- Project: The City of Goats “Kozy”
- Architect: lh47arch
- Location: Moldova, Pohrebea Village
- Year: 2024
- Area: 3000 m2
- Photography: George Omen
A Cinematic Village in the Moldovan Countryside
Just forty minutes from Chișinău, in the quiet village of Pohrebea, lies a place that looks as though it stepped out of a Wes Anderson film. Called The City of Goats “Kozy”, this whimsical project by LH47 ARCH reimagines rural life as a storybook world where goats live in houses, humans are visitors, and every building feels staged in pastel-toned symmetry.
The design draws direct inspiration from Anderson’s instantly recognizable aesthetic: meticulous geometry, saturated colors, playful detailing, and a surreal yet nostalgic charm. But Kozy isn’t just about visual spectacle. It’s a complete architectural experiment — part ecological design, part tourist attraction, and entirely a cultural phenomenon.
Architecture of Play and Sustainability
Each goat house in Kozy is built from locally sourced, natural materials: straw, clay, lime, reclaimed wood, salvaged terracotta tiles, and stones from dismantled village structures. This zero-waste approach grounds the fantastical concept in authentic craftsmanship and sustainable practice.
Goats truly inhabit these homes, which feature chandeliers, shelves, and globes glimpsed through the windows. Their environment is not a façade but a living, breathing urban microcosm designed for animals as permanent residents.
Meanwhile, human guests sleep in glamping tents on the hillside, complete with showers, fridges, and private decks overlooking the colorful goat village below. This role reversal flips expectations: goats as citizens, people as temporary passers-by.
A Village with Civic Life
Walking through Kozy feels like entering a miniature capital, with civic and cultural institutions reimagined through humor:
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Town Hall, Post Office, Police Station – each scaled down and color-blocked with charm.
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Tourist Office & Grocery Store – where guests purchase goat food using the playful local currency, Kozy Coins.
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Art Gallery – featuring works like the “Kozy Lisa,” where goats replace classical figures.
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The “Kozy-no” – a comedic twist on casinos, where bets are placed on milk yields rather than poker hands.
Every corner maintains the Accidentally Wes Anderson aesthetic, creating symmetry, charm, and surreal theatricality across the entire site.
Experiences for Visitors
Kozy is more than novelty; it offers layered experiences for all ages:
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Children: interact with goat kids in dedicated petting areas.
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Adults: wine tastings, dinners in the restaurant, and moments of therapy through direct contact with animals.
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Everyone: spontaneous encounters with goats who might wander over and rest on your lap, reminding visitors who the real hosts are.
Social and Economic Impact
The project began with only two local workers and now employs dozens from Pohrebea and neighboring villages. Within weeks of opening, it became one of Moldova’s most visited new destinations, sparking international interest from Spain, Romania, Poland, and Georgia to replicate the model.
This combination of tourism, architecture, and playful design has had a transformative local impact, providing jobs, reviving traditional building methods, and putting Moldova on the global design map.
Quotes from the Architects
“We combined goat therapy with architecture,” explains Serghei Mirza, founder of LH47 ARCH. “This is neither a zoo nor a farm. It’s a place where people step into the lives of animals. When roles are reversed like this, our ideas about what architecture can do change completely.”
An Architectural Fairytale
Ultimately, The City of Goats “Kozy” is not just an attraction — it’s an architectural fairytale. By blending humor, sustainability, and meticulous design, it creates a parallel world where goats live as citizens in houses and humans enter as enchanted guests. Like a Wes Anderson film, it balances nostalgia with invention, sincerity with whimsy. And for travelers chasing the “Accidentally Wes Anderson” aesthetic, Kozy is a rare chance to walk through an entire village designed to feel both accidental and intentional — utterly unforgettable.
