House Barn

Function: Private Residential House
Location: Baikenova str, Almaty
Project: 2024, Total area: 350 m2
Status: Concept, On hold

House Barn is an unconventional commission born from the client’s vision to create a small residential house within a private estate that unites a business compound and a guest residence under single ownership. The site is located near the main administrative building where a previous project had been completed. The concept was to create a secluded cabin for quiet work, short retreats or overnight stays when late hours at the main office required a place to withdraw.
The house is designed for autonomous living with all necessary amenities, yet without excess, as the estate already includes multiple buildings with overlapping functions. Despite its relatively compact size, it is versatile enough to host visitors for business meetings or small catered events during the day. A separate entrance for staff and deliveries ensures the owner’s privacy while allowing the presence of an assistant during working hours.

Several architectural concepts were explored during the early early development phase, including a barn-like structure with a gabled roof, extensive use of wood and a double-height volume. The final proposal evolved into a more intimate mini-villa, drawing inspiration from the restrained modernist principles of mid-20th-century masters — clarity of composition, functional planning and a strong relationship between interior and landscape. The house’s rectangular form integrates harmoniously into its lush green surroundings, avoiding the appearance of a fortress or bunker. The exterior wood finishes were inverted inside, creating a warm and enveloping atmosphere.
The exterior is composed of natural materials in large formats, selected for durability and their ability to age gracefully: textured stone, oxidized dark metal and thermo-treated timber. The architecture incorporates concealed high-quality engineering systems and structural solutions designed for seismic resilience — an essential consideration in a region where significant earthquakes are not uncommon, including one that occurred during the planning process.
At the rear of the building, adjacent to the bathroom, a serene pond with water lilies and a calm reflective surface is complemented by an architectural waterfall cascading gently along the wall. Together with the minimalist landscaping, this element enhances the atmosphere of retreat and quiet contemplation, particularly when viewed from the bath.

Project team, Architecture: Evgeniy Shchetinkin, Evgeniy Tsoy, Amin Mirzoev. Interior design: Iliya Sergeev, Dinara Aibadulina. In collaboration with Metropolis Architects.