MVRDV's winning “Silhouette” concept, a new 52,000m2 mixed-use building in Moscow

“A modular system allows for diversifying the building’s shape and interior typologies while at the same time providing both compact and spacious apartments,” MVRDV says. “The distinct red color of the ceramic façade not only refers to the neighboring constructivist building but also affirms its character as a warm and welcoming place to live.”

With a height reaching up to 78 meters, the building's top floors will have apartments of various configurations and sizes, with the largest ones at the corners of the building to offer panoramic views. A supermarket and 13,310m2 of commercial and residential parking space will be built underground.

“The volume of the building is sculpted and diversified to create distinctive entrances and a sloping roofscape to optimize views of the city. Sculptural cuts on the top and bottom of the facade are carved out according to the function that needs to take place, or certain quality that needs to be provided within the space inside.

The elevation pattern is manipulated by various window sizes that respond to their position within the façade. The red  façade features a subtle gradient of window sizes in dialogue to the buildings overall massing.”

“Silhouette is really an abstraction of the classical stepped building silhouettes found in the city,” explains MVRDV co-founder Jacob van Rijs. “The combination of two grand and warm-toned buildings create a symbolic gateway to the city center, but also homely dwellings and fine workspaces with a lively program on ground levels for all to enjoy.”

Project details
Location: Moscow, Russian Federation
Client: GK Osnova
Year: 2017+
Program: 52,000m2 mixed-use with 28,320m2 residential, 8,230m2 commercial, 1,375m2 shared facilities, and 13,310m2 underground parking
Design MVRDV: Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries
Design Team:Jacob van Rijs, Frans de Witte, Fedor Bron with Mick van Gemert, Elija Kozak Daniele Zonta, Fouad Addou and Iker Perez
Visualization: Antonio Luca Coco, Davide Calabro, Pavlos Ventouris and Tomaso Maschietti

Partners
Competition phase
Management Coordination: Interstroy -Aleksey Polischuk, Ekaterina Abramovich, Arseniy Zubuga, Svetlana Babloeva and Igor Belyaev