Karmanovo Premium Country Hotel
Gagarinsky District, Smolensk Region, Russia
Year: 2021
Context
The Karmanovo Premium Country Hotel is located on a 12.6-hectare site along the берег Яузского водохранилища in the Smolensk Region.
The development was conceived as a high-comfort countryside environment designed for long-term rental проживания. The project combines residential and public buildings into a unified hospitality landscape intended for extended stays rather than short-term tourism.
The scale of the territory and its proximity to the reservoir required a comprehensive environmental and infrastructural strategy.
Design Approach
A key aspect of the project was ecological responsibility. Direct wastewater discharge into the reservoir was strictly prohibited.
All discharge volumes were carefully calculated, and a system of purification ponds was designed to ensure:
- Infiltration into the soil
- Evaporation of excess water
- Reuse for landscape irrigation
The excavation works generated a significant volume of soil, which was repurposed to form artificial hills beneath the residential buildings.
All houses were elevated between 2.5 and 4 meters above the existing landscape. This strategy ensured:
- Visual separation from pedestrian circulation routes
- Minimal disturbance to the natural terrain
The architectural language emphasizes timber structures elevated within a carefully shaped landscape, blending infrastructure and environment.
Spatial Organization of the ComplexInfrastructure Zone (Road-Side)
Located along the access road:
- Garages for recreational motor vehicles
- Boathouses for winter storage of boats
- Two fire-protection stations with dedicated water reservoirs
Central Zone
- Large restaurant with capacity up to 120 guests
- Three residential houses (350 m² each)
- Three residential houses (750 m² each)
Waterfront Zone
- Two bathhouses with direct access to the water
- Custom-designed pier for boat launching
The masterplan establishes a clear hierarchy from technical infrastructure to residential and leisure waterfront functions.
Structural System
All buildings were designed using a массивный glued laminated timber structural frame.
- Primary structure: massive glued laminated timber frame
- Wall infill: glued profiled timber
- Internal partitions: acoustically insulated lightweight timber frame
- Exterior walls: 250 mm solid timber
- Roof insulation: 400 mm wood fiber insulation
- Glazing: double-glazed panoramic units with historic stylistic articulation
The architectural expression balances mass and transparency, referencing traditional forms while maintaining contemporary spatial openness.
Engineering Systems and Autonomy
The entire complex operates with integrated centralized infrastructure:
- Electrical supply from a private transformer substation
- Water supply from artesian wells
- Water reserve capacity of 32 tons
The engineering systems were designed to support long-term residential use with high reliability and redundancy.