Molding Perspectives

In virtually all of our cities, especially the major ones, there are places on the outskirts where industrial zones, highway interchanges, large shopping centers, a couple of relatively new residential towers, and private residences peacefully coexist with each other, seemingly by accident. Typically, these areas are designated for fairly dense development. I think many practicing architects have encountered similar challenges – in fact, this is quite often a very complex puzzle to solve.

zooming — Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects

The project that Stepan Liphart is currently working on is a quintessential example of such a task: a multi-story, up to 25 floors and 75 meters high, residential complex situated on two adjacent land sites not far away from the Sredny Kaban lake, next to two main highways leading towards the airport: Orenburgsky Trakt and Universiade Avenue. It is also situated right next to the interchange where both roads meet. The interchange is called Tank Ring, as the intersection here is designed as a large, 100-meter-diameter ring. The eastern site faces the interchange. The other, the western site, is turned at a 90-degree angle to the first one and is partially connected to it at an angle, partly side by side. It is oriented along the meridian, and its northern end faces the rear facade of the shopping center – not the most aesthetically appealing thing in the city. In other words, the territory intended for the residential complex is sandwiched between at least two technical neighbors, not very pleasant to look at.

On the left is the Bakhetle Shopping Center; on the right is one of the towers of the “Clear Sky” residential complex.

Additionally, in the gap between the two territories, an above-ground parking lot is located along with three towers of the “Clear Sky” residential complex, which visually resemble the 1990s “mushroom” type, termed like this by Daria Paramonova, although these were built in the 2010s. Initially, it was planned for the residential complex to occupy both of the sites mentioned here. In 2012, a couple of simple sectional houses of a microdistrict type, almost uniform in height, 13 and 15 floors high, were placed here.

Stepan Liphart approached the complex task in a completely different way – with a measure of a modern urbanist on one hand, and an architect passionate about Art Deco on the other. He proposed a solution with varying heights and silhouettes, internal axes, a through passage, terraces, galleries, and even an artificial river.

He also introduced an architecture that he himself characterizes as “schematized Art Deco”, in several shades of green, a color that is beloved and almost signature in Kazan. However, it simultaneously evokes the Art Deco style of the Eastern Columbia Lofts in Los Angeles. He selected aluminum with a glossy coating for the facades, resembling glass with radial “flute” cracks.

For me, this work was an attempt to instill, or at least begin to instill in this complex site the traits of a real city – to humanize the environment as much as possible within the existing conditions and constraints. We wanted to design a pedestrian boulevard open to the city, leading diagonally from the shopping center to the southeast and public first floors with retail; at first, we proposed another pedestrian gallery open to citizens and an artificial river in place of the existing creek.

We worked a long time with the silhouette, and we designed quite a lot of terraces – somewhere they helped us to step back from the boulevard, somewhere to extend its framework so that it would not be too crowded. We would pick a color, several shades of green and a light cream. We found aluminum composite, which seemed to us an interesting solution: the facades should be covered with a shiny “crust”, similar to glass or ice.

Our work was carried out under professional consultations of the chief architect of the city – Ilsiyar Tukhvatullina. Without them, it would hardly have been possible to achieve a certain quality in terms of compliance with the context and relevance of our solutions.

So! The complex, as was already said, is located on two sites: the western one, with the shopping center at the northern border (the first phase), and the eastern one, with the interchange at the eastern end (the second phase).

The initial parameters of the sites are orthogonal: north-south and west-east. However, Stepan Liphart introduces a public “boulevard” street diagonally, running from the Tank School in the northwest to the private residences in the southeast, bypassing the shopping center. This street is intended to open up to the city, with shops on the ground floors. At the same time, Stepan Liphart places a second, diagonal, grid on top of the orthogonal one, creating many new perspectives and shaping the contours of the buildings based on these two grids.

In addition to the western city street, there is also an eastern one inside the complex – its zigzag is defined by the combination of the two grids. It’s not exactly a street but rather a courtyard. In the east, it is semi-enclosed by the curve of a multifunctional complex, separating the courtyard from the interchange. The multifunctional complex is small, quite concise, and bright. Commercial spaces are integrated at the bottom, and sports facilities are situated at the top. The main task of the volume is to serve as a noise screen in front of the highway, and the concave contours of the facades are determined by the proximity of the roundabout. The additional complexity and nuanced plasticity arise from the fact that a large amount of space was not required for the multifunctional complex, so it was reduced, resulting in elegant curves and sharp angles.

