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The Crystal of the City Block

The typology and plastique of large housing complexes move with the times, and you can sometimes find new subtleties in the scope of seemingly familiar solutions. The Sky Garden complex combines two well-known themes, forming a giant residential area consisting of tall slender towers, placed at the perimeter of a large yard, in which a crossroads of two pedestrian promenades is “dissolved”.

27 January 2023
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The Sky Garden housing complex, which is being built by FSK in Moscow’s Tushino, is one of the grand-scale projects, characteristic for today’s Moscow, where numerous industrial parks give way to modern housing complexes. This circumstance turns the search for the right format of a high-density housing complex into a relevant task. The list of popular solutions includes towers, from three to five, standing on a common podium; yet another option is large-scale city blocks with private yards and “dominant” buildings at the corners.
 
The solution, proposed by Aleksey Ginzburg Architects, is essentially a hybrid of the two.
 
The first feature that sets it apart is that the volumes are not governed by a rigid orthogonal grid. The sections form long “daisy chains” running along the perimeter of the territory, yet all the volumes are slightly shifted in respect to their neighbors. The contour is lively and free, and the self-contained character of each of the towers – from 40 to 150 meters high – is deliberately emphasized. This is not so much a “front wall” of the city block, as a group of towers, standing in a row.

Sky Garden housing complex. The master plan
Copyright: Ginzburg Architects


Sky Garden housing complex
Copyright: Ginzburg Architects

 
The architects say that their solution is context-based. The land site is an irregular L, but it is spacious. It is a former industrial park, the territory of the former Tushino Reinforced Concrete Plant. Next to it, further north, there are many other industrial parks, but southeast of it, two large companies are already developing the territory of the former Tushino airfield. 
 
The immediate surroundings, however, consist of residential houses, both of the low-rise postwar kind and prefabricated nine-story ones, as well as two schools and a clinic. South of the area, there are a few bus stops. The entire complex is surrounded by the semicircle of the Skhodnya River, which in the northern part comes really close to the complex boundary: there are two pedestrian and one automotive bridges thrown across the river.

Sky Garden housing complex
Copyright: Ginzburg Architects

 
Thus, the architects “tear” the contour of the building in four directions: to the river and the pedestrian bridge, to nine-story buildings and schools, to the postwar houses, and to the bus stops. Pedestrian flows are distributed – approximately – by the cardinal points and intersect in the spacious courtyard.

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    Sky Garden housing complex
    Copyright: Ginzburg Architects
  • zooming
    Sky Garden housing complex
    Copyright: Ginzburg Architects

 
One should think that if the architects had followed the “classical” quarterly layout, they would have placed here at least four closed circuits with private yards and a cross of public boulevards between them. But in this case, the density of the construction and the height is such that a freer composition turned out to be a better choice – the authors immersed the boulevards into the courtyard space, although they did not completely dissolved them in it, but rather embedded in an asymmetric parametric grid. When viewed from above, the “fifth facade” will look like a bionic network: either streaks on a leaf, or a maybe a mycelium.

Sky Garden housing complex
Copyright: Ginzburg Architects

 
The four yards came together to form a space that is half private and half public – a park that relates to all the buildings of the housing complex. Of course, in the eyes of a “spoiled” Muscovite, a “park” is something that’s really big, like Losinka or Sokolniki, but here it does feel like a “park”. The yard righteously echoes the river banks.
 
We will remind you that the “glued” towers vary in their height – this allows you to avoid the monotonous effect of a “Great Wall of China”, and it also allows to implement the principle of recognizable blocks of flats.
 
Meanwhile, the height does not change arbitrarily, but depends on the location of the tower: the buildings grow lower closer to the gaps, and they grow higher closer to the corners – not symmetrically, but according to a pattern that takes into account a number of factors. For example, the highest buildings are situated at the corner near the automobile bridge, at the city highway. This is one of the “facades” of the complex.

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    Sky Garden housing complex
    Copyright: Ginzburg Architects
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    Sky Garden housing complex
    Copyright: Ginzburg Architects
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    Sky Garden housing complex
    Copyright: Ginzburg Architects

 
The facades combine vertical lines and squares, while the materials vary from white and dark-gray to metal or natural tones – gold, silver and copper. However, you will not see terracotta or stone here – the image is eventually “metallic” and glittering.

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    Sky Garden housing complex. The yard and the yard facade
    Copyright: Ginzburg Architects
  • zooming
    Sky Garden housing complex. The yard and the yard facade
    Copyright: Ginzburg Architects

 
In many cases, vertical volumes are intersected by wide horizontal belts of the same shade, but with a different pattern: somewhere there is one insert, somewhere there are two, somewhere there are none at all (in the courtyards there are none at all), and they are located at different heights, which knocks down the scale and enlivens the composition at a level slightly higher than the human line of vision.

