Under the Reed Roof: Thatched Guesthouses by YOD Group

Ukrainian architecture studio YOD Group designed these compact guesthouses on a private estate in central Ukraine as a contemporary rereading of the mazanka, the traditional rural home defined by thick whitewashed walls, a thatched roof and an intimate relationship with the land.

The studio’s concept replaces the earthen walls with fully transparent glass façades and introduces a deliberately oversized thatched roof that defines the silhouette from afar, echoing the silhouette of a tall traditional hat or a mushroom rising from the snow. By day, the continuous glazing dissolves into the landscape, giving the impression that the reed canopy floats above the terrain. At night, the interiors glow warmly beneath the darkened dome, turning each structure into a lantern in the field.

Inside, the layout is organized around a central concrete core that contains the bathroom. On either side sit the bedroom and living area, where a minimalist circular fireplace references the traditional Ukrainian stove. When privacy is needed, dense yet lightweight curtains close automatically via a bedside control panel.

For more of YOD Group’s work, head over to their website.
Photos by Mykhailo Lukashuk.

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