The eastern courtyard is private, intended solely for the residents. Initially, Stepan Liphart proposed to create an artificial reservoir in it, replacing the existing stream, and to make the gallery on the ground floor of the northern sectional house accessible to the city, creating a passageway. This would have resulted in two urban axes. Unfortunately, both ideas remained on paper, and the courtyard is strictly residents-only, with no artificial reservoir.

Let’s return to the residential buildings, however. In my opinion, one of the main features of this project can be defined as a “multi-silhouette” quality. The buildings seem to sometimes mold, sometimes grow, sometimes fold, and sometimes “flow” with terraces forming trails. Recesses, cascades, plates, sharp projections, and trapezoidal angles – there are many perspectives, and the architect noticeably strives to increase the number of slender, thin, vertical or upward-thinning elements. Everything clearly serves two purposes: to “package” the necessary volume as lean as possible and to reveal as much light, air, and perspectives as possible, making the passage inside and around the complex interesting and changeable.

It’s interesting that the intersection of the two grids, orthogonal and diagonal, mentioned earlier, receives volumetric treatment as well. This is particularly noticeable in the lower terraces filling the corners of the towers: they seem to align with the diagonal planes existing in space simultaneously with the diagonal lines on the plans.

According to Stepan Liphart, the lower terraces are intended to enhance the “urban” component of the space between the towers. People will walk below, and some of them will sit above – with such an “inhabited” podium, the towers become less of a “thing in itself”.

Cross section. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects
Basic cross-section view. Section along the line of east-west. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects

All of this results in a complex stereometry of volumes reminiscent of parts of a puzzle from the 1980s, the kind that took quite some time to figure out. In Moscow nowadays, towers are often designed as nearly square or rectangular, and in the neighboring residential complex, we see the previous trend of rounded towers. Responding to both chronological and local contexts, Stepan Liphart’s towers stand out as unique. They are different, and they are proud of it, adding diversity to the city skyline.

The plans, thanks to the combination of grids, resemble a stylized bouquet or perhaps a profile with a nose facing east. Their merit lies in cutting out a large angle in the southeast part of the hypothetical rectangle, which makes the building look almost like an open book turned toward the sun, helping to illuminate most of the terraces and achieve a sufficiently large surface of well-lit facades.

Building 2.1. Plan of the second and typical (6-13th) floors. Basic apartment layout. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects
Building 2.1. Plan of typical (14-19th) floor. plan of 20-22nd floor. Basic apartment layout. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects

The western facades are not only made more sophisticated by the terraces but also by a zigzag pattern of triangular bays at the top. Starting with projections at the bottom, these bays create a “folded” appearance, capturing a bit more light and adding complexity to the wall.

At the same time, it’s easy to notice that the three towers – the ones arranged diagonally in a row – are identical, differing only in color, which, amidst the complex design, contributes to a rhythmic unity.

In the mid-rise sectional buildings in the eastern part, things are a bit more intricate. Their contours are also drawn based on two grids, and they feature numerous terraces and balconies, including corner stepped ones, which are one of the main highlights of the project.

Here, Stepan Liphart, in collaboration with his colleague Ekaterina Zotova, introduces plans with “waists”, narrowing sections that allow for a more rational and compact organization of layouts for corner apartments with two facades – this design avoids unnecessary thickness in the building’s structure. In the areas of stair-and-elevator lobbies and one-sided apartments, the structure is thicker, while in places with two-sided apartments, it is thinner.

1 / 5

Building 2.2. Plan of the 7th floor. Principle cutting of apartments. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects
2 / 5

Building 2.3. Plan of the 7th floor. Basic apartment layout. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects
3 / 5

Building 2.2. Plan of typical (3rd) floor. Basic apartment layout. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects
4 / 5

Building 2.3 and 2.4. Plan of typical (2-4th) floor. Basic apartment layout. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects
5 / 5

Schematic diagram of the 1st floor of the eastern site development. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects

This approach not only addresses structural concerns but also accomplishes another goal – it visually separates the elongated volume, accentuates its diversity without resorting to overly colorful elements. Moreover, thanks to the terraces and open balconies, the facades acquire deep shadowing, creating an impression as if they are “eaten away” by the openings.

