Set on the edge of a dense pine forest in Russia’s Tyumen region, this house in western Siberia was conceived as a refuge from busy urban lifestyle with its subdued, minimalist design allowing the surrounding nature to take centre stage. Architectural studio A61 and interior designers YY design have thoughtfully channelled the vernacular typology of forest cabins through a lens of contemporary sophistication to create a meditative retreat where occupants can unwind, relax and reconnect with nature in comfort.

The house turns its back to the street on the north of the property with an austere, almost windowless, one-storey volume that rises to two storeys on the south side, opening up to the forest with several large openings and a sheltered terrace. Clad in slim timber slats with trim black window frames, the building harmoniously blends in with the surrounding forest while evoking a sense of contemporary elegance. Echoing the austerity of the north façade, a sparse entrance courtyard covered in white gravel and punctured with birch trees functions as a transitional space, cleansing the senses so to speak, while the grass-filled yard at the back of the house is a place for outdoor activities with the forest beckoning on the edge of the property.