The house consists of two identical parts: these are our twin brothers, who proudly raise their cantilever heads and look into each other’s eyes. 30,000 tons of soil and now they rise above the landscape like silent observers dividing one heartbeat into two.

“This house has become both a continuation of nature and its opposition. FUTAGO is a blank sheet of paper in which tons of concrete, glass, passion and the power of the human spirit have merged. All to admire the beauty around and learn to see the beauty inside” comments the founder of the studio and architect Serhii Makhno.

FUTAGO in Japanese means “twins”. This is a tribute to the fascination with Japanese architecture in general and the architect Tadao Ando in particular.

“I don’t know for sure if I would have become a Ukrainian in the sense I feel now if it weren’t for Japan. It helped me realize the depth and value of Ukrainian heritage. In my world — mind, life and creativity — these two cultures have created a magical, inseparable symbiosis. They have one heartbeat for two. Just like our twins,” shares Serhii Makhno.

Such a project happens once in a blue moon

Let’s be honest — clients who are ready for such decisions and can afford them do not come to the door of our studio every day. Actually, much like any other studio.

These clients expressed their wishes very clearly: to get a modern and minimalist house that will be a new stage of life for their family after the reserved classics. And they left us to do our job without interfering in the creative process at all.

That’s how twins were born.

FUTAGO is our breakthrough in Ukrainian private architecture. The construction of the project took 3 years and became a real chain of challenges and bold decisions.

The location encouraged us to do everything possible to make the view from the windows the main highlight of the project. To do this, we got 30,000 tons of soil and raised both parts of the house to a height of five metres. Hence, we got rid of obstacles on the horizon to fully enjoy the landscape.

The monolith of the house was poured out of 20,000 tons of concrete. The principal decision was to order the material from a Ukrainian manufacturer because the logistics of concrete is complex and not ecological, especially in such sizes.

“We built this project to overstep the existing boundaries. There are no matters that cannot be solved. There are no projects that cannot be implemented. FUTAGO is a clear example of this,” says Olha Sobchyshyna, the studio’s chief engineer.


As you approach the house, you get the impression that bulky concrete rectangles are hanging in the air — their vertical bases are hidden behind a strong fence.

The lower concrete horizontal serves not only as a support for the upper console but also as a terrace with a lawn and works by contemporary Ukrainian artists: “Space Around” by Nazar Bilyk, “Atlant” by Yegor Zigur, “Kroli” by Serhii Makhno.

The house is equipped with the Smart House system with a powerful ventilation system with air filtration and dust collection technology, thermoregulation, and floor and glass heating. All these things are hidden from the naked eye behind a veil of cast concrete.

The basement level is occupied by office space — garage, technical kitchen, laundry room, etc. The first floor is occupied by a living room, and private areas are on the second one. The logistics are designed so that the flows of residents and technical staff do not intersect.

“This project has changed us and our client. I believe that it will also change the world’s perception of Ukrainian residential architecture,” says the architect Oleksandr Kovpak.

Architecture is always about new meanings in places you don’t expect it.