The green color of the facades might surprise you at first, as we are accustomed to associating Art Deco with a light beige shade of plaster or ceramics. However, it fits into the context of buildings with metallic facades, such as the Columbia building mentioned by Stepan Liphart, and it doesn’t contradict the comparison with green glazed tiles and majolica. So, while the solution might have been surprising at first, one eventually gets used to this green color, especially since it is planned to be more olive and multitone, and in combination with ivory white (one of the towers is indeed white_.

This “immersion in green”, which can sometimes feel too sharp for the city of Kazan, seems rather refreshing in this case. In any event, the design cannot be labeled as conventional.

When it comes to details, despite the mention of “schematic” Art Deco in this case, there are quite a few intricate elements. Rustication, recessed blades, relief strips in the inter-floor panels, thin bars between paired and built openings, and the gradual increase in openings upwards, along with sharpened pylons at the very top. Notably, the faceted line of the podium’s parapets follows the same diagonal-orthogonal scheme as the plan. There are also two-faced projections. It’s safe to say that the sum of Art Deco decorations here is very recognizable – placed, however, in a context not typically associated with this style, which adds to its uniqueness.

We are accustomed to associating Art Deco primarily with designs popular in high-end residential developments in city’s historic centers or at least prestigious neighborhoods. Here, however, is a distant location with not the most premium surroundings. While there are marketing advantages – 500 meters to the lake, a kilometer to two parks, and a shopping center nearby – they do not negate the contrasting characteristics of the nearby environment. Consequently, the project aims to “pull” the surroundings through itself, giving them new qualities both in terms of urban and sculptural aspects. Many speak about this nowadays, but here it is particularly noticeable how a rich and meaningful environment is formed through perspectives, acute angles, triangular clusters of terraces, and turns – not just in terms of landscaping, as is often the case but as a whole, encompassing volumes, proportions, and prospective structures.

I would like to specifically stress that currently, there are many non-standardized, non-typical, but noticeably templated solutions for residential complexes. They often involve repeatable techniques, which, while often of good quality, become quite repetitive. In this context, this specific solution is 100% non-template. Besides introducing a passion for Art Deco into a not entirely characteristic typology for it, this solution doesn’t resemble the generally accepted variations of this style today. Perhaps, due to the author’s deep immersion in the context of the Art Deco movement, what emerges is something different from what we are accustomed to calling Art Deco, at least in the real estate sphere. It’s a bold decision by many standards.

***
As is often the case, bold decisions and complex tasks face a challenging fate, and changes in the process of implementation, often towards simplification, haunt such projects. Here, the idea of an artificial reservoir and a passable gallery along the eastern courtyard had to be abandoned. In addition, general negative trends in the market forced the client to review the previously issued brief at the final stage, increasing the target area by 25% (!). The project had to be changed within a month (as it happens), so a radical redesign was impossible. Although the main decisions remained the same, the authors had to go the familiar route: seven-story buildings grew to eight, floors, including the first ones, reduced in height, and volumes – something architects particularly dislike – increased in width. Consequently, some perspectives became somewhat less elegant than planned.

Adjusted version. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects
Adjusted version. Residential Complex on Orenburgsky Tract, Kazan. Architectural concept

Copyright: © Liphart Architects

Therefore, we are discussing the initial concept to assess the intention and plan to observe the progress of the implementation.

29 November 2023

Written by:
Julia Tarabarina
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

Headlines now

Object

Peaceful Integration on Mira Avenue

The MIRA residential complex (the word mir means “peace” in Russian), perched above the steep banks of the Yauza River and Mira Avenue, lives up to its name not only technically, but also visually and conceptually. Sleek, high-rise, and glass-clad, it responds both to Zholtovsky’s classicism and to the modernism of the nearby “House on Stilts”. Drawing on features from its neighbors, it reconciles them within a shared architectural language rooted in contemporary façade design. Let’s take a closer look at how this is done.

