Modern River House in Lithuania Contrasting Natural Surroundings
Having a modern river house is like making peace with both nature and technology. This particular modern river house is located on the banks of the Neris River, in Lithuania’s Vilnius County. Spreading over 226 square meters, this house was imagined and built from the ground up by GYZA. Having the bedrooms and guest room on the ground floor made it easier to build the social spaces on higher ground to take in all the light. The living area was thus imagined as a social space where people meet the relaxing visual effect of nature.
In a coniferous forest, where a birch stump used to occupy the ground, a modern river house now rises to break the visual monotony of trees. Retaining the existing trees around the house and even commemorating the former birch through the design concept, architects imagined a home where you would feel outdoors in any space.
Photographs by Antanas Minkevičius, Žilvinas Vasiliauskas and Bonnevier show us the house from different vantage points.
Horizontal design lines shaping the home’s facade contrast the vertical trees. Windows open the house towards the river and invite in natural light. The breeze undulates through the forest and guides guests parked on the carport towards the inviting indoors.
Accessed from the mezzanine, the modern river house unfolds with a wonderful view of the treeline and river beyond generous two-story floor-to-ceiling windows. This mezzanine area is home to the kitchen and dining area, while the living room awaits for inhabitants and guests down a floating staircase. This environmentally friendly house was built into the slope of the land, taking the opportunity to frame views from the river.