Skolkovo Innovation Center (‘Russian Silicon Valley’), a high-tech hub to be built at Skolkovo near Moscow, Russia, is intended to concentrate international intellectual capital, thereby stimulating the development of break-through projects and technologies. The modern approach to residential buildings often creates a feeling of isolation. A person has his or her own apartment and a little garden, while neighbors are perceived as competitors. The new residential area, including apartment houses and townhouses, designed by Arch Group, is designed for temporary accommodation of the scientific elite shown in the apartment houses while the townhouses feature a multi-layered environment. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The complex will be built within the limits of New Ivanovo and Odintsovo townships, near the village of Skolkovo located in the eastern part of Moscow’s Odintsovsky on the Skolkovsky highway, 2 km west of the MKAD Moscow beltway. The Skolkovo project was announced on November 12th, 2009 by Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev.
The residential clusters are situated in a unique ecological environment. The architectural solution should not only provide comfortable accommodation for the residents but also form a creative environment that encourages people to communicate, exchange experiences, and help in the creative process.
Apartment Houses
The district from the north to the south is permeated with pedestrian lanes with “green corridors”, which connect the cluster to the park. Along them, residential buildings are built. This forms long green prospects. The central square covers the transit road, protecting the houses from noise and dirt.
We want to avoid the feeling of a dense urban development. This is why the buildings are shaped as the natural landscape and green hills. Between them there is a lot of air and space. The slopes of the hills are green terraces, so even the buildings themselves are a part of the natural recreational space. Facades and windows of the apartments are slightly turned towards the forest. All houses are connected by pedestrian paths on the second level between the lobbies. This forms project’s single communicative space. Public functions are situated on the ground floor of the houses. Parking and technical services are situated on the underground level. Lanes for running and cycling are situated all around the area.
Artificial nests for swifts are located on the roofs of all houses. This improves the area environment and gives it a special atmosphere. Trees and grass are planted on all the terraces and roofs of the houses.
Townhouses
The district is located in the park. One main road connects the “island” with other similar areas. This gives the possibility to consider each residential cluster as an energy core, an urban cluster. The principles of organization of the district are similar to the medieval cities of Europe and the Middle East, where over the centuries a complex, three-dimensional urban environment was formed. Each house there has its own character and its own history.
We create a multi-layered environment, with the links between individual houses and terraces. We create a system of picturesque routes and green terraces and consider that all the houses should be different, with various planning solutions, with different terraces and entrances. This is not a typical social housing but a temporary home for creative, active people. Within the area, small squares with trees, fountains or children’s playgrounds are formed. This will give even more individuality to each part of the complex and will help with internal navigation.
All houses are connected by pedestrian promenade paths on the third and fifth levels. From the main road departs a network of internal passages. Many streets and alleys form private courtyards and entrances. On top of all residential units, on the fifth floor, a network of pedestrian alleys is organized. This promenade can be reached by lifts, located in each group of residential units. Upper residential modules are smaller than the lower modules. This allows organizing insulation of all apartments. On the roofs of the houses, there are special nests for swifts, which rid the area of insects in the summer.
Architects: Arch Group Location: Skolkovo, Moscow, Russia Team: Michael Krymov, Alexey Goryainov, Alexey Polyakov Project: Architectural Concept Technopark Residential Area Skolkovo Innovation Center Apartment Houses Data: Total area of the island (sq. m.): 38,000 Total building area (sq. m.): 16,200 Total useful area (sq. m.): 34,600 Total area of the main street (sq. m.): 3400 Area of buildings: 116,500 Number of buildings: 12 Average area of apartments (sq. m.): 98 Number of floors: 9 Coefficient of built area: 3,3 Central square on the road (sq. m.): 1500 Total area of green terraces: 7200 Townhouses Data: Total area of the island (sq. m.): 21,600 The total building area (sq. m.): 7,488 Total useful area (sq. m.): 27,000 Total area of the main street (sq. m.): 2,600 Number of residential units: 255 Average area of a townhouse (sq. m.): 106 Number of floors: 4 Coefficient of built area: 1,21 Total area of greenery planting on the ground floor: 8,600 Total area of green terraces on the 2-rd and 3-th floors: 2,900 Total area of the green walking zone on the roof: 5,500 Total green area (sq. m.): 17,000 Year: 2011
