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The Shelter of a Digital Wanderer

The apartment hotel that GAFA designed for the central district of Moscow offers its guests living the habitual routine through a new spatial experience, and claims the status of a new landmark as well.

01 July 2022
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The future apartment hotel will be situated a five minutes’ walk away from the Krasnoselskaya metro station. The proximity to the “Three Station Square”, as well as the opportunity to quickly reach the city’s central districts that it provides makes the hotel pretty versatile – the location is convenient both for tourists and for people that come to the nation’s capital on business. The authors of the project wanted to turn it from a place where one could just rest for the night into a memorable space where you could really recharge your batteries and make the most of the time between your trips around the city.

Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
Copyright: © GAFA Architects


The land site is curbed by the Gavrikova Street and the Rusakovskaya Flyover of the Third Transport Ring; currently, it is occupied by an “Automatic Telephone Station” built in 1968, which will be demolished altogether. On the yard side, there is the housing complex “Shater”, designed in an eclectic style, characteristic of the 2010s; the place is flanked by the slabs of the late-Soviet houses. Behind one of the slabs, there is a park with the temple of St. Alexius the Man of God, while the hotel windows will command the perfect view of the Alekseevsky Monastery, situated on the other side of the Third Transport Ring. The proximity to the monastery determined the height restrictions: 10 floors, 35 meters.

This GAFA project is not the first one in this area. In 2018, the Architectural Council of Moscow considered the proposal of a hotel of the Japanese chain Toyoko Inn, but the land site, along with the permissive documentation, was sold to another developer, who conducted a closed-door competition, ultimately won by GAFA.

Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Location plan
Copyright: © GAFA Architects


The construction blueprint almost completely coincides with the Toyoko Inn version – and, according to the architects, this combination makes perfect sense under the existing parameters of the site and the required economic performance indicators. But then again, there are a few subtle differences. One of the sections of the hotel is still set on the telephone station building, which helps maintain the street front and the memory of the place. The next section, which goes into the depth of the block, became wider and has a more prominent “bend”, which helped to get more beautiful views from the windows.

Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Landscaping
Copyright: © GAFA Architects


The main entrance is situated in the corner part of the building on the monastery side. It is marked not just by a lobby group but first of all by a terraced “cutaway” in the last floors, noticeable even from a distance to the pedestrians and motorists alike. The sculptural quality, enhanced by the wavy volumes and brass yellow, becomes the trademark feature of the building, turning it into a real landmark. The “climax” corner part is further accentuated by recessions that run the entire height of the building and have another function as well: they neatly conceal the air conditioning systems.

Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
Copyright: © GAFA Architects


The volume that is “extruded” from the corner part is compensated at the sidewall, which is to be seen by the flow of traffic and people going in the opposite direction. This part of the building looks just as striking thanks to the “living” texture of composite panels of a bronze tint, making up a picturesque cubist composition and casting dramatic shadows. The blind sidewall is interpreted as an art object – it articulates the typology of the hotel in the row of the neighboring buildings.

We try to approach our every building as a sculpture and an element of a general monumental work called “The City”. To enrich the perception of the street, we, on the one hand, made a rhythmic “cutaway”, and to balance the composition we increased this volume on the other side, but in a freer, even a little natural manner. On both sides of the building, the solutions are interesting and self-sufficient.


Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
Copyright: © GAFA Architects


Having created two bright highlights, the architects left the facade grid relatively neutral: the smooth rhythm of the windows is emphasized by beveled recessions with a wood effect; a slight enlargement of the volume can only be traced on the two top floors. The facade is clad in Klinker tiles of several hues.

The dynamic character of our architecture reflects the character of the rich and exciting life of a modern human being. This is a project for active business people with a flexible lifestyle, for whom, in addition to renting accommodation, it is important to have a comfortable coworking space for remote work, to have a morning yoga practice, go up to the bar in the evening or spend time in a quiet garden.


Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
Copyright: © GAFA Architects


The yard opens up southward; the architects decided to turn it into an “island of peace” for the hotel guests. Making this idea a reality was far from easy – the yard is situated in the center of a dense and bustling megalopolis; much of the area, small as it is, is “eaten up” by fire lanes and insolation, and the thickness of fertile soil is limited by the stylobate. However, the architects did organize such a space: one can have supper here on the restaurant terrace, work on a laptop at specially equipped tables, or just enjoy a cup of coffee, admiring trees and flowerbeds. The architects deliberately organized it in such a way that the landscape is involved in a slight confrontation with the architecture: the sculptural shapes, brass volumes, austere rhythm of the windows, and brick dominate in space, while the landscape is tactful and streamlined, as if woven from a different matter.

Victoria Barkalova, the landscape architect of GAFA

The landscape lighting, a rich palette of fragrant and textured plants, the predominance of pearl-white color, streamlined lines… our techniques are aimed at replenishing the strength of the hotel guests guests after a busy day in the city, and helping them slow down. The White Garden on Krasnoselskaya is an opportunity to stay in the context of nature and the city, to hear silence and create it.


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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects


The hotel has 215 rooms in it, including doubles, with an area ranging from 20 to 50 square meters; all of the rooms are equipped with kitchen niches. The hotel rooms are placed from the 2nd to the 10th floor, in groups on either side of the corridor. Besides the hotel lobby, the first floor includes facilities that work not just for the hotel guests but for the city people as well – a restaurant, a drugstore, and an educational center. The top floor may host either a coworking space or a yoga studio: the windows overlook the green yard, visually expanding the space.

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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the -1 floor
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the 1 floor
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the 2 floor
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the 3-4 floors
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the 5 floor
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the 6 floor
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the 7 floor
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the 8 floor
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Plan of the 9-10 floors
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Simplified roof plan
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects
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    Hotel in Krasnoselsky district. Section view 1-1
    Copyright: © GAFA Architects


GAFA’s architectural solutions create all the prerequisites for maintaining the habitual environment: staying in this hotel, you can not just have enough sleep and have an excellent dinner but also work efficiently, do sports, organize a business meeting or learn something new in the educational center. At the same time, the habitual actions take place in a new charismatic setting, thus making the habitual experiences feel new – something that we as humans go on trips for.
Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
Copyright: © GAFA Architects / Provided by the press service of Moskomarkhitektura
Hotel in Krasnoselsky district
Copyright: © GAFA Architects / Provided by the press service of Moskomarkhitektura


01 July 2022

Headlines now
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.