MARISTELLA

sea view with no ad break ​​​​​​​Architects: balbek bureau \ Slava Balbek, Stanislav Nechaiev, Sofia Hupalovska, Mariia KozachukProject Area: 320 sq. m

Project Year: 2020

Location: Odesa, Ukraine

Photo credits: Maryan Beresh​​​​​​​

Maristella is a private apartment suite for a young family located right on Odesa's first shoreline, with the focal element of the 230 sq. m. space (and 75 sq. m. terrace) – a grand panorama of the Black Sea. 

The space's geometry is reminiscent of a seashell: narrow entrance gradually expanding to panoramic windows. The only load-bearing structures are concrete columns and external walls. The architects planned out the apartment to the following concept: areas not needing direct sunlight concentrated by the entrance. The kitchen and living room were as open and spacious as possible. As a result, the sea view opens up immediately upon entry.

A unique solution was uniting the bedroom with the main space and separating the areas with a podium. In addition to providing spatial separation, the platform also performs a technical function: sending communication lines to the free-standing bath, shower, and washbasin.

About three years passed from the start date of the project to its final realization. Seasonal ability to carry out work and the desire to hone in on individual elements influenced this time-scape. It was important for the team to avoid fleeting trends, so the project implements straightforward solutions and design elements that have been tested over time.