Designed by buro511 in a forested area on the outskirts of Moscow, Roma House is a place for a busy media manager to be alone with nature and relax. A truly custom design, the house addresses the client’s ambivalence between desiring a contemporary house of luxury with high-end finishes, and a rustic, earthy cabin. The design process became very much an exercise in selecting materials.
A compact 210 square meters, the house for the bachelor client consists of a comfortably sized living room with high ceilings and a main bedroom area complete with ensuite bathroom, dressing room and panoramic views into the forest. An additional guest bedroom, guest bathroom, guest dressing room and laundry room round out the remaining spaces.
In response to the client’s ambialence between a rough cabin aesthetic and sleek, high-end luxury living, the architects began to mix different materials. In particular, more expensive walnut veneer for wall panels, library shelving, bathrooms, cabinets and sinks, against rougher, more basic materials like stone and rough concrete for the floors and elements like the kitchen island.
The architects even travelled as far as Denizli, Turkey to view various types of travertine, ultimately finding a texture and colour of stone that was pleasing to both architect and client.
An old fence, found on the property was nailed to the ceiling of the living room and painted black, lending another layer of texture and pattern to the richly developed palette. Wood slats on the exterior echo the concept – a rough yet refined layering of materials and elements.