Object

An Interior for a New Format of Education

The design of the new building for Tyumen State University (TyumSU) was initially developed before the pandemic but later revised to meet new educational requirements. The university has adopted a “2+2+2” system, which eliminates traditional divisions into groups and academic streams in favor of individualized study programs. These changes were implemented swiftly – right at the start of construction. Now that the building is complete, we are taking a closer look.

Object

New Aeroflot Office: Lightness, Play, Comfort

Even if you have no plans to fly with Aeroflot anytime soon, their new office at 2A 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street is still worth a visit for its interior design alone.

Object

Penthouses and Kokoshniks

A new residential complex designed by ASADOV Architects for the Krasnaya Roza business district responds to its proximity to 17th-century landmarks – the chambers of the Hamovny Dvor and St. Nicholas Church – as well as to the need to preserve valuable façades of a historic rental house built in the Russian Revival style. The architects proposed a set of buildings of varying heights, whose façades reference ecclesiastical architecture. But we were also able to detect other associations.

Object

Centipede Town

The new school campus designed by ATRIUM Architects, located on the shores of a protected lake in the Imeretian Lowland Ornithological Reserve, represents an important and ambitious undertaking for the team: this is not just a school, but a Presidential Lyceum for the comprehensive development of gifted children – 2,500 students from age 3 through high school. At the same time, it is also envisioned as a new civic hub for the entire Sirius territory. In this article, we unpack the structure and architecture of this “lyceum town”.

Object

Warm Black and White

The second phase of “Quarter 31”, designed by KPLN and built in the Moscow suburb town of Pushkino, reveals a multifaceted character. At first glance, the complex appears to be defined by geometry and a monochrome palette. But a closer look reveals a number of “irregular” details: a gradient of glazing and flared window frames, a hierarchy of façades, volumetric brickwork, and even architectural references to natural phenomena. We explore all the rules – and exceptions – that we were able to discover here.

Object

Skylights and Staircase

Photos from March show the nearly completed headquarters of FSK Group on Shenogina Street. The building’s exterior is calm and minimalist; the interior is engaging and multi-layered. The conical skylights of the executive office, cast in raw concrete, and the sweeping spiral staircase leading to it, are particularly striking. In fact, there’s more than one spiral staircase here, and the first two floors effectively form a small shopping center. More below.

Object

The Whale of Future Identity

Or is it a veil? Or a snow-covered plain? Vera Butko, Anton Nadtochy, and the architects of ATRIUM faced a complex and momentous task: to propose a design for the “Russia” National Center. It had to be contemporary, yet firmly rooted in cultural codes. Unique, and yet subtly reminiscent of many things at once. It must be said – the task found the right authors. Let’s explore in detail the image they envisioned.

Object

Greater Altai: A Systemic Development Plan

The master plan for tourism development in Greater Altai encompasses three regions: Kuzbass, the Altai Republic, and Altai Krai. It is one of twelve projects developed as part of the large-scale state program bearing the simple name of “Tourism Development”. The project’s slogan reads: “Greater Altai – a place of strength, health, and spirit in the very heart of Siberia”. What are the proposed growth points, and how will the plan help increase the flow of both domestic and international tourists? Read on to find out.

Object

The Colorful City

While working on a large-scale project in Moscow’s Kuntsevo district – one that has yet to be given a name – Kleinewelt Architekten proposed not only a diverse array of tower silhouettes in “Empire-style” hues and a thoughtful mix of building heights, creating a six-story “neo-urbanist” city with a block-based layout at ground level, but also rooted their design in historical and contextual reasoning. The project includes the reconstruction of several Stalin-era residential buildings that remain from the postwar town of Kuntsevo, as well as the reconstruction of a 1953 railway station that was demolished in 2017.

Object

In Orbit of Moscow City

The Orbital business center is both simple and complex. Simple in its minimalist form and optimal office layout solution: a central core, a light-filled façade, plenty of glass; and from the unusual side – a technical floor cleverly placed at the building’s side ends. Complex – well, if only because it resembles a celestial body hovering on metallic legs near Magistralnaya Street. Why this specific shape, what it consists of, and what makes this “boutique” office building (purchased immediately after its completion) so unique – all of this and more is covered in our story.

