"Design a Beautiful House" Competition Entry | Nikita Barinov

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.” – John Keats

Great poets of the times gone have ventured into the depths of beauty and endeavored to portray it through their literary works, imposing on us their high standards in the process. Keeping up to these expectations of ‘Beauty’ is an art thus, a creative expression, producing varying interpretations that are a feast to the eyes of the beholder.

Such is the design by Nikita Barinov, a Russian Architect, for the International Open Competition, ‘Design a Beautiful House.’

He envisions a house that would present the main aspects of living, expressing the beauty in our daily routines, a ‘beautiful house,’ thus. For the purpose he presents three buildings each representing a separate theme, that of ‘Life,’ ‘Work,’ and, ‘Rest.’

three buildings for design a beautiful house competition

“The home should be the treasure chest of living.” – Le Corbusier.

The ‘Life’ Building indeed is a classical dwelling space, a metaphorical treasure of warmth and happiness, the way we think of a cozy home. With gabled roofs adorning its top, it is an open-floor arrangement at the ground level allowing simple accessibility, while, the first floor has individual spaces privatized for a more homely feeling. The defined functionality of the home includes spaces for dining, kitchen, living, bedrooms, play-rooms, garages and individual spaces for reflection and contemplation. It is a sweet haven for the recurring daily life.

scheme

“So you see, imagination needs moodling – long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.” – Brenda Ueland

The ‘Work’ Building is a harmonious and inspiring environment for Work. Cloaked in mirror all around, it evokes the oft-dormant Creativity inside people with the help of purposefully designed spaces like Workshops, Studios, Offices and Conference Areas. Provisions for all kinds of Works can be put up here. The mirrors lend a smoothness, a reflective quality to the area, detached from the world one is free to ponder and to meditate. The place indeed accommodates one’s needs for Imaginative Endeavors, “happy idling, dawdling and puttering”, or, perhaps more practical projects which require peace and a stress-free environment.

three buildings for design a beautiful house competition

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” – Jane Austen

The ‘Rest’ Building is a distraction, designed specifically to take one’s mind off and enjoy much needed moments of pure joy and leisure. For the purpose, integrated in it is a small pool, big swimming pool, movie theater, recreational area, winter garden and guest room. A slightly elevated portion of the dwelling boasts an entirely glazed construction which presents pleasing visuals of the surroundings, an enjoyably restful place indeed.

floorplan

The three buildings bring together the basic functional cycle of our day-to-day routine and needs. The idea individually zones each function while at the same instance bringing them closer. The separating quality was intended more so for the breaths of fresh air and small moments of retreat one inadvertently enjoys while moving from one function to the other.

Collectively, they are a ‘Beautiful House’ and also a ‘Functional House’ in every sense of the word.