the owner can still make a business call in a quiet private area. I also believe that garages in cold-winter regions should not share common walls with living areas because of exhaust fumes and noise. It is also better for a vehicle’s body to be stored in an unheated space, as this helps reduce rust over time.

The project is currently under construction. The simpler a project seems from the outside, the more complex it often is inside. Now my colleagues — structural and HVAC engineers — and I are working on the task of making all the reinforced concrete work well with the energy model, so that the insulation and engineering systems remain invisible to any viewer.