Russian version of ‘Plug in city’ where the project is a parasitical element clamped between the blind facades of houses. This ‘alleyway’ inhabitation, without blocking pedestrian or car access, aims to utilize unused spaces in the city by providing state of the art studio or business spaces. An impressive futurist ephemeral design provided by za bor architects.

‘The ‘ARCH Moscow’ architectural biennale is traditionally held in the end of May, in the Russian capital. za bor architects presented this year an essentially new idea of effective usage of inhabited areas with the aim of practical business spaces creation. For this project the za bor architects was awarded with the second prize entry by ‘ARCH Moscow’ judges (the first prize wasn’t awarded to anyone).

The concept is especially remarkable since Moscow is the biggest city in Europe with promptly growing economy and permanent shortage of ‘creative’ office areas needed by numerous design-studios, modern art galleries and other organizations the activity of which is connected with art.

Prominent feature of many Moscow areas is the presence of multi-storey buildings with blind end walls and wide passage between them. This project provides for usage of free spaces between buildings for creation of original and economic offices which do not block the court yard access.

The first realization of this concept shall become za bor architects’ own workshop which is planned to be build in between the two houses at the 5th Kozhukhovskaya Street. The project provides for creation of a three-floor volume with an accessible roof area, divided with modular floor panels. The framework which shapes it, is a single structural unit clamped between the blind facades of the houses. The polygonal main facade solved in dynamical volumes, is made from light and durable cellular polycarbonate; the facade turned to the court yard is flat and completely glazed.’

ARCHITECT: za bor architects / Arseniy Borisenko and Peter Zaytsev, Moscow, Russia. LOCATION: Moscow, Russia. DESCRIPTION: Office / Studio Space. STATUS: Ongoing. AREA: 230 sqm. DATE: 2011. No part of this web site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Morfae and the copyright owner.