Sky Garden housing complex
Copyright: Ginzburg Architects


Sky Garden housing complex
Copyright: Ginzburg Architects

 
There are 19 types of apartments in the complex, ranging from 24 to 120 square meters. The peculiarity is that each apartment has a recessed balcony with a place for the air conditioning unit, and, in addition, all the apartments with an area of more than 54 square meters, that is, having two or more rooms, have a two-way orientation for through ventilation and various lighting during the day. The decision is modernist and humane; it is now accepted to refute the need for through ventilation and the value of enhanced insolation for hygiene; which may be true. However, it is difficult to deny that both are pleasant for life. In addition, the two-sided orientation and moderate, not very deep proportions of the rooms made the proportions of the towers slender and elegant. There are no stair and elevator cores in the center of the volume: they are all adjacent to the courtyard facades, so, again, the buildings remain slender.

Sky Garden housing complex. The plan
Copyright: Ginzburg Architects

 
The architectural solution of a residential complex of such high density and scale is always quite a difficult task. You need to fit in everything you need and overcome the pressure of scale, as well as the two main temptations of monotony and diversity. But the hybrid typology – a form “on the verge” of two well–known approaches – allowed the architects to find a reasonable balance between pragmatics and recognizability of the architectural solution. 
 
Currently, the construction of the first stage and the design of the second is underway.
Sky Garden housing complex
Copyright: Ginzburg Architects


