- Project: Silver Pine
- Architect: SAOTA, ARRCC
- Location: Russia, Moscow
- Year: 2020
- Area: 1500 m2
- Photography: Photography © Sergey Ananiev
In the heart of Moscow, on a secluded island in the Moskva River, Silver Pine by SAOTA & ARRCC introduces a groundbreaking take on Russian residential design. This contemporary villa, enveloped by rare pine woods near the city’s historic core, defies traditional architectural norms with its outward-facing, light-filled composition.
A New Architectural Dialogue for Moscow
Designed by the acclaimed South African architecture studio SAOTA, with interiors by ARRCC, Silver Pine reinterprets the terrace-focused layout commonly seen in warmer climates. Despite the challenges of Moscow’s sub-zero winters, advancements in glazing technologies made it possible to design large open facades without compromising thermal comfort.
SAOTA’s design harmonizes Moscow’s urban intensity with the surrounding forest’s tranquility. The layout embraces natural light—an intentional response to the long, dark winters—and blurs the threshold between indoor comfort and outdoor beauty.
Monumental Yet Inviting Design
The villa’s street-facing façade is intentionally bold and monolithic, reflecting the city’s architectural gravitas. A standout feature is the bronze-clad, backlit sculptural buckle at the entrance—a visual invitation that contrasts with the minimalist exterior while hinting at the luminous interiors within.
Facing the garden, the architecture shifts dramatically. Angular, fragmented glass walls open the home to the pines, allowing nature to become an integral part of the daily living experience. This duality of mass and transparency is central to the design philosophy.
Living With the Landscape
Outdoor terraces and faceted surfaces create private courtyards and transitional spaces that redefine how homes interact with seasonal extremes. While the summer months enable outdoor living akin to California or Cape Town, the interiors remain cozy and light-oriented in winter, celebrating snowfall and forest views instead of retreating from them.
The use of silver-grey metal cladding on the exterior not only camouflages the house within its natural context but also reflects the tones of the surrounding vegetation, reinforcing an immersive landscape experience.
Jewel-Like Interiors by ARRCC
Inside, ARRCC crafts an atmosphere of warmth, luxury, and contrast. The palette includes exotic marbles (some backlit), rich timbers, and metal accents. A sculptural staircase adds drama, softening the angular architectural elements with a swirling, organic form.
Living areas downstairs feel open and vibrant, while upstairs bedrooms adopt a more subdued, intimate tone with softer materials and a cozier ambiance. The interplay of textures, light, and form underscores ARRCC’s sophisticated dialogue with SAOTA’s structure.
Collaboration & Custom Craftsmanship
This landmark residence marks SAOTA’s first completed project in Russia. ARRCC led the initial interior concept, while Moscow-based Max Kasymov Studio managed the project realization and custom fabrication. Their in-house production capabilities allowed the design team to deliver highly detailed, bespoke furnishings throughout the home.
OKHA, another South African design studio, also contributed to the interiors, furnishing key spaces with standout pieces like the Nicci Swivel armchair, Mesh side table, and To Be One Lamp, as well as a custom brass frame for the television.
Redefining Russian Contemporary Living
Silver Pine signals a paradigm shift in Russian residential architecture. SAOTA and ARRCC, together with Max Kasymov and OKHA, have crafted a villa that reimagines the potential of modern domestic living in an extreme climate—elevating the connection between design, environment, and lifestyle.
Drawings
