"A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature."
Lake water has a quiet wisdom and an embracing presence. Those who live beside a lake seem to gain another way of seeing: more landscapes, more changing seasons and a deeper experience of nature.
01. Lakeside Living
Immersed in the Beauty of Land and Water
On the shore of Lake Baikal in Russia, a holiday villa stands quietly among shimmering water, fresh breezes and dense forest. The setting feels almost untouched, like a private retreat shaped by nature.
Large expanses of glass create a seamless connection between the interior and the landscape outside. Dark timber and grey travertine continue through the indoor spaces, forming a unified architectural language that feels both grounded and welcoming.
02. Rustic Serenity
A Secluded Expression of Natural Beauty
The climate around Lake Baikal changes dramatically through the seasons. To withstand severe winter conditions while blending with the surrounding forest, the designer selected 21PARKHOUSE® flexible stone as one of the main exterior finishes. It recreates the character of travertine while providing strong freeze-thaw resistance.
Flexible stone moves beyond the limitations of conventional stone, giving the building surface greater visual depth. From early morning light to the evening shadows, the facade reveals a different character and allows modern design to sit naturally within the landscape.
Every rise and recess in the texture contributes to the villa's restrained elegance. Architecture, vegetation and stillness come together in a composition that feels balanced and unforced.
03. Flexible Stone
Refining the Art of Material
Recreating Natural Materials
The richly dimensional surface of flexible stone uses 3D coating technology to reproduce textures inspired by natural stone, timber and woven materials while maintaining stable, long-lasting colour.
Freeze-Thaw Resistance and Secure Adhesion
Flexible stone can withstand up to 100 repeated freeze-thaw cycles from -30°C to 50°C without surface powdering or cracking. Rigid finishes such as ceramic tile are more vulnerable to freeze-thaw stress, which can lead to cracking or detachment. Flexible stone is thin, breathable and resistant to deformation, so these stresses have very little effect on it.
It can also be bonded directly to an insulation base or combined with insulation materials and panels. These qualities have led to its wide use in cold regions including Moscow, Xinjiang, Heilongjiang and Liaoning.
Ageing Resistance
Testing cited by the original article indicates that flexible stone withstands 2,000 hours of artificial ageing, equivalent to approximately 30–50 years of outdoor use. It is therefore suitable for exterior walls, with straightforward long-term maintenance that supports project safety.
By combining authentic natural texture, freeze-thaw resistance and long-term durability, 21PARKHOUSE® flexible stone gives contemporary architecture more ways to respond to demanding climates and natural settings.
Project Information
Project: Lake Baikal Villa, Russia
Selected material: 21PARKHOUSE® Roman Travertine
Application: Exterior walls
Completed: 2024
Roman Travertine Series
Product code: LSJ00815
Sizes: 2400 × 1200 mm (best-selling) and 1200 × 600 mm
Thickness: 2–3 mm (±1 mm)
* Product images with a green border indicate best-selling options with no minimum order quantity.
* For non-best-selling options, please consult a sales manager when ordering less than 50 m² at one time.
