- Project: RIVER
- Architect: VSA studio
- Location: Russia, Moscow
- Year: 2025
- Area: 1080 m2
- Photography: Anastasia Martova
In the heart of a riverside residential enclave, the RIVER clubhouse’s communal interiors are envisioned not just as transitional zones, but as immersive experiences that connect residents with the surrounding landscape. Designed by VSA.studio in collaboration with Pavel Andreev and GRAN, the project transforms conventional shared spaces into poetic architectural gestures.
A Dialogue with Context
Panoramic glazing dissolves the boundary between interior and exterior, turning the lobby and galleries into extensions of the street, while corridors and elevator lobbies create more secluded, inward-looking zones. This interplay between openness and intimacy defines the project’s spatial rhythm.
Two contrasting visual themes structure the interiors. The light “wooden” palette references water, stone, and wood — evoking the river and its banks. In contrast, the dark palette suggests enclosure, depth, and night, marking the threshold between public openness and private retreat.
Material Expression
Floors carry rippling lines that resemble coastal edges and water currents, while rounded forms recall river pebbles. Overhead, dark ceilings dotted with star-like lights evoke reflections on water or the night sky. Decorative details, from sculptural concrete planters to greenery integrated into mailboxes and reception backdrops, reinforce the natural narrative.
The design relies heavily on ceramic granite for its durability and versatility: fine-grained concrete-like textures on floors, wood-like surfaces on walls, and large formats simulating milled panels. Fibre-concrete relief panels add tactile depth and meet high fire-safety and performance standards.
Atmosphere & Identity
Every element in RIVER’s interiors carries symbolic weight. Lobby ceilings with round lighting discs resemble clouds or leaves, merging sculptural and functional qualities. Light, texture, and material interplay to craft a layered environment that feels both pragmatic and poetic — a rare feat in public interiors.
With its dual themes, material discipline, and seamless integration of the riverside context, RIVER demonstrates how shared spaces can transcend functionality to become meaningful environments that mirror natural rhythms.
