RED7, a New Bright Accent in Moscow Skyline

Really unique from an architectural and technical point of view, the RED7 project will become a bright new accent in the skyline of Moscow. At the end of February, the long-awaited facade mockup was demonstrated, and by mid-March, builders began to erect 8 out of the 19 aboveground floors.

The project at the intersection of Academitian Sakharov Avenue and Sadovo-Spasskaya Street is being implemented by an international team of experts consisting of the Client (Osnova Group), Dutch MVRDV bureau (the author of the concept), APEX Project Bureau (general designer), and Sabine Marcelis Studio (design of public spaces).

«Realizing the importance of this place in the very center of the capital, we held an architectural competition for the creation of the project — this is how the iconic architectural bureau MVRDV from the Netherlands appeared in our team» — said Oleg Kolchenko, a shareholder of the Osnova Group.

RED7 and the Narkomzem building on the opposite side of the avenue form a symbolic gateway to the city. They can be called «Red Gate», by analogy with the name of the nearest metro station. The complex is also surrounded by two Stalinist skyscrapers and the Tsentrosoyuz building. «When developing the project, we tried to combine some of their features into something new. The result was an ultra-modern Moscow architecture inspired by the experience of previous generations» — says Jacob van Rejs, founder of MVRDV bureau.

Construction began at the end of 2018. Nonstandard architectural, engineering and design solutions were worked out in detail by the whole team in real time — this became possible thanks to the use of BIM360 Design cloud solutions and the apex-platform.ru, a platform developed by APEX experts. With its help, each participant has access to the project at any time and from any device, which turned out to be especially valuable during the pandemic.

«Alas, now I cannot visit the construction site, but I can get a good idea of the project progress thanks to the webcam and close communication with the client and the local office. We carefully followed the choice of materials: the building will be faced with special „Red7“ bricks, as a result of which we will get a stunning sparkling effect depending on the incidence of light on the facade. I heard someone call the complex „a building from the Minecraft game“ — an interesting way of looking at the project»- comments Jacob van Rejs, founder of MVRDV.

«The volume of the building has been modeled to create a distinctive characteristic shape and add to the view of the city. Thanks to the introduction of a modular system, clarity of design and architectural unity are ensured, a variety of forms and typologies of the interior is born. Most of the apartments are equipped with corner bay windows that offer views in two different directions» — says Anton Razinkov, APEX Project Bureau, chief architect of the project.

Non-repeating floors, a cellular structure of the facade and unique architectural solutions entailed a number of challenges and tasks that had to be solved during the design of the facility. Pavel Pavlov, Project Chief Engineer (APEX Project Bureau) dwelled on the main points: «In this project, every square meter is nonstandard and thus demanded a detailed and individual study of the smallest units and details of the complex, as well as the development and offer of innovative and unique solutions. Some examples are the use of steel structures from high-strength steel C590 to create a modular frame, and the use of the most modern energy efficient ventilation systems to create the most comfortable and individually adjustable climate parameters for all residents. »

According to him, it was possible to place a huge amount of the necessary engineering support of the complex in conjunction with complex space-planning and structural solutions in small spaces hidden from the eyes of visitors and residents, thanks to the work in the space of a common BIM model and constant interdisciplinary coordination.

In addition to living spaces, the first four floors of the building will house a wide range of commercial spaces — shops, galleries, restaurants, bars and a fitness center with a swimming pool, as well as a unique private space for residents — the Heavenly Lounge with a cinema, coworking space, and a cigar room. A unique 15-meter atrium will be the center of social life of the house.

Besides, four underground levels will be occupied by parking, storage rooms, as well as part of the building’s infrastructure, including a premium supermarket. The process of preparing the foundation area and building the underground part of the house was incredibly difficult and took more than eighteen months.

«We have drilled more than 430 piles from the bottom elevation of the pit to a depth of 15 meters. The uniqueness of this long and laborious stage of work lies in the fact that the piling was carried out at the same time with the dismantling of the structure of the underground levels of the old building, which was located on the site of the future premium complex. To drill the piles, holes were cut in the existing slabs, and the drilling rig was located on a mobile metal platform mounted on the supporting monolithic frame of the old building. As the drilling operations were carried out and the underground floors were built, the old structures were gradually dismantled. In total, 17,250 tons of concrete and reinforcement of old structures were dismantled and removed from the RED7 construction site. And the temporary spacer system 15 meters high weighed 1100 tons» — explained Oleg Kolchenko.

However, today these difficulties are over — the 8th aboveground floor is already being built and the «pixel» form of RED7 is clearly visible. The construction of the 15-meter-high atrium is completely ready; the floors of the future fitness center with a 25-meter pool are ready as well. A unique matte and glazed facade brick from Germany, made specially for the project at the DEPPE factory, has already been brought to Moscow in full. This is how the original skyline of the new landmark architectural dominant of the capital, which will be fully built by December 2022, comes to life every day.