From a Bird's Eye View

A complicated land site in the south district of the nation's capital: Nikita Biryukov designs a residential complex consisting of four almost New-York-style skyscrapers that still pay respect to the realities of Moscow.

Written by:
Lilya Aronova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

28 April 2016

Object

Architect:

Firm:

ABV Group http://www.abv-group.ru/

The project of four residential skyscrapers whose height rivals that of the giant towers of the Moscow City was created by the architects of Nikita Biryukov's "ABV Group" at the commission of "Northstar Development" for the land site lying between the Third Transport Ring and the Kanatchikovsky Proezd in the Donskoy District. The land site has no height restrictions whatsoever, so the buildings could rise as tall as the the architects pleased. On the other hand, the customer was very specific about the types of the apartment layouts: first of all, the architects were to figure out how to provide the top-quality views from the apartments and strike the people that would live here with the city panoramas - because the immediate surroundings of the complex cannot be called picturesque by any stretch of the imagination.

Under the former Moscow government, the trapeze-shaped site with an area of some five hectares and encompassing estates 21 and 22, Unit 6, along the 5th Donskoy Proezd, was supposed to get built with retail stores and hotels but later on the city changed that function to become a residential one, reasoning that yet another shopping center would "complicate the already difficult" transport situation in this part of the Third Transport Ring. The few low-rise buildings that are there on the land site today will be demolished, people living in them today getting new housing - but still no beautiful things are expected to appear on the site anyway: quite near, there is a huge bulk of the power plant, an industrial park, and railroad warehouses - the only thing that the architects has left to do, as Nikita Biryukov puts it, was "selling the the views". And, in order to organize these panoramic views as efficiently as possible, the designers even went as far as renting a drone so as to get bird's eye views well ahead of getting down to actually designing the complex; thus, the views of the power plant were minimized as much as possible while still in the pre-design stage.

zooming — Multifunctional residential complex on the 5th Donskoy Proezd. 4 towers. Version 1 © ABV Group

The architects drew inspiration from the source of the super-tall skyscraper 432 Park Avenue in New York, the construction of which have been recently completed on Manhattan. This "perfect model" was in fact proposed to Nikita Biryukov by the customer but the architect had nothing against it: he is a huge fan of the immaculate shape of the 426-meter tower designed by Rafael Vignoli that its author himself proudly calls "an architectural breath of fresh air amidst the raunchy Manhattan skyscrapers". While the quadrant is the purest of all geometric shapes, the Vignoli project, let's say, pulls it up to become a cube: along the perimeter of each floor (square on the plan), there are twenty-four square 3x3 meter windows commanding the panoramas of New-York.

Of course, from the "ambition" standpoint, the "ABV Group" did not even hope to stand up to the level of the tallest condominium of the Eastern hemisphere: while 432 Park Avenue with its proverbially expensive apartments became the symbol of sky-high luxury way before its construction was ever completed, the complex on the 5th Donskoy Proezd was designed in the realities of the not-so-advantageous financial situation, and the economic conditions did play a part. So, nobody was speaking about making any embellishments to its shape due to the purely economic reasons which, in fact, matches the aesthetic credo of Nikita Biryukov who prefers "pure" architecture without any unnecessary "pop" additions.

In the course of the work, the company came up with eighteen versions of the project. Ultimately, with full approval from the customer, the architects settled on a set of four towers, two of them being 58 floors high, and another two - 74. Apart from the number of floors, the buildings are completely identical; such unification was also one of the original specifications. Rectangular on the plan, the towers are situated on the perimeter of the territory and perpendicular to the power plant and the Third Transport Ring (again, this was done in order to improve the sightseeing properties), framing the inside yard. The stylobate, the way we know it - a two-story volume occupied by retail stores - is only present on the Third Transport Ring side and functions as a buffer that separates the complex territory from the grime and the noise of the highway. Further on, in the direction of the center of the complex, at the expense of the height difference, the stylobate dives underground. It is planned that the underground part will contain everything that is necessary for the functioning of giant buildings: a two-level parking lot, technical and maintenance premises, as well as a spa complex and a medical center. In addition, there will be a separately standing nursery school in the yard.

The plastic solution of the towers is rather laconic. The silhouette of the soaring parallelepiped (the height of the 58-floor buildings reaches 217 meters, the 74-floor ones - 273 meters) only breaks away from the vertical line in two instances - it widens on the level of the fifth floors forming a cantilever, barely perceptible in the overall scale of the building, and then narrows in steps towards the top, these steps being situated on opposite sides of the building and at a different height as they go up. Such a solution, almost without making the shape of the building more complicated, visually takes the extra weight off the top of the skyscraper, making it look more dramatic without adding any unnecessary architectural details. According to Nikita Biryukov, "the main thing in this project was its floor plan that to a great extent conditioned the outlines of the building, while the façades were secondary to it". Nevertheless, the design of the façades, for the decoration of which the architects propose to use coating stone and decorative composite panels, manifests the authors' love of pure shapes in full effect. The combination of glass and panels of light and very light shades, the impeccable geometry of the rectangular window apertures, gathered into horizontal groups on the sides of the facade, and vertical groups on the side walls, the vertical elongated stained glass windows on the first floors - all this gives the impression of lightness, enhancing the soaring look of the towers. As far as more "down-to-earth" task are concerned - namely, organizing the spacious inner yard - here "ABV Group" also stayed true to itself and planned a comfortable yet laconic territory that is dissected into ostentatiously geometric zones. The yard is open on all sides for the exception, as was mentioned above, the side adjoining the Third Transport Ring: as Nikita Biryukov says, "the last thing the architects wanted to do was make a fortress out of it".

If one is to look at the project, for example, from a bird's eye view, or, rather, through the lenses of the drone rented by the architects, he will be able to trace Nikita Biryukov's elegant towers enter into a dialogue with the not-so-remote skyscrapers of the Moscow City, watch the nearby high-rises get lost against their mighty background, and watch the power plant chimneys timidly cringe into the ground (there are also four of them, by the way). In spite of the numerous intermediate approvals that the authors got, the project of "ABV Group" will not be implemented. "Well - Nikita Biryukov shrugs - we, of course, are not Ivan Leonidov with his Narkomtyazhprom high-rise on the Red Square but let's say that now we will also have an incomplete skyscraper of our own!"

Architect:

Firm:

ABV Group http://www.abv-group.ru/

28 April 2016

Written by:

Lilya Aronova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

Headlines now

Part of the Ideal

In 2025, another World Expo will take place in Osaka, Japan, in which Russia will not participate. However, a competition for the Russian pavilion was indeed held, with six projects participating. The results were never announced as Russia’s participation was canceled; the competition has no winners. Nevertheless, Expo pavilion projects are typically designed for a bold and interesting architectural statement, so we’ve gathered all the six projects and will be publishing articles about them in random order. The first one is the project by Vladimir Plotkin and Reserve Union, which is distinguished by the clarity of its stereometric shape, the boldness of its structure, and the multiplicity of possible interpretations.

Object

The Fortress by the River

ASADOV Architects have developed a concept for a new residential district in the center of Kemerovo. To combat the harsh climate and monotonous everyday life, the architects proposed a block type of development with dominant towers, good insolation, facades detailed at eye level, and event programming.

Object

In the Rhombus Grid

Construction has begun on the building of the OMK (United Metallurgical Company) Corporate University in Nizhny Novgorod’s town of Vyksa, designed by Ostozhenka Architects. The most interesting aspect of the project is how the architects immersed it in the context: “extracting” a diagonal motif from the planning grid of Vyksa, they aligned the building, the square, and the park to match it. A truly masterful work with urban planning context on several different levels of perception has long since become the signature technique of Ostozhenka.

Object

Generational Connection

Another modern estate, designed by Roman Leonidov, is located in the Moscow region and brings together three generations of one family under one roof. To fit on a narrow plot without depriving anyone of personal space, the architects opted for a zigzag plan. The main volume in the house structure is accentuated by mezzanines with a reverse-sloped roof and ceilings featuring exposed beams.

Object

Three Dimensions of the City

We began to delve into the project by Sergey Skuratov, the residential complex “Depo” in Minsk, located at Victory Square, and it fascinated us completely. The project has at least several dimensions to it: historical – at some point, the developer decided to discontinue further collaboration with Sergey Skuratov Architects, but the concept was approved, and its implementation continues, mostly in accordance with the proposed ideas. The spatial and urban planning dimension – the architects both argue with the city and play along with it, deciphering nuances, and finding axes. And, finally, the tactile dimension – the constructed buildings also have their own intriguing features. Thus, this article also has two parts: it dwells on what has been built and what was conceived

Object

New “Flight”

Architects from “Mezonproject” have developed a project for the reconstruction of the regional youth center “Polyot”(“Flight”) in the city of Oryol. The summer youth center, built back in the late 1970s, will now become year-round and acquire many additional functions.

Object

The Yauza Towers

In Moscow, there aren’t that many buildings or projects designed by Nikita Yavein and Studio 44. In this article, we present to you the concept of a large multifunctional complex on the Yauza River, located between two parks, featuring a promenade, a crossroads of two pedestrian streets, a highly developed public space, and an original architectural solution. This solution combines a sophisticated, asymmetric façade grid, reminiscent of a game of fifteen puzzle, and bold protrusions of the upper parts of the buildings, completely masking the technical floors and sculpting the complex’s silhouette.

Object

Architecture and Leisure Park

For the suburban hotel complex, which envisages various formats of leisure, the architectural company T+T Architects proposed several types of accommodation, ranging from the classic “standard” in a common building to a “cave in the hill” and a “house in a tree”. An additional challenge consisted in integrating a few classic-style residences already existing on this territory into the “architectural forest park”.

Overview

The U-House

The Jois complex combines height with terraces, bringing the most expensive apartments from penthouses down to the bottom floors. The powerful iconic image of the U-shaped building is the result of the creative search for a new standard of living in high-rise buildings by the architects of “Genpro”.

Object

Black and White

In this article, we specifically discuss the interiors of the ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh. Interior design is a crucial component of the overall concept in this case, and precision and meticulous execution were highly important for the architects. Julia Tryaskina, head of UNK interiors, shares some of the developments.

send.project

The “Snake” Mountain

The competition project for the seaside resort complex “Serpentine” combines several typologies: apartments of different classes, villas, and hotel rooms. For each of these typologies, the KPLN architects employ one of the images that are drawn from the natural environment – a serpentine road, a mountain stream, and rolling waves.

send.project

Opal from Anna Mons’ Ring

The project of a small business center located near Tupolev Plaza and Radio Street proclaims the necessity of modern architecture in a specific area of Moscow commonly known as “Nemetskaya Sloboda” or “German settlement”. It substantiates its thesis with the thoroughness of details, a multitude of proposed and rejected form variants, and even a detailed description of the surrounding area. The project is interesting indeed, and it is even more interesting to see what will come of it.

Object

Feed ’Em All

A “House of Russian Cuisine” was designed and built by KROST Group at VDNKh for the “Rossiya” exhibition in record-breaking time. The pavilion is masterfully constructed in terms of the standards of modern public catering industry multiplied by the bustling cultural program of the exhibition, and it interprets the stylistically diverse character of VDNKh just as successfully. At the same time, much of its interior design can be traced back to the prototypes of the 1960s – so much so that even scenes from iconic Soviet movies of those years persistently come to mind.

Object

The Ensemble at the Mosque

OSA prepared a master plan for a district in the southern part of Derbent. The main task of the master plan is to initiate the formation of a modern comfortable environment in this city. The organization of residential areas is subordinated to the city’s spiritual center: depending on the location relative to the cathedral mosque, the houses are distinguished by façade and plastique solutions. The program also includes a “hospitality center”, administrative buildings, an educational cluster, and even an air bridge.

send.project

Pargolovo Protestantism

A Protestant church is being built in St. Petersburg by the project of SLOI architects. One of the main features of the building is a wooden roof with 25-meter spans, which, among other things, forms the interior of the prayer hall. Also, there are other interesting details – we are telling you more about them.

Object

The Shape of the Inconceivable

The ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh brings to mind a famous maxim of all architects and critics: “You’ve come up with it? Now build it!” You rarely see such a selfless immersion in implementation of the project, and the formidable structural and engineering tasks set by UNK architects to themselves are presented here as an integral and important part of the architectural idea. The challenge matches the obliging status of the place – after all, it is an “exhibition of achievements”, and the pavilion is dedicated to the nuclear energy industry. Let’s take a closer look: from the outside, from the inside, and from the underside too.

send.project

Rays of the Desert

A school for 1750 students is going to be built in Dubai, designed by IND Architects. The architects took into account the local specifics, and proposed a radial layout and spaces, in which the children will be comfortable throughout the day.

Object

The Dairy Theme

The concept of an office of a cheese-making company, designed for the enclosed area of a dairy factory, at least partially refers to industrial architecture. Perhaps that is why this concept is very simple, which seems the appropriate thing to do here. The building is enlivened by literally a couple of “master strokes”: the turning of the corner accentuates the entrance, and the shade of glass responds to the theme of “milk rivers” from Russian fairy tales.

send.project

The Road to the Temple

Under a grant from the Small Towns Competition, the main street and temple area of the village of Nikolo-Berezovka near Neftekamsk has been improved. A consortium of APRELarchitects and Novaya Zemlya is turning the village into an open-air museum and integrating ruined buildings into public life.

