- Project: ESSENCE
- Architect: Babayants Architects
- Location: Russia, Moscow
- Year: 2024
- Area: 251 m2
BABAYANTS ARCHITECTS has introduced a contemplative new project in the heart of Moscow — the public interiors of a boutique residential complex. The project, titled ESSENCE by the design team, reflects the firm’s minimalist philosophy, transcending decorative trends to create an introspective experience rooted in form, emotion, and spatial purity.
More than just a physical environment, ESSENCE represents a return to the fundamentals of architecture — a meditation on stillness, balance, and the primal connection between space and human presence.
A Residential Spirit in a Public Setting
The design eschews typical public interior tropes. From the entrance, visitors are greeted by a central axis reminiscent of a private residence. This intentional layout channels warmth and familiarity — an architectural embrace rather than a formal threshold. The inner courtyard, visible from the main axis, adds transparency and a gentle connection to nature.
The architects envisioned a new direction for contemporary public interiors: “It’s a blend of clarity and nostalgia — something modern yet emotionally resonant, like a rediscovered memory.”
Sculptural Restraint and Spatial Flow
At the heart of the project lies a strong architectural discipline. BABAYANTS ARCHITECTS, known for geometric precision and proportion, crafted a space that balances strict vertical lines with soft contours and flowing transparencies.
A defining feature is the glazed wall insert, offering a glimpse into the level below. This move redefines the wall not as a divider, but as a conduit of perception. It introduces layered perspectives, encouraging movement and quiet exploration.
The Invisible Centerpiece
Nestled behind this translucent boundary is what the architects call “the hidden treasure” — a staircase conceived not as a centerpiece, but as a sculptural form revealed only in fragments. “Architecture doesn’t need to shout,” the team says. “Its value is often found in subtlety, in what’s felt rather than seen.”
The low-profile circular reception desk reinforces this ethos. It deliberately minimizes the presence of the concierge, offering a space that feels personal, unmonitored — yet fully controlled.
Materiality as Meaning
ESSENCE is also an exploration of material as a primal element. The team worked deeply with natural stone, not merely as a surface finish, but as a tactile, living component of the design. Rejecting conventional full-wall sheathing, the architects chose to expose stone’s substance — its structure, cuts, and embedded history.
“You’re not just seeing the texture,” they explain, “you’re feeling the material’s essence — the raw quality that grounds the entire space.”
This approach echoes the studio’s belief that materials carry emotional weight. Stone here becomes more than aesthetic — it becomes atmospheric.
Symmetry, Silence, and Stillness
In an era of overstimulation, ESSENCE offers the opposite: peace. The spatial system is anchored by key axes that guide movement and visual calm. Symmetry, soft light, and refined proportions become tools to evoke balance and inner clarity.
This is not a space designed to impress, but to comfort — to bring the mind into a state of presence.
Intentional Design, Emotional Depth
Every decision within ESSENCE was made with purpose. No gesture is decorative; every element is rooted in function and emotion. The space supports rather than dominates. It allows for silence, encourages reflection, and respects the human need for calm.
This is what BABAYANTS ARCHITECTS refer to as a return to essence — a design philosophy that values internality over spectacle.
