- Project: CITY 5: Expressive Minimalism
- Architect: MNdesign Studio
- Location: Russia, Moscow
- Year: 2023
- Area: 108 m2
- Photography: Sergey Ananiev
In CITY 5: Expressive Minimalism, a 108 m² Moscow apartment designed for a young professional, minimalism takes on a fresh identity — no longer austere, but layered with textures, objects, and light that add emotional resonance. The project team, led by Mikhail Novinskiy alongside Polina Litomina, Mark Grishin, and Elisaveta Podust, sought to achieve a delicate balance: a spatial framework of restraint that amplifies the impact of sculptural furniture and curated lighting.
Minimalism with Character
At first glance, the apartment’s surfaces appear laconic, their quiet geometry shaping an atmosphere of calm. Yet on closer inspection, each zone carries its own distinctive focal point, an expressive element that transforms restraint into character.
In the kitchen, the island becomes a sculptural centerpiece, its form derived from a dialogue between strict geometric order and the chaotic energy of natural volumes. This collision of opposites sets the tone for the entire interior.
The dining area glows under the presence of a Czech glass chandelier, its delicate transparency offset by the solidity of surrounding materials. In the living room, a vivid sofa injects energy, its bold color and form breaking the neutral calm with a statement of personality.
Bedrooms with Drama
The private quarters are no less expressive. In the bedroom, a marble wall panel acts as a dramatic backdrop for an oversized yet elegant chandelier. The scale is deliberately exaggerated, creating an atmosphere of theatricality that contrasts with the otherwise serene palette.
Textures as Atmosphere
What unites these diverse moments is the project’s commitment to material storytelling. Smooth, understated surfaces serve as canvases for striking furniture and light fixtures, while textured elements — stone, glass, fabric — introduce tactile richness. The minimalism here is not about absence, but about precision: removing the superfluous to let a few key objects define the mood of the space.
A Young Spirit
Designed for a young woman, CITY 5 reflects the desire for a living environment that feels modern, functional, and expressive without descending into visual overload. The result is an apartment that celebrates curated simplicity — where every object has presence, and every surface a purpose.
