Architectural contrasts

Located on the outskirts of Moscow, Millennium Park is one of the largest residential developments in the Russian capital. When completed, the approximately 300-hectare complex will accommodate more than a thousand people, almost 700 families. The individual housing blocks are connected by wide roads and interspersed with large green spaces consisting of meadows, streams, lakes and five theme parks. But Millennium Park has not only set records in terms of numbers but has also garnered recognition for its quality. In particular, it won the silver medal in the Residential Construction category of the Excellence Award organised by the International Real Estate Federation FIABCI, a competition that recognises buildings that excel in terms of their architecture, functionality and low environmental impact. The villa we describe here is an integral part of this context of lively innovation and new development. A perfect combination of Nordic rigour and contemporary style, the cosmopolitan architecture of this building located in the heart of the Moscow residential neighbourhood reveals scrupulous attention to the design of the spaces and their relationship with the surrounding context. The avant-garde forms of the luxury residence combine Russian tradition with modern details. The innovative architecture with its textural surfaces and dense colours is designed for year-round living. Tiles from Ceramiche Keope, one of Italy’s leading manufacturers of porcelain stoneware surfaces, were chosen for the outdoor spaces of the exclusive residence. For the columns and facades, the architects opted for the Sight collection in an Anthracite finish, a textured porcelain tile collection with a natural stone effect that makes it ideal for gardens and exteriors in general. Here it adds a touch of elegance to the geometry of the structures and creates a profound sense of harmony with the surroundings. Imposing white painted portals frame the stone effect surfaces, highlighting their texture and colour. The extensive and visually striking glazed surfaces include large windows and entire transparent façade sections interspersed with large terraces. The Pietra di Vals paving tiles from Ceramiche Keope’s Percorsi Extra collection extend from the outdoor walkways onto the steps and the surface connecting the garden to the main entrances of the residence in a seamless visual and physical continuum. With their extraordinary versatility and superior technical characteristics to those of natural stone, ceramic tiles interpret nature with painstaking precision to become the highlight of the residential project. In this splendid residence, the surfaces stand out for the sheer variety of textures and shades of natural stone-effect porcelain in a boldly geometric and utterly contemporary project.