Mureli House / Makhno Studio

Architects: Makhno Studio
Area: 561 m²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Yevhenii Avramenko
Manufacturers: Kelsis, Blanche, Dmytro Zolotaryov, Makhno Studio
General Construction: Building Evolution
Category: Houses, House Interiors
Design Team: Makhno Studio
Country: Ukraine

Mureli House residential building designed by Makhno Studio near Kyiv has reinforced the identity of contemporary Ukrainian style through the integration of custom product design, rounded architectural forms, and local materials. Completed in mid-summer and named after the Ukrainian word for apricots, the house features 90% Ukrainian-made materials and furniture, with numerous pieces from Serhii Makhno’s workshop. Interior elements such as curved ceilings and walls, handcrafted bent-wood handrails, and embedded custom cabinetry were fabricated to exacting standards. The hall presents a textured spatial composition, with 600 Tetrapod panels, five large Khmara lamps, and staircases softened by material and form. Social areas include a dining room with a custom wooden table and soft Elephants, a living space with Makivka copper lamps, and a closed kitchen with stone-textured porcelain elements. Private rooms include custom tile, glazed lighting, and washbasins all designed in-house. Every feature, from lamps to basins, went through prototype approval, preserving fidelity to visualizations. The project reflects Makhno Studio’s evolving product line and commitment to Ukrainian craftsmanship.

Mureli is a Ukrainian archaism, an original word from the ancestral language that has disappeared from modern usage. The architects chose to revive it because every summer, mureli—small orange fruits with a red gradient, sweet or occasionally sour—are held in hand. Mureli means apricots. The name was given to the project of a family house near Kyiv because construction concluded in the middle of summer, and the interior stylistically evokes a warm July morning when the eyes are still half-closed, yet feet are already bare, searching for the kitchen where apricots have been waiting in a vase since the previous day.

The Mureli House project, likely for the first time since the studio’s earlier Shkrub House, incorporates the highest number of original product designs created by Serhii Makhno’s workshop. In addition, 90% of all furniture and materials used in the house are of Ukrainian origin. Clients often refer to this aesthetic as “Makhno’s style,” while the studio describes it as contemporary Ukrainian style. The defining feature of the residence is expected to be its main hall. This space is marked by towering walls, a panel composed of 600 Tetrapods, and five large Khmara lamps, each suspended from the ceiling and casting light in a different direction. Textured walls and staircases contribute softness to the environment, maintaining a sense of natural imperfection and material presence. The handrails, made of bent wood, posed a significant challenge for the craftsmen. However, the handrails in Mureli House were executed precisely according to the designers’ specifications, with each wave’s angle of inclination carefully preserved, demonstrating the capability of Ukrainian craftsmanship.

This project introduced a distinctive feature that proved especially valuable to the studio’s experience. The walls and ceilings in Mureli House were designed with rounded forms, resembling the sides of an apricot. This concept posed a technical challenge for both the architects and the general contractors. However, they constructed as many junctions as necessary to achieve the intended curvature. The team also developed a solution for creating shadow seams along the floor and ceiling. To reach the desired outcome, specific patterns were designed, which served as guides for cutting and installing the plasterboard. As a result, all cabinet furniture was precisely fitted into the radius walls. The technical drawings produced during this process are now displayed in frames on the wall. Beyond a set of sliding doors begins the guest meeting area, featuring a wooden dining table designed for twelve people, surrounded by soft Elephants, and illuminated by a Khmara lamp suspended above.

To the right of the dining area is the living room. In this space, the Khmara lamps are accompanied by Makivka lamps crafted from copper. A fireplace is included, as it remains a fundamental element of even a modern Ukrainian home, serving as a place where multiple generations gather and neighbors are welcomed. The kitchen is positioned behind transparent sliding doors that are tightly sealed. This design choice reflects the preference of the homeowner, who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and inventing new dishes but prefers to keep cooking aromas contained within that space. Four large porcelain stoneware cubes replicate the texture of natural stone while offering improved functionality over real stone. Suspended overhead are Volcano lamps, designed by Makhno Studio.

On the fireplace, located on the indoor terrace of the house, hangs a decorative piece produced in the studio’s ceramic workshop. This figure is scheduled to appear in the upcoming collection of the Makhno Product brand. The design of the bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom clearly reveals the owner’s favorite color. During the development of these spaces, the studio’s artists worked extensively with pink glaze. These areas feature original tiles, customized lighting for each zone, and a washbasin, all designed and manufactured by the studio. Above the bed, the Kvitka lamp is installed, a model believed by the designers to bring happiness and harmony to the residents. The corrugated glass of the shower enclosure was selected with care, and adjustments continued until the gradient achieved the desired effect. Every detail in this space was treated as essential.

Before the final implementation, each item is produced as a trial version that must be approved by the project’s lead designer to ensure precise alignment with the visualizations favored by the client. Among the featured elements are the author’s ceramic tile Flapjack, the Vulyk and Makivka Ice lamps, and a custom-made washbasin, all created by @makhno_product. Every bathroom in the project includes Makhno-designed sinks. This marks a new direction in the studio’s product design development. Custom versions are currently being produced for client projects, with a dedicated collection planned for individual sales in the near future. Mureli House is especially meaningful to the studio, as it incorporates a wide range of in-house design pieces. The owners embrace contemporary Ukrainian style, value authenticity, and have a deep appreciation for art.