A House in Žvėrynas by INBLUM

Lithuanian architecture studio INBLUM has renovated a house in the Žvėrynas district of Vilnius using traditional wooden construction methods to blend the property with its natural surroundings.

Designed in 2024, A House in Žvėrynas integrates CLT (cross-laminated timber) technology, precise craftsmanship and sustainable practices to preserve the traditional aesthetic while adapting to modern needs.

“This project in Vilnius, Žvėrynas district is a thoughtful integration of architecture, family history, and environmental sensitivity,” said INBLUM founder Tomas Jankauskas.

“Construction techniques were chosen to maintain the clean lines and homogeneity of the interior spaces, blurring the boundaries between the inside and outside,” he said.

The renovation transforms the client’s childhood home while preserving the personality of the original 1935 villa, located in front of the house.

“The house has undergone several transformations, with the latest reconstruction designed to adapt to modern needs while preserving its historical significance,” Jankauskas said.

CLT construction allowed the studio to emphasise natural materials with similar surface finishes, which in turn created seamless indoor-outdoor transitions and enlarged views of the exterior.

The design uses natural pinewood surfaces that “blur the boundaries between” the interior and exterior.

“The interior and exterior are visually and materially cohesive,” said Jankauskas. “The use of CLT (cross-laminated timber) technology allows precise construction, treating the house as a finely crafted piece of furniture.”

The entire interior consists of natural wooden surfaces with “homogeneous walls, ceilings and furniture” that serve as a backdrop, accentuating the environment framed by the windows.

“Each window in the house frames a different aspect of the surrounding landscape, from the wooden villa in the dining area to the pine forest viewed from the bedroom, and the historic architecture of the neighborhood seen from the children’s rooms,” Jankauskas said.

“The interior’s modest design with exposed wooden ceiling edges and integrated skylights keeps the prominence of the wooden structures, ” he continued.

“All engineering elements are hidden within furniture, maintaining the clean aesthetic of the spaces.”

Jankauskas explained that the volume is “defined by a composite structure of horizontal and vertical lines, which divide the facades into planes filled with windows or blind walls.”

Natural lighting fixtures are integrated into the wooden panels that wrap the interiors, while wooden trusses allow the ceilings to consist of continuous panels with integrated skylights.

The ground floor features concrete floors that transition to the exterior along the perimeters through large sliding glass doors that open to a concrete terrace, “making the courtyard a natural extension of the interior.”

Jankauskas claims the renovation represents a “holistic approach to architecture,” as the neutral, yet warm materials “emphasise the surrounding landscape.”

“The landscape becomes a perfect backdrop for daily life, transitioning from a distant view through a window that serves as a picture frame to a direct touch while walking on the garden grass.”

“Overall, the use of wood throughout the interior creates a multi-sensory experience, evoking a sense of calm and cleanliness,” he continued.

In addition to the interior updates, A House in Žvėrynas includes a carefully designed landscape update to protect the memories of the owners as the original house was their childhood home.

“Outdoor spaces have been carefully designed to preserve the original environment, including the garden’s fruit trees, which have a personal history with the family,” Jankauskas said.

The renovation protects the natural landscape around the perimeter from any harsh boundaries or pollution, allowing the owners to safely transition from the house to the surrounding areas.

“The final design prioritises simplicity and spatial quality, allowing the architecture to elevate the daily lives of the residents while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding environment and the home’s historical roots,” Jankauskas continued.

Though designed by different authors, Jankauskas said the projects share similar compositional ideas, rooted in modernist architecture principals.

“There’s a sense of continuity as the dark shades of the wooden linear and glass facades are carried from the historic house to the new building.”