GL-RESIDENCE is an extensive project that includes the renovation of a residence, the interior design of 234 m2 and the design of a garden lounge landscape on an area of 0,2 ha. While working with the INRE team, the clients became so interested in modern design that they not only got to know almost all European manufacturers of their furniture personally but also decided to connect their professional activities with design in the future.
Initially, the project presented itself as a standard cottage located in the VIP area of a village on Novorizhskoye Highway, built in a single style. Without completely departing from the existing format and without increasing the building footprint, INRE has managed to substantially refurbish the house with the right compositional accents. German bricks and brushed thermo board were chosen for the cottage cladding. The window openings were enlarged, the frame columns were painted white, and the foundation was clad with stone – this visually "grounded" the house, making it more welcoming. Brickwork, vertical rails, horizontal boards and shutters in the windows set a dynamic rhythm to the architecture. INRE is always very attentive not only in the choice of materials but also in their treatment. For example, the texture of brushed pine covered in thick, dark paint is visible in any lighting conditions. Thanks to the well designed external lighting, the expertly arranged garage and the atmospheric terraced landscape, the residence imparts a sense of privacy and uniqueness. With the help of specific modifications, the standard cottage has changed visually and functionally, becoming an object of pride for the owners and a topic of lively interest for guests and neighbours.
The house plot, located in a village on the Novorizhskoe Highway, borders a real forest. The modern garden lounge is set against the wildlife backdrop, which establishes the style of the property's landscape. This determined the choice of a monochrome colour scheme and natural materials in the finishes: clinker, minerals and brushed thermo pine in the house cladding. Grey, brown, black: the designers themselves call this palette "the Russian beast sparrow". The tall black pines with fluffy needles planted along the perimeter almost blur the boundary with the forest.
The closer to home, the more organised the planting becomes without being too decorative. INRE's blurring technique is repeated once more, now blending the interior of the house and the garden area with the help of unconventional outdoor light coloured tiles, cosy INRE-designed outdoor street lamps and pots at the base of a Nivaki mountain pine tree. The artful details, like the outdoor hearth, the patio sofas and the real pine tree in the centre of the property create a place for hanging out with family and friends, regardless of the season.
The welcome area of the residence is organised as flowerbeds of rare tall rhododendrons, like those on Lake Como, which start blooming as early as the beginning of May. The flowerbeds, delicately lit underneath, also serve as benches for welcoming guests or chatting with a friend. The porch, flowerbeds in the front, pine footings, steps, and additional entrance to the house help architecturally shape the space around the main dominant feature – the house. To 'balance' the house and to blend it in with the landscape, the designers used geoplastics with benching and created multiple levels. The house stands on a slight elevation, with the lawn and lounge area arranged in rows below. The area, therefore, has more beautiful viewpoints and intimate spaces, separated from each other by distinct rows of cotoneaster.
For example, one of the owner's favourite spots is the 'meeting area': the space behind the house, on the left-hand side. A street lamp and a comfortable bench surrounded by pine trees are perfect for informal business conversations. A picturesque lawn has been laid out for outdoor gatherings and picnics. In summer, pouffes and ping-pong tables are brought out and badminton can be played on the grass.
You can take a break from active games in the lavishly "sunken" lounge area. The fence framing it is lined with the same brushed, stained dark pine as the house. Its texture is visible in daylight as well as in the evening thanks to the LED strip integrated into the fence. Lighting around the seating and hearth areas creates a floating effect. When a fire is lit, the red-orange RGB lighting resembles its reflection and looks particularly bewitching.
Very soon there will be a small spa complex with panoramic windows in this part of the property – the place is completely hidden from prying eyes and its windows look out over the forest. There is a nearby gate that gives access to the forest directly from the grounds. A structure for garden furniture and household needs is found behind the fence.
All of INRE's landscape projects emphasise the changing seasons. Evergreen conifers form the framework of the site, with varying accents of alternating blossoming plants in the background. In winter, trees covered in snow and decorated with string lights create a winter fairy-tale atmosphere and uplift one's mood.
The contrasting combination of greenery and white porcelain tiles on the walkways adds a special ceremonial feel to the space. By INRE's design, a standard 60x60 slab was cut into 3 pieces and transformed into a nice paving stone. By the way, the light coloured tiles are completely low-maintenance – aesthetics and functionality are part of every design solution of the project.
The varying evening lighting scenarios can make the landscape look completely different: trees with curved trunks cast playful shadows on the brick façade, furniture groups illuminated in the dark seem even cosier and hidden paths in the bushes come to life. Everything is designed to unlock the potential of a place, connecting it with nature and creating a sense of harmony and inner freedom.
