Model Suburbia

The implementation of “Andersen” residential area designed by Arkhitekturium: success and losses

Written by:
Lilya Aronova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

28 August 2017

Object

Architect:

Firm:

Arhitekturium

Object:

Residential complex ′Andersen′
Russia, Moscow, Leninsky municipal district, Desenovskoe Settlement

Project Team:
V.Bindeman, N.Kotova, K.Smirnova, M.Fedorova, I.Arefina, E.Gorbunova, A.Sumin

2012 — 2014 / 2013 — 2016

OOO “Desna-Land”

A few years ago we already wrote about the project of the Moscow-area residential settlement named “Andersen” designed by Arkhitekturium company headed by Vladimir Bindeman. At that point, the construction of the area was only just beginning; most of it is complete now, and even some residents have moved in, so it is now the perfect time to get back to the project and check just which of the architects’ ideas were ultimately implemented the way the architects envisioned them. All the more so, because, based on the example of this project, we can draw several important conclusions that could prove very useful in developing the vast expanses of the Moscow suburbs.

But then again, when the history of Andersen was just beginning, nobody so much as guessed about the oncoming expansion of Moscow. The territory with an area of twenty hectares located 11 kilometers outside the Moscow Ring Road down the Kaluzhskoe Highway and on the bank of the Desna River seemed at that point to be the perfect location for a countryside settlement consisting of villas and townhouses. Based on these presuppositions, the construction density was calculated, and after this land was officially joined to Moscow, the housing typology was logically changed into low-rise urban buildings, the architects facing the necessity of making sure that whatever they design fits in with the already approved master plan. The conditional semicircle that follows the bend of the Desna, its traverse facing the highway, is divided into two unequal parts by a segment of woodland; we must make a reservation at this point that right now we are only speaking about the construction that is performed on the larger land site, the fate of the smaller one is yet unknown.

zooming — "Andersen" residential complex. Construction, 2016 © Arkhitekturium

The territory Is subdivided into equal city blocks formed by three longitudinal streets that come together at the north entrance and cross shorter streets leading to the waterfront. The width of the streets is 15-17 meters, the size of the yard squares us about 20 by 20, which is adequate for a countryside settlement, a bit too close for a city but for a low-rise suburb (provided professional town-planning solutions are in place) is rather harmonious and proportional. And this is the first conclusion, quite optimistic.

From the very start, one of the main tasks that the company set for itself was providing for visual diversity of the construction. As practice showed, this was also quite achievable, and with quite a modest range of techniques, too. With just eleven typical sections and a few types of city blocks consisting of two L-shaped buildings or three straight ones forming a U, or one L-shaped and one single-section, the blocks never repeat themselves. The result was achieved solely thanks to the facade design solutions: alternating of red and light-colored brick, shifting of pylons, inserts of aluminum matrix composite material and shake panels, choice of white or gray window frames. So, now Andersen has in it city blocks that are “white”, “red” with white windows and fractions of dark-green panels, “mosaic”, and “striped” like a fashionable knitted sweater. Although the general name for this place is “New Moscow”, this is still Moscow, and a fair share of color diversity will only make it look better.

“We can say that what we planned in terms of creating an architectural environment also came to pass” – says Vladimir Bindeman. Indeed, it is easy to see that the newcomers are settling down and interiorizing here: they install flower boxes on the balcony railings, make flower beds, and put curious vases beneath the windows... This all creates a feeling of a small cozy European town, rather democratic, without any restrictions imposed on the people’s movements, and without class stratification. At the same time, curiously, the residents of Andersen do not seem to be in a hurry to develop their local community as such – so much so that the residents asked to delete all the in-block trails and benches from the land organization plans and turn the yard squares into lawns. It is still an open question what conclusions can be drawn from this fact, if any at all, but it is still something to think about.

But then again, Andersen will hardly suffer from shortage of space for communication: along the tall bank of the Desna, the architects are designing a long waterfront with a promenade, bicycle trails, sports facilities, children’s playgrounds, and other attributes of modern community. The waterfront, just as the windows of the houses standing on the first line, command beautiful natural views: across the river, there is a strip of woodland that obscures the next construction site of the New Moscow. It should be said that from its opposite side Andersen is protected from the noise and grime as well: the field that separates the settlement from the Kaluzhskoe highway is situated on a slightly higher level. There are plans for building on this field yet another settlement, with taller buildings, but this will also bring Andersen benefits of its kind: residents of the settlement will get an opportunity to use the public services of that place, because in the line of infrastructure Andersen will only have to offer its residents a kindergarten in the stead of the former strip of woodland and a minimum set of retail at the entrance.

In the project of Andersen, the eternal parking problem (which grew much worse because of the fact that developers insisted on making the yards vehicle-free) was solved in an unconventional way, by using for the parking garage three floor of the community center that initially was supposed to become the settlement’s “visiting card”. However, recently it turned out that the community center will not be built in its original form: its place will be occupied by an eight-story residential building with a few retail stores on the first floor. Still, people have to park their cars somewhere, and the architects, with pinpoint accuracy, observing, of course, the appropriate rules and regulations, would cut out here and there parking stalls for five or ten cars, plus parallel parking along the streets. At the end of the day, the parking catastrophe was averted – it looks like there is enough parking space for everyone. Consequently, even considering the densely packed master plan, such low-rise residential areas can do without underground parking garages.

However, the very fact that the project of the community center is not to be ever implemented cannot be considered to be anything but a serious loss. The dynamic and ingenious architecture of this building gave Andersen a character that was acutely modern; it combined solving the practical tasks with a bright aesthetic statement. “Well, – Vladimir Bindeman comments pensively – This is not the first time in history when matter triumphs over mind”. But even in spite of this loss, the settlement, which has already won a few professional awards, can serve as a model example of the modern suburbia which is in great demand in this country and in Moscow for obvious reasons: it is economical, comfortable, and democratic, and (this is particularly valuable) having a unique individual face of its own. So far, this is rather an exception than a rule but, as the example of Andersen shows, this task is quite achievable – desire creates power.

Architect:

Firm:

Arhitekturium

Object:

28 August 2017

Written by:

Lilya Aronova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

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.

send.project

Transformation of Annenkirche

For Annenkirche (St. Anna Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg), Sergey Kuznetsov and the Kamen bureau have prepared a project that relies on the principles of the Venice Charter: the building is not restored to a specific date, historical layers are preserved, and modern elements do not mimic the authentic ones. Let’s delve into the details of these solutions.

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.

Report

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.

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.

​Model Suburbia

The implementation of “Andersen” residential area designed by Arkhitekturium: success and losses

Model Suburbia