Tserovani House

Tserovani House is located in Tserovani village on the northern slope of the Skhaltbi mountain range, 650 meters above sea level. The building is located on a high hill, from where the entire view of the Caucasus, the surrounding villages and the temporarily occupied part of South Ossetia can be seen.

In a village lacking architectural legacy or a unified aesthetic, Idaaf Architects approached the design of this family house in Tserovani as an opportunity to establish a new local architectural language. Set within a hillside settlement of scattered, informal structures, the building’s long, linear form follows the slope of the terrain, and responds through clear architectural language shaped by landscape, material and human scale. 

The architectural composition of the building is a refined reinterpretation of the post and lintel system – one of architecture’s oldest structural principles expressed here in a contemporary language. A rhythmic row of travertine-clad piers carries continuous white entablature around the facade which here serves as both cornice and roof – creating a unified silhouette where structure and surface merge into a pure form. Between them large glass openings frame expansive valley views and bring daylight deep into the interior. 

Internally, the architectural plans revolve around the rhythms of family life: eating, gathering, retreating and play. A central open space brings together the kitchen, dining and living areas combining function with aesthetic. Private rooms are set on the far side of the house to ensure privacy. Sliding glass doors open onto a wide terrace with pool, seamlessly extending daily life into the landscape.

Rooted in the post and lintel tradition and the typology of family living, Tserovani House is designed to evolve over time – growing with its inhabitants and accumulating meaning through use. It offers a prototype for thoughtful, human-scale architecture, one that quietly reshapes its surroundings through its presence.