Volga House by Architect Peter Kostelov

Russia isn’t somewhere that we’ve typically turned to in terms of showing architecture here on the blog, however I came across the work of Peter Kostelov earlier and was really impressed with the way he was using reclaimed materials within his projects. He’s a former winner of the International Architect Award and has claimed a great number of prizes in his own country for the way he is able to repurpose what has been cast aside by others, whilst still maintaing a contemporary and eye catching aesthetic in his builds.

I’m sure you’ll agree from what we’re showcasing here that he manages to maintain free flowing structure that doesn’t for a second look like it’s built with anything other than what was initially intended by the architect. The house we have here, which I found myself giving most attention and admiration for, is the Volga house, built in Tverskaya, Russia as a riverside summer retreat which features three levels with fantastic waterside views from the windows on each story.

On the exterior Peter has made the difference in cladding size and shape a feature with these great boxy sections and a range of subtle browns to complement the various woods. In many respects you could say the exterior stands quite proud of its repurposed frame and this trend continues into the interior with the subtle contrasts found in the majority of the wall panels. The entire project is like one big calculated puzzle that Peter has solved with precision, matching colour, texture, shape and size.

I do take quite a candid interest in using reclaimed materials in both design and architecture, and I can’t recall another build that I can remember having such a significant overall feel to it. With lots of these projects they can feel a lot like they’ve been thrown together with odds and ends, but this home holds connotations of something quite different altogether, polished, refined and dignified poise. It’s a prime example of how good design can be when we make the most of our resources, hopefully we will see more of the same in years to come.

www.kostelov.ru

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