oversized reed roofs reinterpret the ukrainian mazanka in YOD group's guesthouses

A roof that carries memory tops guesthouses by YOD Group

In a private estate in central Ukraine, Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses by YOD Group rework the image of the Ukrainian hata-mazanka through a restrained yet radical architectural move. The 50-square-meter guesthouses replace the opaque whitewashed walls of the archetype with full-height glazing, amplifying the thatched roof into a dominant, sculptural presence. 

Traditional Ukrainian rural houses evolved through necessity and care, with thick plastered walls, periodic maintenance, and thatched roofs that required regular renewal. YOD Group distills this logic into a single architectural gesture. The oversized reed roof becomes both shelter and symbol, its exaggerated scale forming a silhouette that reads somewhere between a tall ceremonial hat and a mushroom rising from the landscape. ‘Our philosophy of terroir design goes beyond working with local materials or familiar forms – it is about uncovering the essence of a place and decoding its cultural meanings,’ explains Volodymyr Nepiyvoda of YOD Group. Rather than presenting the mazanka as an image to be preserved, Under the Reed Roof treats it as a system of care, renewal, and an intimate relationship with climate and land.

all images by Mykhailo Lukashuk

Transparency as a contemporary translation

Where the historical mazanka pursued light through whiteness and order, the guesthouses pursue it through transparency. Fully glazed facades make the roof appear to hover above the terrain, particularly during daylight hours. The Kyiv-based team at YOD Group reframes the traditional house as a porous structure that remains in constant dialogue with its surroundings.

Inside, the layout is organized around a central concrete core that contains the bathroom. This fixed mass anchors the space, while the bedroom and living area unfold on either side. A minimalist fireplace sits in the living room, quietly referencing the Ukrainian stove without nostalgia. The absence of a television reinforces the project’s intention to slow perception. Attention is redirected toward the fire, the landscape, and the shifting light filtered through glass.

Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses by YOD Group rework the image of the Ukrainian hata-mazanka

Living with the landscape Under the Reed Roof

The sensory experience extends to the floor, where a continuous stone-carpet surface runs both inside and outside. The material choice minimizes thresholds and encourages barefoot movement, reinforcing the sense of immersion in nature. When openness needs to be moderated, dense yet visually light curtains can be drawn via an automated control panel beside the bed, allowing occupants to fine-tune privacy without breaking the calm atmosphere.

The interiors follow a language of eco-minimalism, featuring natural tones, textured surfaces, and carefully selected objects by Ukrainian brands. The underside of the roof dome is clad in wooden tiles, referencing traditional wooden shingles historically used across Ukrainian architecture. Rising to ten meters at its apex, the dome introduces verticality into the compact footprint. Heating, cooling, and ventilation are fully integrated, with linear slots and concealed exhausts maintaining uninterrupted wall surfaces and visual clarity.

the architects replace the opaque whitewashed walls of the archetype with full-height glazing

amplifying the thatched roof into a dominant, sculptural presence

the oversized reed roof becomes both shelter and symbol

a silhouette that reads somewhere between a tall ceremonial hat and a mushroom rising from the landscape

where the historical mazanka pursued light through whiteness, the guesthouses pursue it through transparency

YOD Group reframes the traditional house as a porous structure

the layout is organized around a central concrete core that contains the bathroom

the absence of a television reinforces the project’s intention to slow perception

the underside of the roof dome is clad in wooden tiles

Under the Reed Roof treats the mazanka as a system of values

project info:

name: Under the Reed Roof Guesthouses

architect: YOD Group | @yod.group

location: Ukraine

area: 50 square meters

team: Volodymyr Nepyivoda, Dmytro Bonesco, Natalia Tymochesko, Yana Rogozhinska

furniture: Noom | @noomhome

photographer: Mykhailo Lukashuk | @misha_lukashuk