Object

The Altai Ornament

The architectural company Empate has developed the concept for an eco-settlement located on a remote site in Altai. The master plan, which resembles a traditional ornament or even a utopian city, forms a clear system of public and private spaces. The architects also designed six types of houses for the settlement, drawing inspiration from the region’s culture, folklore, and vernacular building practices.

Object

Pro Forma

Photos have emerged of the newly completed whisky distillery in Chernyakhovsk, designed by TOTEMENT / PAPER – a continuation of their earlier work on the nearby Cognac Museum. From what is, in essence, a merely technical and utilitarian volume and space, the architects have created a fully-fledged theatre of impressions. Let’s take a closer look. We highly recommend a visit to what may look like a factory, but is in fact an experiment in theatricalizing the process of strong spirit production – and not only that, but also of “pure art”, capable of evolving anywhere.

Object

The Arch and the Triangle

The new Stone Mnevniki business center by Kleinewelt Architekten – designed for the same client as their projects in Khodynka – bears certain similarities to those earlier developments, but not entirely. In Mnevniki, there are more angular elements, and the architects themselves describe the project as being built on contrast. Indeed, while the first phase contains subtle references to classical architecture – light touches like arches, both upright and inverted, evoking the spirit of the 1980s – the second phase draws more distantly on the modernism of the 1970s. What unites them is a boldly expressive public space design, a kaleidoscope of rays and triangles.

Object

Health Factory

While working on a wellness and tourist complex on the banks of the Yenisei River, the architects at Vissarionov Studio set out to create healing spaces that would amplify the benefits of nature and medical treatments for both body and soul. The spatial solutions are designed to encourage interaction between the guests and the landscape, as well as each other.

Object

The Blooming Mechanics of a Glass Forest

The Savvinskaya 27 apartment complex built by Level Group, currently nearing completion on an elongated riverfront site next to the Novodevichy Convent, boasts a form that’s daring even by modern Moscow standards. Visually, it resembles the collaborative creation of a glassblower and a sculptor: a kind of glass-and-concrete jungle, rhythmically structured yet growing energetically and vividly. Bringing such an idea to life was by no means an easy task. In this article, we discuss the concept by ODA and the methods used by APEX architects to implement it, along with a look at the building’s main units and detailing.

Object

Grace and Unity

Villa “Grace”, designed by Roman Leonidov’s studio and built in the Moscow suburbs, strikes a balance between elegant minimalism and the expansive gestures of the Russian soul. The main house is conceived as a sequence of four self-contained volumes – each could exist independently, yet it chooses to be part of a whole. Unity is achieved through color and a system of shared spaces, while the rich plasticity of the forms – refined throughout the construction process – compensates for the near-total absence of decorative elements.

Object

Daring Brilliance

In this article, we are exploring “New Vision”, the first school built in the past 25 years in Moscow’s Khamovniki. The building has three main features: it is designed in accordance with the universal principles of modern education, fostering learning through interaction and more; second, the façades combine structural molded glass and metallic glazed ceramics – expensive and technologically advanced materials. Third, this is the school of Garden Quarters, the latest addition to Moscow’s iconic Khamovniki district. Both a costly and, in its way, audacious acquisition, it carries a youthful boldness in its statement. Let’s explore how the school is designed and where the contrasts lie.

Object

A Twist of the Core

A clever and concise sculptural solution – rotating each floor by N degrees – has created an ensemble of “dancing” towers: similar yet different, simple yet complex. The designers meticulously refined a single structural node and spent considerable effort on the column construction – after that, “everything else was easy”. The architects also rotated the core walls on each floor to maximize the efficiency of the office spaces.

Object

The Sculpting of Spring Forest Matter

We’ve been observing this building for a couple of years now: seemingly simple, perhaps even unassuming, it fits in remarkably well with the micro-district context shaped by the Moscow MCD road junctions. This building sticks in the memory of everyone who drives along the highway, even occasionally. In our opinion, Sergey Nikeshkin, by blending popular architectural techniques and approaches of the 2010s, managed to turn a seemingly simple structure into a statement “on the theme of a house as such”. Let’s figure out how this happened.

