Winter Wonder

If you're trying to take your mind off of the cold weather, you're reading the wrong article, friend. But if you're looking for a super-detailed build, one that summons feelings of both comfort and isolation, you're definitely in the right place. Russian Mountain Cottage by Meafcraft captures the frosty atmosphere of an isolated home in a beautiful snowscape. We asked Meafcraft to give us the grand tour of a build that proves scale is irrelevant when you're nailing the finer details.

"I chose this Russian design and setting because I'm a great fan of realism and architecture," explains Meafcraft. "I always like to expand my knowledge of architecture and design to other themes and places and chose Russian architecture for it’s unique and beautiful design that you don’t normally see when it comes to Minecraft building. Nothing says 'Russian' more than cold winter and snow, so I thought it would be appropriate on the cliffs of a mountain range."

It's beauty isn't skin-deep either, as Meafcraft made sure to pour as much effort into the cottage interior. "It's a very simple layout following many traditional floorplans, yet the close space and levels are supposed to give a warm, cozy feeling, something you’d want in a house in the middle of a snowy landscape. Very wooden as well, with very ornate woodwork and floor/ceiling designs. This is to try to give the rooms a sort of antique aesthetic to add to the coziness."

Of course, anyone can just google 'Russian abode', spend a few hours on Minecraft and then call it a day. But to get the best results, Meafcraft naturally went far deeper with his research. "The exterior is based off of 19th century Russian architecture, and you can see some of the key features of that style on this build on the roof gables as well as the tower. These roof styles can also be seen in many other iconic Russian buildings such as the famous Kremlin in Moscow."

He also made sure the cottage wasn't just pleasing to the eye, but a house that would be practical. "The layout and design for the structure is very carefully done, with windows and balconies in certain areas in order to give the best look from the inside as well as the outside. The balcony at the back, especially, was built for people to be able to walk over the Mountains edge and view the vast mountain range from above."

But why is the cottage all on its lonesome? Do the fine people of Russia not enjoy having neighbours? "Rather than having surrounding structures, having this build alone gives that calm vibe, especially in this setting. Also I believe that having this build isolated makes it closer to nature, and nothing is more appealing to the human eye than nature."

It's a level of detail that shows how rewarding a smaller build can be. "Although larger builds can be grand and magnificent, building small builds lets the builder give purpose to every block," explains Meafcraft. "Smaller gives you a sense of limited space, which also enables you to use every space you have to fill with purpose and meaningful detail.

"The popular saying states “less is more." In this case, you can get more out of smaller builds."

If you're not feeling cold or lonely enough, why not visit an isolated mountain cottage yourself? Actually, here's a much better idea - enjoy more of Meafcraft's great builds on his site.