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In the Rhythm of Verticals

On Moscow's Sparrow Hills, the construction of a new residential complex is in progress: exquisitely modern and at the same time reasonably conservative, it sports, as is always the case with ADM, a really thought-out yard space.

08 July 2015
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In one of Moscow's most green districts, near Sparrow Hills, behind the dense screen of trees that fence off this land site from the Vorobyevskoe Highway, in the stead of a former brick office center "with turrets" - the classic example of the nineties architecture now to be demolished - ADM has begun the construction of a multifunctional residential complex. From the east, the site borders on a park, and a little bit more to the north, in the lowland, the Setun' River bends in a smooth curve. The virtually countryside landscape and the complex terrain with a steep precipice over the river - all this makes up for the natural intrigue, a landscape in which the ADM architects created a fragment of absolutely "big city" housing stock but with a cozy yard and a rhythm of life of its very own. 

The park and the river are all great and fine but on its north side the complex immediately borders on a set of standard residential houses that dictate their height restrictions. Besides, the architects had to consider the boundaries of the conservation zone that diagonally cuts the northeast corner of the site. As a result, the architects, almost by default, got a rather simple and clear-cut composition of three volumes of different height - from 5 to 16 floors - standing around a common "inside" yard. At the same time, one will not see here either the classic quarter or the rectangular planning or the courtyard where the buildings themselves form the yard territory. At the same time, one gets the impression that all the three volumes stand separately: two large elongated blocks stand parallel with a little shift to one another. The third - five-floor one - closes the southwest corner of the composition. 

Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway © ADM
Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway © ADM


All the houses stand separately but they all are interconnected: there is a two-level parking garage underground; and above the ground there is a large easily recognizable awning drawn in a single line belting the buildings from all sides. Such awnings, from which the laconic rational buildings spring, just as the inevitably high-quality landscaping work, are to be seen in many ADM projects. Referring to the name of the company - Architectural Dialogue with the Megalopolis, one can almost certainly state that this is their trademark manner of speaking with the city, their voice, clearly articulating the understanding of the unity of the volumes within a single composition. Generally, the possibility of a correct undistorted perception of the building from a close range by an individual, and the feeling of comfort and peace in its immediate vicinity are the things that are paramount with Andrew Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova. And this project is no exception.

Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway. Fragment of the facade © ADM


In this case, the slab of the awning is not just the bottom part that evenly skirts each one of the buildings and protects the people from the rain. Like a broad canvas, punctured by the large circular openings that let into the yard a sufficient amount of sunlight and, however strange it may seem, rain, it overhangs above the automotive roundabout throwing a long bridge from the compact five-story volume to its high-rise vis-à-vis. This way, the architects are able to complete the town-planning composition, mark the boundaries of the yard, and at the same time bind the entire complex together into a single whole. The top of the marquee - for the sake of the apartments situated a little bit higher up - is turned into a green lawn with flowers, multicolored filling work and wallflowers.

Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway © ADM


Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway. Interior © ADM


The marquee fixes the grand facade of the complex; it is not just the space and construction part - it is the basic element of the navigation system that provides one with a starting point both horizontally and vertically: from this point, all the three entrance groups are visible. Their glass walls allow for looking inside - into the warm wood-finished entrance lobbies. The outside boundary of the top floors with small cafes and shops is also fully glazed - so as to preserve the views of the park and the city. One of the buildings will include the offices; the other two will be residential ones.

Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway © ADM


Simple in their shape - on the plan, all the three blocks are strictly rectangular - the buildings are distinguished by the detailed facade work where, in spite of the seemingly the same identity, each of the buildings has its individual features. "On the one hand, we really wanted to have modern architecture here - Andrew Romanov shares - on the other hand, we very well realized that this place would be populated by pretty conservative people. And we had to create for them a comfortable environment to live in, very unlike the giant residential anthills with their monotonous bleak facades".

Avoiding the feeling of excessive bulk and monotony was possible thanks to the architects employing the technique of changing the visual proportions because of which a person will only see eight floors instead of sixteen, while the longish walls will look textured and slender to him. Because it is common knowledge that we as humans tend to feel more comfortable in buildings no more than 5-7 floors high, and we are very sensitive to the array of proportions, changing which one can also change people's visual perception of the building's size. It was this very technique that was employed in the facades of the complex: the smoothly curved horizontal cornices have united the floors in twos, while the diverse and ostentatiously vertical patterns on the walls have transformed the horizontal proportions. 

Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway. Fragment of the facade © ADM


Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway. Fragment of the facade © ADM


At the same time, the entire facade grid is based on the rhythmic alternation of three basic materials. The combination of the dark brickwork, the texture of the wood, and the elongated strokes of the windows on one of the buildings echoes with the coarser pattern of the five-story block. In this area, the main material is the rock-face stone that adds to the building a special patina glitter. All the facade windows are really different in their breadth - stretching into a thin stripe or sometimes widening to the degree of a glass panorama. The balance is supported by the ceramic granite panels that imitate light-colored wood. The proximity of the light and dark panels produces a tricky 3D-effect: quite unexpectedly, the flat surfaces take on a "depth" quality. 

Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway. Fragment of the facade © ADM


Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway © ADM


Very much like it but even more diverse is the building that is turned to the river and the park: its facades have real and clearly manifested depth differences enhanced by the same combination of three materials - light stone, dark brick, and "wooden" inserts. The longest of the three, it also looks the lightest - maybe because of its dominating milky tones or because of its softened shape. While the two other volumes are designed in strict straight and austere lines, this house is very much like a water-polished stone: all of its corner elements are rounded and made of glass. And it seems that only the lintels hold the entire structure together. Through the semicircular "corner" windows, significantly changing the quality of the apartments, the panoramas of the city and the Moskva River open up. The punctured line of the French balconies running over all of their surfaces adds to the textured quality of the facades. The balconies of just the same kind adorn the opposite house as well, yet again accentuating the closeness of all the buildings of the ensemble.

Multifunctional residential complex on the Vorobyevskoe Highway © ADM




However, the main uniting element, as is always the case in the works by ADM, is the yard. Situated above the underground parking garage and opened in the direction of the Setun' River, it becomes the continuation of the neighboring park. The challenge of the necessity to bring in a rather high layer of soil for planting the trees is solved at the expense of numerous man-made hills. Covered with plants and bushes, they occupy most of the yard and form an interesting terrain at the same time zoning the yard. Here, naturally, one will not see any cars but there are children's playgrounds, benches, paved sidewalks, and, in the summertime, the tables of open-air cafes lit by the street lights.


08 July 2015

Headlines now
Inverted Fortress
This year, there has been no shortage of intriguing architectural ideas around the Omsk airport. The project developed by the architectural company KPLN appeals to Omsk’s history as a wooden fortress that it was back in the day, but transforms the concept of a fortress beyond recognition: it “shaves off” the conical ends of “wooden logs”, then enlarges them, and then flips them over. The result is a hypostyle – a forest of conical columns on point supports, with skylights on top.
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.