- Project: Sadovie Kvartali
- Architect: Babayants Architects
- Location: Russia, Moscow
- Year: 2023
- Area: 208 m2
- Photography: Sergey Krasyuk
Babayants Architects has completed the interior of a 2,238-square-foot apartment in the Sadovie Kvartali residential complex in Moscow. Marked by technical precision and a deep design philosophy, the project exemplifies the studio’s vision of minimalism as both aesthetic and mindset—a pursuit of simplicity, awareness, and balance.
Design Philosophy – Minimalism as a Way of Life
For Babayants Architects, interior design begins with volumes, space, and light, rather than décor. Their approach focuses on creating environments that evoke self-reverence, harmony, and comfort, ensuring that every element has meaning.
Minimalism, for the studio, is not just style but modern luxury—a rejection of the superfluous in favor of the essential. Hidden behind the visual simplicity of Sadovie Kvartali are complex technical solutions that elevate its refinement.
Spatial Planning and Panoramic Views
The apartment occupies an entire floor with high ceilings and striking panoramic views of the sky, lake, and seasonal landscapes. The architects maximized these qualities, framing the views as the true protagonist while keeping interiors light, airy, and uncluttered.
Though the original layout had sharp angles, the design softens the geometry, ensuring smooth transitions and functional zones without visual heaviness.
Key Interior Highlights
Entrance & Hallway
Guests are welcomed by a custom marble composition of two symmetrical tables split by a central crack, illuminated by Flos lamps. This sets the tone for the home’s refined minimalism.
Living Room & Kitchen
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A double-sided sofa anchors the space between the TV area and windows.
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The TV disappears within custom bookshelf doors that form intriguing compositions.
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A sculptural marble island serves as both kitchen and bar, complete with wine cooler and cabinetry.
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Wide engineered wood flooring (up to 3 meters) and integrated convectors reinforce rhythmic proportions.
The main kitchen is concealed behind wooden panels with leather inlays, offering both practicality and discretion.
Dining & Breakfast Areas
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A breakfast nook sits at a corner with glazing, ideal for everyday use.
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The dining room features a custom table, matching chairs, and Apparatus pendant lamps for formal occasions.
Material Palette – Natural and Refined
The apartment employs a rich blend of materials, including:
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Ash veneer (9 months of testing to achieve the perfect shade).
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Brass and leather integrated into cabinetry.
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Salvatori marble for bathrooms.
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Wide-plank engineered wood flooring.
Custom furniture pieces, such as a bookcase with brass shelves, leather drawers, and stone podium, exemplify the studio’s collaborative craftsmanship. The contrast of warm and cool textures—wood, leather, stone, and metal—adds tactile richness.
Bathrooms – A Play of Contrasts
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Guest bathroom: Dark tones with Salvatori stone and innovative fixtures, offering a sensory surprise.
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Kids’ bathroom: Pure white with sculptural porcelain tiles and a floating bathtub.
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Master bathroom: Smooth and relief stone finishes, brass in champagne tones, and custom cabinetry designed for unity and lightness.
Master Suite and Home Office
The master zone begins with a symmetrical walk-in closet, half male and half female, with blank facades blending into the walls and central showcases for accessories.
The bedroom is defined by a multi-layered headboard of wood, brass, and leather, with subtle integrated lighting by Davide Groppi.
The home office, finished in nickel-shade metal, is fully custom, with glass inserts that borrow natural light from adjacent rooms.
Technical Excellence
The project demonstrates Babayants Architects’ extreme precision:
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Minimal tolerances (2–3 mm gaps).
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Full-height cabinetry and doors with hidden engineering.
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Custom slatted furniture façades built using advanced joinery.
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Concealed ceiling drops with hidden air grilles.
These solutions, though invisible, define the project’s harmony and flawless proportions.
A Refined Frame for Panoramic Living
Sadovie Kvartali exemplifies Babayants Architects’ ability to combine design philosophy, technical mastery, and minimalist luxury. Every detail—whether tactile material, lighting gesture, or hidden solution—was crafted to enhance the space’s calm precision, making the panoramic views of Moscow the central narrative.
