Villa O by YCL Studio: A Sculptural Exploration of Circular House Design on a Lithuanian Lakeside

A Lakeside Sanctuary Sculpted in Concrete and Timber

Villa O, designed by Lithuania-based YCL Studio, stands as a bold reimagination of residential living through circular house design. Located on an expansive lakeside plot in Lithuania, this 237 m² residence occupies the highest point of the site, commanding panoramic views in all four cardinal directions. It merges sculptural architecture with immersive natural engagement, dissolving the boundaries between interior and landscape.

Departing from conventional rectangular house typologies, Villa O embraces the circle—a continuous, organic geometry that responds intuitively to its undefined natural setting. Through this gesture, the architecture becomes both a landmark and a vessel for serenity.

A Circle Divided by a Cross

At the heart of Villa O’s plan lies a cross-shaped central space that segments the circular volume into four programmatic zones. Two segments are dedicated to bedrooms, one functions as a tranquil spa retreat, and the remaining quadrant houses a guest suite. These quadrants extend from the bright, open core, which unites the entrance hall, kitchen, dining, and living room in a free-flowing spatial continuum.

Each arm of the cross opens to a different view—forest, lake, landscape, and entry—anchoring the home to its environment and reinforcing its spatial clarity. This axial organization transforms the interior into a compass, where the occupant is constantly in dialogue with nature.

Architecture Through Light and Earth

YCL Studio integrates four sunken, semi-enclosed courtyards into the circular form, allowing natural light and outdoor elements to infuse the home’s interior. These voids preserve the purity of the circular form while opening visual channels to the surrounding forest, lake, and open fields. The house becomes a living sculpture—solid in form, porous in experience.

Materially, Villa O is composed of thermowood and concrete, a pairing that balances warmth with monolithic stillness. The concrete structure subtly slopes inward, adding dynamic tension and increasing the interior’s perceived spaciousness. This slanted geometry also enhances the sculptural quality of the house’s silhouette, making it visually compelling from every angle.

Harmonizing Structure and Setting

Villa O’s design philosophy is rooted in clarity and balance. The central living area, bathed in daylight and framed by the curved envelope, fosters openness and community. In contrast, the outer perimeter houses the more intimate spaces, offering seclusion without isolation. This separation of function—public at the center, private around the edges—creates an internal order that mirrors the landscape’s own gradients of visibility and privacy.

The building’s orientation maximizes daylight access throughout the day while framing specific landscape elements in each direction. Rather than imposing itself on the site, Villa O seems to emerge from it—timeless, elemental, and precisely positioned.

A Landmark in Circular House Design

Villa O is more than a modern house; it is a conceptual experiment in circular house design that redefines domestic architecture. Its sculptural form, rigorous spatial logic, and symbiotic relationship with nature set a new precedent for contemporary living. Through restrained materiality and expressive form-making, YCL Studio has crafted a residence that feels both inevitable and extraordinary.

In a world where residential architecture often favors repetition, Villa O dares to be singular. It offers not just shelter but an experience—one of calm, clarity, and connection to the land.

All photographs are works of  Leonas Garbačauskas, Norbert Tukaj