The first Active House
in Russia

Inspired by traditional wooden houses and equipped with modern conveniences, the First Active House in Russia shows how distinctive architecture can create a healthy and beautiful home.

Thanks to the extensive use of wood (durable thermal wood), the house has minimal environmental impact throughout its life cycle.

Inside, the house is bright and full of light. The ground floor features large communal areas that include a kitchen, living room, play area and office space. The rooms’ size and flexibility allow for many different activities, while the open layout makes it easy for parents to keep an eye on their children.

Russian architect company Polygon Lab designed the house, and architect Alexander Leonov drew on inspiration from local building traditions while taking into account the needs of a modern home:

We were inspired by smaller wooden houses, dachas. Our house has a traditional wooden roof, a big chimney and extended elements. The chimney is not just for letting out smoke; it also contains pipes and other installations,"

Leonov explains.

Thanks to the extensive use of wood (durable thermal wood), the house has minimal environmental impact throughout its life cycle.

Inside, the house is bright and full of light. The ground floor features large communal areas that include a kitchen, living room, play area and office space. The rooms’ size and flexibility allow for many different activities, while the open layout makes it easy for parents to keep an eye on their children.

The private living spaces – a master bedroom, bathrooms and two smaller bedrooms – are on the second floor. Numerous wall- and roof windows flood the space with daylight and create a sense of connection to the countryside and community beyond the walls of the home, a feature greatly valued by the house's first residents − Asja, Korney and their children: 

I get a feeling of enormous calm and happiness watching the surrounding countryside, as if I am outside − but without the cold in winter and the heat and mosquitos in summer,

says Asja.

The Russian climate is known for its extreme temperatures, which can range from +35°C in summer to 35°C in winter. Russia’s First Active House has proved it can cope with even the harshest Russian winter. It stayed warm during its first New Year’s Eve, even as the outdoor temperature plummeted to -30°C. 

Integrated Solar Collectors contributed to the heating, while the facade’s multiple layers of wood minimised thermal bridges, and heavy plaster in the interior walls created thermal mass in the building. During the warm season, automatic sunscreening on roof and facade windows keeps the home and its residents comfortably cool.


Product solutions used in this case

VELUX INTEGRA® roof windows

From £55.60

  • Remote-controlled VELUX roof windows
  • Electrically or solar powered
  • Fresh air and a better indoor comfort
If you want ultimate comfort, the remote-controlled VELUX INTEGRA® roof window is the answer. The window comes with the new VELUX INTEGRA® control pad so you can control all your windows and accessories – such as blinds, awning blinds and roller shutters – easier and faster from anywhere in your house. A pre-fitted rain sensor will close your roof window automatically if it starts raining. Being available in both electrically and solar powered versions, the VELUX INTEGRA® roof window is the ultimate choice for out-of-reach installations or fresh air and a better indoor comfort.

Blinds and shutters

Complete your roof window with a VELUX blind. VELUX blinds offer effective sunscreening and heat protection to suit every need.

Multiple VELUX roof windows

A beautiful change of scenery everyone can agree on. Four identical VELUX roof windows installed both above and beside each other can do wonders for any room. By flooding the space with natural light, the windows open up your room to create a bright, welcoming place for your family to gather and spend time together. If you want ultimate comfort and your VELUX roof windows are out-of-reach, the remote-controlled VELUX INTEGRA® roof window is the answer. You can control all your windows and accessories – such as blinds, awning blinds and roller shutters – from anywhere in your house.

VELUX add-on elements

Multiple VELUX roof windows create gorgeous light-filled rooms and the amazing feeling of being outside. By combining VELUX roof windows you can add a great panoramic view and more natural light – to give your home its own unique character.

VELUX INTEGRA® Family

The VELUX INTEGRA® system is a portfolio of mains- and solar-powered roof windows, blinds, shutters and accessories that make owning a VELUX window easier and more convenient. All products are easy to use and enjoy thanks to the elegant VELUX INTEGRA® control pad and its intuitive, icon-based interface and pre-defined programmes.

Contact us: