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Roman Leonidov: "Half-timbering technology is, in my view, the upcoming trend of today".

A conversation about NEWOOD - the company that Roman Leonidov created two years ago for working with standard houses that are built with the use of the "half-timbering" technology.

11 December 2014
Interview
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Роман Леонидов © компания NEWOOD
Roman Leonidov © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

Archi.ru:
- When did NEWOOD project appear and what is it all about?

Roman Leonidov:
- The brand NEWOOD appeared but two years ago but over this comparatively short time it has gained a fair amount of recognition. It all started with us doing a few projects using the half-timbering technology that has a lot of advantages and benefits, and attempted to reconstruct the technology that was very popular in Moscow still in the late XIX century, when in the two-story construction, the second wooden floor was in fact of the framework type, with bearing corner columns. At the same time, the filling can be absolutely of any kind. Essentially, it is the same good old half-timbering technology, only some slight different version of it, different from the standard French or German samples.

At some moment, we decided to use this knowledge, and, based on such technology, made a project of a guest house belonging to a Moscow manor. It became the prototype of a whole series of residential houses, a series that we named "Scandinavia". Besides, this project was to play the key part of the seed from which the company has grown: it was at that point that we had an idea to create a special studio that would specialize in timber construction. The idea was really simple: the very material gives here, in the Russian latitudes, a lot more creative freedom to the architect. 

Типовой дом «Скандинавия-100» © компания NEWOOD
The standard house "Scandinavia-100" © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

- And how is the work of your studios wired? What are your priorities? 

- For me, the division of our activity among the three independent companies - "Shabolovka" that mostly does the interior design projects, NEWOOD, and "Roman Leonidov Architectural Bureau" is nothing more but a business maneuver. Having satisfied my ego with the creation of a studio named after myself, I realized that by doing so I was limiting the number of possible customers and the creative growth of my employees. The thing is that when the customer comes to "Roman Leonidov Architectural Bureau", they, of course, want to work with Roman Leonidov and nobody else. Having "Shabolovka" and NEWOOD that are not tied to any specific name, it is a lot easier to help your young architects to grow and excel. And I am sure that it us the fresh blood that helps the company grow and develop. Besides, shifting part of the responsibility to my employees, I get a little bit more free time as an architect. 

Типовой дом «Скандинавия-100» © компания NEWOOD
The standard house "Scandinavia-100" © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

Yet another plus is the clear-cut division of my companies according to their types of activity. To me, it is perfectly obvious that designing the interiors and designing buildings simply cannot be done by one and the same person: these are two different professions. However, to keep my company afloat, I think it right to cover all the spheres: there are times when there is more demand for the interiors, there are times when type houses are in demand, and sometimes its the unique architecture that's on top. Thus, we get a certain share of financial security and stability. 

Типовой дом «Скандинавия-250» © компания NEWOOD
The standard house "Scandinavia-250" © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

- Why did you decide to specialize in the laminated veneer lumber, refraining from using, for example, the regularized round timber and other technologies of working with wood? What are the advantages of the half-timbering technology before the traditional one? 

- Initially, we made opted for LVL because it shrinks a lot less than the regularized round timber. As the main benefit of this, the main problem of any wooden house that scared the customers off is solved once and for all. The crucial factor in the buying decision is now the consumer properties of the house in question. Besides, an LVL house does not need any extra warming or decorating: the wooden construction perform both the bearing and the decorative functions. This material gives more plastic advantages and opens up new opportunities of working with the shape. 

- To what degree do you "fine-tune" each standard project adapting it to the specific terrain and the customer's requirements? Perhaps, after this, the project stops being "standard"?

- Of course, standardized projects can be fine-tuned and readjusted: we always consider our customer's requirements but, yes, it all depends on the degree of readjustment. If it is necessary to move the door a bit in the partition or slightly adjust the parameters of the premises, then, yes, we can consider this house as built on a standardized project. If we are asked to make considerable changes, as a rule, we offer the customer to make an individual project that will exactly meet his needs and expectations. 

There was a case, however, when in the end version of the standardized project it was planned to build a single-story house with a loft over a double-height living room. Our customer asked us to substitute the loft with a second floor, placing the bedroom there. I am not sure if the project stopped being standardized after that. Probably not. It's just that we got two versions within one series for our customers to choose from. 

Типовой дом «Скандинавия-250» © компания NEWOOD
The standard house "Scandinavia-250" © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

- Which individual projects stand a chance of living on as "standard" ones, and which don't? Were there any cases of such transformation in your career? 

- Even if there are such cases, they are few and far between. Making a custom-designed project is the same as sewing a custom-designed suit for your customer. Offering not just similar but exactly the same project to another person would be a difficult thing to do. A house is always the owner's portrait. And here it is always more simple to work with your average type project designed for an average family. The first thing that comes to mind is the guest house that I already mentioned - it was designed as an individual one but ultimately it became the standard type. 

- How quickly is the half-timbering house built? And - still more interesting - how much more or less expensive is it in comparison to the concrete one? What is the price ratio if you compare not the specific projects but technologies per se?

- The cost of such houses is almost the same as the LVL. And if we are to compare these houses to the stone ones, then the half-timbering house will turn out about 10–15% less expensive - in view of the fact that stone construction requires more operations: stucco job, paint job, and so on. In the case of the wooden wall, these stages can be simply left out. As far as the implementation terms are concerned, full assembly, regardless of the degree of complexity of the project, takes up no more than two or three months. 

Типовой дом
The standard house "Delta-100" © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

- In which market segment do you think NEWOOD operates? Do you plan to expand your range into the cheap segment or, the other way around, to focus on the luxury houses? 

The company NEWOOD was devised as an independent dedicated brand. However, this year I started to think about developing it and broadening its range of activity. It became clear to me that using but one technology narrows the possibilities of developing both your architecture and your business. This is why we decide to focus not only on manufacturing and selling ready-made houses according to the rehearsed plan but also upon designing for our large-scale partners - large companies that build with various technologies: from the traditional logs to the LVL and half-timbering. I personally hope that it will be not the end consumers but the architectural companies that will order our projects - this is my primary objective. 

Half-timbering is, in my view, the upcoming trend of today. I am convinced that in a couple of decades 80% of Russia's housing stock will be of the half-timbering kind. Today, this phenomenon can be observed in the USA, Finland, Canada, Denmark, and Norway... I am counting on the fact that in the near future will be able to design a series of even more cost-efficient houses. As a result, we will develop not only expensive projects but also quite affordable ones that at the same time will not look cheap at all. It is very important for me to have an opportunity to let my customers know that the wooden house can be different: modern, cozy, practical, expensive, affordable - of any kind, really. 

Типовой дом
The standard house "Delta-100" © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

- Your frameworks are pretty much the same in all of your projects. And how do you work with the decoration materials? 

- If we are to speak about the half-timbering technology, then there are no limits here all: you can use any decoration materials you could possibly think of. As far as regularized round timber is concerned, then very few options are available - this is the peculiarity of the material. When you use the LVL, there are fewer restrictions, and they mostly have to do with the two-story houses where the pressure on the foundation is greater, and, consequently, the shrinking or the contracting of the material is greater. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the creativity and professionalism of the architect. The framework of the buildings allows for using either wood or stone walls, fiber-cement panels or tiles imitating bricks or stones. 

Типовой дом
The standard house "Delta-250" © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

- Share with us, please, about the already implemented projects and their series. Which of them would you showcase as your "model" projects? 

- First of all, this is the good old "Scandinavia" - the wooden LVL house. This house is what it all started with, and, today, this is the project that gets implemented most often and this is the project that is in great demand. I think that the secret of its success is the fact that visually this house does not look "standard" at all, it keeps a special feel of a quiet modern country house on the bank of a creek. There are no obvious technological advantages about it, except for the fact that if you have a certain bearing framework, you have a really wide room for maneuver when it comes to glazing. 

Типовой дом
The standard house "Delta-250" © NEWOOD Company открыть большое изображение

- Do you use NEWOOD's best architectonic practices in the projects done by "Roman Leonidov Architectural Bureau"?

- Of course, we do! All the three of my companies are inextricably intertwined. However, it would be more appropriate to say that we actively use the experience of the Bureau in the work of NEWOOD Company because in the work on individual projects you have a lot more room for experiment. NEWOOD is more conservative in the sense because we always have to think how to make the project technology-friendly. In the work of our architectural studio, we use wood and timber wherever possible - if only our customer is not vocally against it. Just by going through the portfolio of our bureau, one can see that about half of our houses are built with timber that can also be used for the long span structures from glued wood and as the main decorative material as well.


11 December 2014

Headlines now
The Paradox of the Temporary
The concept of the Russian pavilion for EXPO 2025 in Osaka, proposed by the Wowhaus architects, is the last of the six projects we gathered from the 2022 competition. It is again worth noting that the results of this competition were not finalized due to the cancellation of Russia’s participation in World Expo 2025. It should be mentioned that Wowhaus created three versions for this competition, but only one is being presented, and it can’t be said that this version is thoroughly developed – rather, it is done in the spirit of a “student assignment”. Nevertheless, the project is interesting in its paradoxical nature: the architects emphasized the temporary character of the pavilion, and in its bubble-like forms sought to reflect the paradoxes of space and time.
The Forum of Time
The competition project for the Russian Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka designed by Aleksey Orlov and Arena Project Institute consists of cones and conical funnels connected into a non-trivial composition, where one can feel the hand of architects who have worked extensively with stadiums and other sports facilities. It’s very interesting to delve into its logic, structurally built on the theme of clocks, hourglasses and even sundials. Additionally, the architects have turned the exhibition pavilion into a series of interconnected amphitheaters, which is also highly relevant for world exhibitions. We are reminding you that the competition results were never announced.
Mirrors Everywhere
The project by Sergey Nebotov, Anastasia Gritskova, and the architectural company “Novoe” was created for the Russian pavilion at EXPO 2025, but within the framework of another competition, which, as we learned, took place even earlier, in 2021. At that time, the competition theme was “digital twins”, and there was minimal time for work, so the project, according to the architect himself, was more of a “student assignment”. Nevertheless, this project is interesting for its plan bordering on similarity with Baroque projects and the emblem of the exhibition, as well as its diverse and comprehensive reflectiveness.
The Steppe Is Full of Beauty and Freedom
The goal of the exhibition “Dikoe Pole” (“Wild Field”) at the State Historical Museum was to move away from the archaeological listing of valuable items and to create an image of the steppe and nomads that was multidirectional and emotional – in other words, artistic. To achieve this goal, it was important to include works of contemporary art. One such work is the scenography of the exhibition space developed by CHART studio.
The Snowstorm Fish
The next project from the unfinished competition for the Russian Pavilion at EXPO 2025, which will be held in Osaka, Japan, is by Dashi Namdakov and Parsec Architects. The pavilion describes itself as an “architectural/sculptural” one, with its shape clearly reminiscent of abstract sculpture of the 1970s. It complements its program with a meditative hall named “Mendeleev’s Dreams”, and offers its visitors to slide from its roof at the end of the tour.
The Mirror of Your Soul
We continue to publish projects from the competition for the design of the Russian Pavilion at EXPO in Osaka 2025. We are reminding you that the results of the competition have not been announced, and hardly will ever be. The pavilion designed by ASADOV Architects combines a forest log cabin, the image of a hyper transition, and sculptures made of glowing threads – it focuses primarily on the scenography of the exhibition, which the pavilion builds sequentially like a string of impressions, dedicating it to the paradoxes of the Russian soul.
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.
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.
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.
​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.
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
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.
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.
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”.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
​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.
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.
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.
​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.
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.
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.
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.
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.