Object

Water and Wind Whet the Stone

The Arisha Terraces residential complex, designed by Asadov Architects, will be built in a district of Dubai dedicated to film and television production. To create shaded spaces and an intriguing silhouette, the architects opted for a funnel-shaped composition and nature-inspired forms of erosion and weathering. The roofs, podium, and underground spaces extend leisure opportunities within the boundaries of a man-made “oasis”.

Object

Elevation 5642

The Genplan Institute of Moscow has developed a comprehensive development project for three ski resorts in the Caucasus, which have been designated as special economic zones of the tourism and recreation type. The first of these zones is Elbrus. The project includes the construction of new ski runs, cable cars, and hotels, as well as the modernization of stations and improvements to the Azau tourist meadow. To expand the audience and enhance year-round appeal, a network of eco-trails is also being developed. In this article, we provide a detailed breakdown of each stage.

Object

The IT Town

Taking the example of the first completed phase of the “U” district, we examine how the new neighborhood in Innopolis will be organized. T+T Architects and HADAA formed a well-balanced and ingenious master plan with different types of housing, a green artery, a system of squares, and a park in the town’s central part.

Object

The Heart Lies Within

The second-phase building of the Evgeny Primakov School already won multiple awards while still in the design stage. Now that it’s completed, some unfinished nuances remain – most notably, the exposed ceiling structures, which ideally should have been concealed. However, given the priority placed on the building’s volumetric composition, this does not seem critical. What matters more is the “Wow!” effect created by the space itself.

Object

Magnetic Forces

“Krylatskaya 33” is the first large-scale residential complex to appear amidst the 1980s “micro-districts” that harmoniously coexist with the forests, the river, the slopes, and the sports infrastructure. Despite its imposing scale, the architects of Ostozhenka managed to turn the complex into something that can be best described as a “graceful dominant”. First, they designed the complex with consideration for the style and height of the surrounding micro-districts. Second, by introducing a pause in its tallest section, they created compositional tension – right along the urban planning axis of the area.

Object

Orion’s Belt

The Stone Khodynka 2 office complex, designed by Kleinewelt Architekten for the company Stone, is built with an ergonomic layout following “healthy building” principles: natural light, ventilation, and all the necessary features for an efficient office environment. On the outside, it resembles – like many contemporary buildings – an iPhone: sleek, glowing, glass-and-metal, edges elegantly rounded. Yet, it responds sensitively to the Khodynka context, where the main theme is the contrast between vertical and horizontal lines. The key intrigue lies in the design of the “stylobate” as a suspended passage, leaving the space beneath it open for free pedestrian movement.

Interview

Grigory Revzin: “It Was a Bold Statement Made on the Sly. Something Won”

In this article, we discuss the debates surrounding the circus competition and the demolition of the CMEA building with the most renowned architectural critic of our time. A paradox emerges in the process: while nostalgia for the Brezhnev era seems to be in vogue in Russia, a landmark building – the “axis” of the Warsaw Pact – has been sentenced to demolition. Isn’t that strange? We also find out that wow-architecture has made a comeback as a post-COVID trend. However, to make a truly powerful statement, professionals still remain indispensable.

Object

Exposed Concrete

One of the stages of improving a small square in the town of Lermontov was the construction of a skatepark. Entrusting this part of the project to the XSA team, the city gained a 250-meter trick track whose features resemble those of land art objects – unparalleled in Russia in both scale and design. Here’s a look at how the experimental snake run in the foothills of the Caucasus was built.

Object

One Step Closer To the Dream

The challenges of getting all the mandatory approvals, an insufficient budget, and construction site difficulties did not prevent ASADOV Bureau from achieving its main goal in the realization of the school project in the town of Troitsk – taking another step away from outdated notions of educational spaces toward creating a fundamentally new academic environment.

Object

Chalet on the Rock

An Accor hotel in Arkhyz, designed by A.Len, will be situated at the gateway to the resort’s main tourist hubs. The architects reinterpreted the widely popular chalet style while adding an unexpected twist – an unfinished structure preserved on the site. The design team transformed this remnant into an exciting space featuring an open-air pool and a restaurant with panoramic views of the region’s highest mountain ridges.