Object

Towers Leaning Towards the Sun

The three towers of the residential complex “Novodanilovskaya 8” are new and the tallest neighbors of the Danilovsky Manufactory, “Fort”, and “Plaza”, complementing a whole cluster of modern buildings designed by renowned masters. At the same time, the towers are unique for this setting – they are residential, they are the tallest ones here, and they are located on a challenging site. In this article, we explore how architects Andrey Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova tackled this far-from-trivial task.

Object

In the spirit of ROSTA posters

The new Rostselmash tractor factory, conceptualized by ASADOV Architects, is currently being completed in Rostov-on-Don. References to the Soviet architecture of the 1920’s and 1960’s resonate with the mission and strategic importance of the enterprise, and are also in line with the client’s wish: to pay homage to Rostov’s constructivism.

send.project

The Northern Thebaid

The central part of Ferapontovo village, adjacent to the famous monastery with frescoes by Dionisy, has been improved according to the project by APRELarchitects. Now the place offers basic services for tourists, as well as a place for the villagers’ leisure.

send.project

Brilliant Production

The architects from London-based MOST Architecture have designed the space for the high-tech production of Charge Cars, a high-performance production facility for high-speed electric cars that are assembled in the shell of legendary Ford Mustangs. The founders of both the company and the car assembly startup are Russians who were educated in their home country.

Object

Three-Part Task: St. Petersburg’s Mytny Dvor

The so-called “Mytny Dvor” area lying just behind Moscow Railway Station – the market rows with a complex history – will be transformed into a premium residential complex by Studio 44. The project consists of three parts: the restoration of historical buildings, the reconstruction of the lost part of the historical contour, and new houses. All of them are harmonized with each other and with the city; axes and “beams of light” were found, cozy corners and scenic viewpoints were carefully thought out. We had a chat with the authors of the historical buildings’ restoration project, and we are telling you about all the different tasks that have been solved here.

Object

The Color of the City, or Reflections on the Slope of an Urban Settlement

In 2022, Ostozhenka Architects won a competition, and in 2023, they developed and received all the necessary approvals for a master plan for the development of Chernigovskaya Street for the developer GloraX. The project takes into account a 10-year history of previous developments; it was done in collaboration with architects from Nizhny Novgorod, and it continues to evolve now. We carefully examined it, talked to everyone, and learned a lot of interesting things.

Object

A Single-Industry Town

Kola MMC and Nornickel are building a residential neighborhood in Monchegorsk for their future employees. It is based on a project by an international team that won the 2021 competition. The project offers a number of solutions meant to combat the main “demons” of any northern city: wind, grayness and boredom.

Object

A New Age Portico

At the beginning of the year, Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport opened Terminal C. The large-scale and transparent entrance hall with luminous columns inside successfully combines laconism with a bright and photogenic WOW-effect. The terminal is both the new façade of the whole complex and the starting point of the planned reconstruction, upon completion of which Tolmachevo will become the largest regional airport in Russia. In this article, we are examining the building in the context of modernist prototypes of both Novosibirsk and Leningrad: like puzzle pieces, they come together to form their individual history, not devoid of curious nuances and details.

Object

A New Starting Point

We’ve been wanting to examine the RuArts Foundation space, designed by ATRIUM for quite a long time, and we finally got round to it. This building looks appropriate and impressive; it amazingly combines tradition – represented in our case by galleries – and innovation. In this article, we delve into details and study the building’s historical background as well.

Object

Molding Perspectives

Stepan Liphart introduces “schematic Art Deco” on the outskirts of Kazan – his houses are executed in green color, with a glassy “iced” finish on the facades. The main merits of the project lie in his meticulous arrangement of viewing angles – the architect is striving to create in a challenging environment the embryo of a city not only in terms of pedestrian accessibility but also in a sculptural sense. He works with silhouettes, proposing intriguing triangular terraces. The entire project is structured like a crystal, following two grids, orthogonal and diagonal. In this article, we are examining what worked, and what eventually didn’t.

Object

An Educational Experiment for the North

City-Arch continues to work on the projects that can be termed as “experimental public preschools”: private kindergartens and schools can envy such facilities in many respects. This time around, the project is done for the city of Gubkinsky, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. A diverse educational and play environment, including a winter garden, awaits future students, while the teachers will have abundant opportunities to implement new practices.