27 January 2023

Headlines now
A Paper Clip above the River
In this article, we talk with Vitaly Lutz from the Genplan Institute of Moscow about the design and unique features of the pedestrian bridge that now links the two banks of the Yauza River in the new cluster of Bauman Moscow State Technical University (MSTU). The bridge’s form and functionality – particularly the inclusion of an amphitheater suspended over the river – were conceived during the planning phase of the territory’s development. Typically, this approach is not standard practice, but the architects advocate for it, referring to this intermediate project phase as the “pre-AGR” stage (AGR stands for Architectural and Urban Planning Approval). Such a practice, they argue, helps define key parameters of future projects and bridge the gap between urban planning and architectural design.
Living in the Architecture of One’s Own Making
Do architects design houses for themselves? You bet! In this article, we are examining a new book by TATLIN publishing house. This book – unprecedented for Russia – features 52 private homes designed and built by contemporary architects for themselves. It includes houses that are famous, even iconic, as well as lesser-known ones; large and small, stylish and eccentric. To some extent, the book reflects the history of Russian architecture over the past 30 years.
A City Block Isoline
Another competition project for a residential complex on the banks of the Volga in Nizhny Novgorod has been prepared by Studio 44. A team of architects led by Ivan Kozhin concluded that using a regular block layout in such a location would be inappropriate and developed a “custom design” approach: a chain of parceled multi-section buildings stretching along the entire embankment. Let’s explore the features and advantages of this unconventional method.
Competition: The Price of Creativity?
Any day now, we’re expecting the results of a competition held by the “Samolet” development group for a plot in Kommunarka. In the meantime, we share the impressions of Editor-in-Chief Julia Tarabarina, who managed to conduct a public talk. Though technically focused on the interaction between developers and architects, the public talk turned into a discussion about the pros and cons of architectural competitions.
Terraced Design
The “River Park” residential complex has confidently and securely shaped the Nagatinsky Backwater shoreline. Featuring a public embankment, elevated courtyards connected by pedestrian bridges, and brick façades, the development invites exploration of its nuanced response to the surrounding context, as well as hints of the architects’ megalithic design thinking.
A Kremlin’s Core and Meteorite Fragments
We continue our coverage of the competition projects for the residential district that the development company GloraX plans to build along the embankment of the Rowing Channel in Nizhny Novgorod. ASADOV Architects approached the concept through a deep dive into local identity, using storytelling to pinpoint a central idea for the design: the master plan and composition are imagined as if a meteorite had struck a “proto-Kremlin”. Sounds weird? Find more details below!
The Volga Regatta
GloraX plans to develop a residential complex spanning 14 hectares along the Volga River in Nizhny Novgorod. The winning design in a closed-door competition, created by GORA Architects, features housing typologies ranging from townhouses to terraced high-rise slabs, a balance of functions, diverse ways of engaging with the water, and even a dedicated island (no less!) for the city residents.
Life Plans
The master plan for the residential district “Prityazheniye” (“Gravity”) in Naberezhnye Chelny was developed by the architectural company A.Len, taking into account the specific urban planning context and partially implemented solutions of the first phase. However, the master plan prioritized its own values: a green framework, a system of focal points, a hierarchy of spaces, and pedestrian priority. After this, the question of what residents will do in their neighborhood simply doesn’t arise.
A New Track
We took a thorough look at D_Station, a railcar repair depot dating back to 1906, recently reconstructed while preserving its century-old industrial structure, upon the project by Sergey Trukhanov and T+T Architects. Though work on the interiors – set to house restaurants and public spaces – is still underway, the building’s exterior already offers plenty to see. Visitors can explore the blend of old and new brickwork, appreciate the architect’s unique interpretation of ruin aesthetics, and enjoy the newly built pedestrian route that connects the Citydel Business Center’s arches to Kazakova Street.
Four Different Surveys
The “Explore the City” competition, organized this year by the Genplan Institute of Moscow, stands out as a pretty unconventional one for the architectural field but aligns perfectly well with the character of urban planning work. The winning project analyzed contemporary residential complexes, combining urban planning insights with a realtor’s perspective to propose a hybrid approach. Other entries explored public centers, motivations for car ownership, and housing vacancy rates. A fifth participant withdrew. Here’s a closer look at the four completed works.
Scheduled Evolution
ASADOV Architects unveiled the EvyCenter pavilion, a microcultural hub for fostering personal growth, organizing workshops, and doing gymnastics. Additionally, this pavilion serves as a prototype for a scalable country house, drawing inspiration from the “Loskutok” project, and constructed from CLT panels in a factory. This marks the beginning of a developer project initiated by the architectural firm (sic!), which is seeking partners to expand both small Evy settlements and even larger Evy cities, which are, according to Andrey Asadov, aimed at fostering the “evolutionary” development of the people who will inhabit them.
The Golden Crown
The concept for a dental clinic in Yekaterinburg, developed by CNTR Studio, revolves around the idea of a “mouth full of gold”: pristine white porcelain stoneware walls are complemented by matte brass details. To avoid an overly literal interpretation, the architects focused on the building’s proportions, skillfully navigating between sunlight requirements and fire safety regulations.
Flexibility and Integration
Not long ago, we covered the project for the fourth phase of the ÁLIA residential complex, designed by APEX. Now, we’ve been shown different fence concepts they developed to enclose the complex’s private courtyards, incorporating a variety of public functions. We believe that the sheer fact that the complex’s architects were involved in such a detail as fencing speaks volumes.
A Step Forward
The HIDE residential complex represents a major milestone for ADM architects and their leaders Andrey Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova in their quest for a fresh high-rise aesthetic – one that is flexible and layered, capable of bringing vibrancy to mass and silhouette while shaping form. Over recent years, this approach has become ADM’s “signature style”, with the golden HIDE tower playing a pivotal role in its evolution. Here, we delve into the project’s story, explore the details of the complex’s design, and uncover its core essence.
Gold in the Sands
A new office for a transcontinental company specializing in resource extraction and processing has opened in Dubai. Designed by T+T Architects, masters of creating spaces that are contemporary, diverse, flexible, and original, this project exemplifies their expertise. On the executive floor, a massive brass-clad partition dominates, while layered textures of compressed earth create a contextually resonant backdrop.
Layers and Levels of Flight
