Mureli House by Makhno Studio: A Contemporary Ukrainian Home Rooted in Warmth, Craft, and Cultural Memory

Mureli House by Makhno Studio is a 561 m² residential project near Kyiv that blends contemporary Ukrainian design with poetic cultural references. Completed in 2021 and photographed by Yevhenii Avramenko, the home pays tribute to the Ukrainian word mureli: an ancient term for apricots: evoking images of warm summer mornings, soft light, and the nostalgia of childhood. This emotional foundation becomes the guiding narrative of an interior defined by organic curves, handcrafted textures, and the iconic artisan designs developed in Serhii Makhno’s workshop.

A Home Inspired by the Color and Shape of Apricots

The naming of Mureli House is deeply symbolic. The architects associate the interior with the sensation of early July mornings, sunlight diffused across textured surfaces, and the memory of reaching for apricots resting in a kitchen bowl. This emotional connection transforms the home into a sensory landscape, where warm tones, sculptural forms, and soft transitions shape a lived experience rather than a static visual composition.

Celebrating Contemporary Ukrainian Craft

The project incorporates one of the highest quantities of Makhno Studio’s signature product designs since the renowned Shkrub House. Nearly 90% of the furniture and materials used throughout the residence are Ukrainian, reinforcing a commitment to local craftsmanship and cultural continuity.

The entrance hall immediately establishes the home’s identity. Towering walls frame a dramatic panel composed of 600 Tetrapods, accompanied by five monumental Khmara lamps that float beneath the ceiling like illuminated clouds. Textured walls, sculpted staircases, and bent-wood handrails demonstrate precise artisan skill, each detail shaped according to the designers’ exact vision. These handcrafted elements transform the space into an architectural statement of contemporary Ukrainian style.

Curved Architecture Inspired by Organic Forms

One of the defining features of Mureli House is its rounded walls and ceilings, echoing the soft curves of an apricot. This architectural challenge required meticulous coordination between architects and contractors, who developed custom junctions, plasterboard templates, and shadow-seam techniques to achieve a continuous fluid geometry. Every cabinet, built-in element, and interior joinery piece was custom-crafted to fit seamlessly within these radius surfaces. The original working drawings, now framed within the home, commemorate this process of craftsmanship and precision.

Behind sliding doors, the dining area opens with a generous wooden table that accommodates twelve guests. Above it, a stretched Khmara lamp introduces sculptural illumination, paired with soft Elephant chairs that embody Makhno Studio’s signature tactile warmth.

Living Spaces Filled with Light, Texture, and Cultural Expression

Adjacent to the dining area, the living room showcases a layered composition of Makivka copper lamps, upholstered furnishings, and a modern fireplace, an essential element of Ukrainian domestic tradition where families gather and guests are welcomed. Transparency and warmth define the ambiance, creating fluid movement between spaces.

The kitchen, enclosed with airtight sliding doors at the owner’s request, serves as a functional workspace for creative cooking without allowing aromas to circulate. Four porcelain-stoneware cubes form the core of the kitchen island and storage volumes, offering the appearance of natural stone with more practical performance. Overhead, Makhno’s Volcano lamps provide sculptural lighting that connects the space to the studio’s artisanal vocabulary.

Craft as Identity: Art, Texture, and Bespoke Details

On the indoor terrace, the fireplace features ceramic decor handcrafted in Makhno Studio’s workshop. This piece will soon join the Makhno Product brand’s upcoming collection, showcasing the studio’s ongoing expansion into collectible design.

The private spaces extend the home’s expressive palette. The main bedroom and dressing room are immersed in soft pink tones, an intimate color chosen by the owner. Custom tiles, bespoke lighting, furniture, and an original washbasin all reflect the studio’s belief that every detail contributes to emotional and spatial harmony. A blooming Kvitka lamp hovers above the bed, symbolizing happiness and balance, while the shower’s corrugated gradient glass was refined repeatedly until the perfect tonal shift was achieved.

Custom Ceramics and Product Design Innovation

Throughout the residence, bathrooms feature custom sinks, tiles, and lighting created by Makhno Studio. Pieces such as the Flapjack ceramic tiles, Vulyk lamps, Makivka Ice lighting, and tailor-made basins embody the studio’s hands-on approach to product design, where prototypes are tested and refined until they match the visuals approved by the client.

Mureli House stands as a living gallery of Makhno’s evolving design language: an environment where architecture, craft, and identity converge. The homeowners’ appreciation for contemporary Ukrainian style, authenticity, and artisanal creation transforms the home into a celebration of cultural continuity and design innovation.

Mureli House by Makhno Studio is more than a residential project: it is an immersive expression of Ukrainian identity, craft, and contemporary design. Through rounded forms, handcrafted details, and a narrative rooted in cultural memory, the home becomes a poetic and tactile reflection of warmth, tradition, and artistic vision.

All photographs are works of Yevhenii Avramenko