An IZBA is a traditional Russian countryside house or hut found mainly in Russia and some other Slavic countries. The izba typically features a fireplace, and is built using log or plank construction. It is characterized by a distinctive peaked roof, with the logs or planks extending past the roof line. Historically, izbas were used as a living space in rural Russia, often serving as the main living room and living space for an extended family. Today, izbas are often used as a rustic-style vacation home, and as the centerpiece of a Russian-style backyard garden. It is a single-story, one-room dwelling made from wood that is used by peasants and rural people while hunting, fishing, or farming. Izbas typically have a log frame, with walls made from thick logs and a roof made of thin boards called lath and plaster. The floor is usually made of clay and topped with straw. Inside, there is a fireplace, a window, and benches or armchairs. Most izbas also contain an oven and a storage space for grain and other household items. Historically, izbas were also used for people to stay overnight while traveling between villages. Today, izbas are still used in the Russian countryside for a variety of purposes, including as guesthouses and as quaint vacation homes.
An IZBA is a type of log house, it forms the living quarters of a conventional Russian farmhouse and it can also be referred to as a peasant cottage. This type of house is made using logs or wooden beams which have not been milled or processed in any way. Traditionally the izba is roofed using boards, and the walls are made from logs which have been split lengthwise and notched into each other. The windows are made of oiled paper. It is common for an izba to have a porch and a chimney. And is characterized by a large, single room with a large stove and chimney. It is constructed using logs that are squared off and usually connected with mortar. The roof is built with round logs and thatched with straw. Typically, straw mats are placed on the floor. The windows are usually made from small window frames and glass.
An IZBA is usually built close to the road and inside a yard, which also has a kitchen, garden, hayshed, and shed within a simple bamboo stick fence. It is mostly a single, relatively small room made of logs with a stove and chimney, or of mud and straw bricks. The walls are usually not plastered and the roof is made of wooden shingles, or of straw and reeds. A skylight may be installed for lighting. Furnishings usually include a large stove, benches, cupboards, and some tables and chairs.
The IZBA is traditionally used as a living room, where the family can gather during cold winter days to warm up, or in summer as a cool place for family members to rest and take a cooling break from work. It is also used as the main room where celebrations and other important family occasions, such as weddings, may take place. The room may be occasionally used for illumination during the dark winter evenings.
Traditional, old-style izba constructed using simple tools such as ropes, axes, knives, and spades. The traditional izba (stb. ?????; pl. ?????; sometimes also called ????? or ?????) is a type of Russian log cabin constructed from logs using simple tools such as knives, axes, ropes, and spades. The traditional izba usually has a steeply sloped roof and was usually built without the use of nails or other metal fasteners. Rather, the logs were usually tied together at the corners and points of juncture using wooden pegs or large, thick ropes.
The traditional izba was designed to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and the roof was usually coated with a thick layer of clay or mud to seal in the warmth. In rural areas, the simple tools used to construct the izba were not always available, which meant that most izbas were built by trained craftsmen who had mastered the art of izba construction.
Today, the traditional izba remains a popular architectural form in many areas of the world, and many modern homes in rural areas still include one or more izbas for practical and aesthetic purposes. While the design of the traditional izba has remained largely unchanged over the centuries, changes in technology have allowed for the use of modern materials, such as metal fasteners and of course insulation, in order to further improve the comfort and efficiency of the izba.
An izba is typically made from logs or planks of wood and often incorporates elements of folk art, such as intricately carved designs. The walls are typically made of vertical logs interlocked at the corners or chinked with moss or clay. It is usually single-storied and has a single roof with a steep pitch. The roof is typically made out of aspen or birch shingles that have been treated with tar and then covered with a layer of rush mats. The interior is usually heated by a stove (Russian oven) in the center of the room. Traditionally, the stove was made of cast iron and was a central fixture of the izba. It served to both heat the space and to provide a place to prepare meals. The interior of the izba is usually simply decorated, with rustic furniture such as benches, chairs, and tables. The walls are often painted with bright or intricate designs, often featuring images of wildlife or flowers. It is usually quite drafty as the walls are not insulated. However, traditional methods of insulating an izba such as using felt, leather, animal skins, or lining the interior walls with boards can be used.
In IZBA Nails and saw were not used in the construction as they were costly. Instead of nails and saw, wooden joinery techniques were used. These techniques included mortise and tenon joints, dovetail joints, and halving joints. These joinery techniques used carefully carved wood parts to join boards together without the need of metal fasteners. While more labour-intensive, they were a much more cost-effective way of constructing furniture before metal fasteners were widely available.
IZBA is built in the style of the timber cottages in which Russian peasants dwelt in times past
and has the statement characteristics of the traditional Russian peasant izba: symmetrically located large double doors with intricate carvings, a sloping roof and the overall curved look of the building. The walls are typically made out of logs which are left exposed and the roof is usually made from straw. The interior is usually made from wood and painted in bright colours and features decorative details such as carved furniture and painted icons and symbols of Bolshevik propaganda. It is also common to find ovens located in the corner of the izba for heating and cooking purposes. Traditionally, the izba is also often equipped with a porch which provides additional space for outdoor activities.
Both interior and exterior of IZBA house are of split pine tree trunks, the gap between are usually filled with river clay. The density of the wood is about a quarter of the densities of traditional solid-wood homes, making the structure almost light, allowing them to float above the ground. The exterior is glossy smooth with a slightly round shape, to optimize the drainage. The interior walls of the house are covered in bark, which gives a unique look. This creates a warm atmosphere inside the house. The deep natural color of pine trunks, combined with the soft color of clay, gives it a unique character. The roof is usually made of cedar wood tiles, giving it a very traditional look.
The individual components of the IZBA Building were cut and fit together with a combination of traditional tools and modern power tools. This includes an angle grinder, an electric drill, and a jigsaw. Coins, wool, and frankincense were placed beneath the corners of the house to ensure that those living there would be healthy and wealthy. Additionally, coins and wool were placed beneath the front door to ward off evil spirits. Finally, frankincense was placed near the windows of the house and were burned as part of prayers and blessings for those living within the home and for protection.
The central element of the interior of izba was Russian oven. Outside izbas were often decorated with various special architectural features, for example the rich wood carving decoration of windows, doors, columns and balustrades. Inside, the Russian oven (pech) was placed in the middle of the room, where it served as the main source of heat and light. The oven would sometimes also be used to cook food and to keep the room warm. The walls of the izba were usually made from wooden boards, and the floors were made from wooden boards, clay, or compressed straw. Furniture in izbas often consisted of benches, chests, and shelves. People also hung paintings, icons, and hats on the walls. Moreover, special carpets, fabrics, and bedding items were used to decorate the interior of izbas.
Such decorative elements and the use of the Russian oven are still commonly found in many modern Russian countryside houses, even though only the older wooden houses are called izbas today. These elements can also be found in country-style restaurants serving traditional Russian dishes, and in modern buildings, typically in the form of decorative stone carvings or in the form of architectural design elements made to look like traditional Russian elements. The Russian oven is still a staple of modern rural homes, and many traditional Russian holiday feasts involve its use as a cooking source.
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