This project goes way back – Reserve Union won this architectural competition at the end of 2011, and the building was completed in 2018, so it’s practically “archival”. However, despite being relatively unknown, the building can hardly be considered “dated” and remains a prime example of architectural expression, particularly in the headquarters genre. And it’s especially fitting for an aviation company office. In some ways, it resembles the Aeroflot headquarters at Sheremetyevo but with its own unique identity, following the signature style of Vladimir Plotkin. In this article, we take an in-depth look at the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) headquarters in the Moscow agglomeration town of Zhukovsky, supplemented by recent photographs from Alexey Naroditsky – a shoot that became only recently possible due to the fact that improvements were finally made in the surrounding area.
Light and Shadow
In this article, we delve into the architectural design of the “Chaika” house by DNK ag architects, which was recently completed in 2023 as part of the collection of signature designs at ZILArt. As is well-known, all the buildings in this complex follow a design code, yet each one is distinct. This particular building stands out not only for its whiteness and minimalism but also for the refined use of a limited number of techniques that, together, create what can confidently be called synergy.
Casus Novae
A master plan was developed for a large residential area with a name of “DNS City”, but now that its implementation began, the plan has been arbitrarily reformatted and replaced with something that, while similar on the surface, is actually quite different. This is not the first time such a thing happens, but it’s always frustrating. With permission from the author, we are sharing Maria Elkina’s post.
Treasure Hunting
The GAFA bureau, in collaboration with Tegola and Arkhitail, organized an expedition to the island of Kilpola in Karelia as part of Moskomarkhitektura’s “Open City” festival. There, amidst moss and rocks, the students sought answers to questions like: what is the sacred, where does it dwell, and what sustains it? Assisting the participants in this quest were landscape engineer Evgeny Levin, artist Nicholas Roerich, a moose, and the lack of cellular connection. Here’s how the story unfolded.
Depths of the Earth, Streams of Water
In the Malaya Okhta district, the Akzent building, designed by Stepan Liphart, was constructed. It follows a classic tripartite structure, yet it’s what you might call “hand-drawn”: each façade is unique in its form and details, some of which aren’t immediately noticeable. In this article, we explore the context and, together with the architect, delve into how the form was developed.
Fir Tree Dynamics
The “Airports of Region” holding is planning to build an airport in Karachay-Cherkessia, aiming to make the Arkhyz and Dombay resorts more accessible to travelers. The project that won in an invitation-only competition, submitted by Sergey Nikeshkin’s KPLN, blends natural imagery inspired by the shape of a conifer seed, open-air waiting spaces, majestic large trees, and a green roof elevated on needle-like columns. The result is both nature-inspired and WOW.
​A Brick Shell
In the process of designing a clubhouse situated among pine trees in a prestigious suburban area near Moscow, the architectural firm “A.Len” did the façade design part. The combination of different types of brick and masonry correlates with the volumetric and plastique solutions, further enhanced by the inclusion of wood-painted fragments and metal “glazing”.
Word Forms
ATRIUM architects love ambitious challenges, and for the firm’s thirtieth anniversary, they boldly play a game of words with an exhibition that dives deep into a self-created vocabulary. They immerse their projects – especially art installations – into this glossary, as if plunging into a current of their own. You feel as if you’re flowing through the veins of pure art, immersed in a universe of vertical cities, educational spaces – of which the architects are true masters – and the cultural codes of various locations. But what truly captivates is the bold statement that Vera Butko and Anton Nadtochy make, both through their work and this exhibition: architecture, above all, is art – the art of working with form and space.
Flexibility and Acuteness of Modernity
Luxurious, fluid, large “kokoshniks” and spiral barrel columns, as if made from colorful chewing gum: there seem to be no other mansion like this in Moscow, designed in the “Neo-Russian-Modern” style. And the “Teremok” on Malaya Kaluzhskaya, previously somewhat obscure, has “come alive with new colors” and gained visibility after its restoration for the office of the “architectural ecosystem” as the architects love to call themselves. It’s evident that Julius Borisov and the architects at UNK put their hearts into finding this new office and bringing it up to date. Let’s delve into the paradoxes of this mansion’s history and its plasticity. Spoiler: two versions of modernity meet here, both balancing on the razor’s edge of “what’s current”.
Yuri Vissarionov: “A modular house does not belong to the land”
It belongs to space, or to the air... It turns out that 3D printing is more effective when combined with a modular approach: the house is built in a workshop and then adapted to the site, including on uneven terrain. Yuri Vissarionov shares his latest experience in designing tourist complexes, both in central Russia and in the south. These include houseboats, homes printed from lightweight concrete using a 3D printer, and, of course, frame houses.
​Moscow’s First
“The quality of education largely depends on the quality of the educational environment”. This principle of the last decade has been realized by Sergey Skuratov in the project for the First Moscow Gymnasium on Rostovskaya Embankment in the Khamovniki district. The building seamlessly integrates into the complex urban landscape, responding both to the pedestrian flow of the city and the quiet alleyways. It skillfully takes advantage of the height differences and aligns with modern trends in educational space design. Let’s take a closer look.
Looking at the Water
The site of Villa Sonata stretches from the road to the water’s edge, offering its own shoreline, pier, and a picturesque river panorama. To reveal these sweeping views, Roman Leonidov “cut” the façade diagonally parallel to the river, thus getting two main axes for the house and, consequently, “two heads”. The internal core – two double-height spaces, a living room and a conservatory, with a “bridge” above them – makes the house both “transparent” and filled with light.
The White Wing
Well, it’s not exactly white. It’s more of a beige, white-stone structure that plays with the color of limestone – smoother surfaces are lighter, while rougher ones are darker. This wing unites various elements: it absorbs and interprets the surrounding themes. It responds to everything, yet maintains a cohesive expression – a challenging task! – while also incorporating recognizable features of its own, such as the dynamic cuts at the bottom, top, and middle.
Urban Dunes
The XSA Ramps team designed and built a three-part sports hub for a park in Rostov-on-Don, welcoming people of all ages and fitness levels. The skate plaza, pump track, and playground are all meticulously crafted with details that attract a diverse range of visitors. The technical execution of the shapes and slopes transforms this space into a kind of sculptural composition.
Proportional Growth
The project for the fourth phase of the ÁLIA residential area has been announced. The buildings are situated on an elongated plot – almost a “ray” that shoots out from the center of the area towards the river. Their layout reflects both a response to Moscow’s architectural preferences over the past 15 years, shifting “from blocks to towers”, and an interpretation of the neighboring business park designed by SOM. Additionally, the best apartments here are not located at the very top but closer to the middle, forming a glowing “waistline”.