Moscow Houzz Tour: An Indestructible, Industrial-Style Apartment
Steel, concrete and vintage wood were these designers' go-tos in creating a damage-proof interior
Photos by INT2architecture
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Tenants
Location: Moscow, Russia
Size: About 440 square feet (41 square meters) with about 12-foot (3.6-metre) ceilings
Designers: Аlexander Malinin and Anastasia Sheveleva from INT2architecture
This brick building housed an aircraft manufacturing bureau from 1947 to 1990; it was turned into an apartment complex in the 2000s. The outer brick walls were retained during the renovation.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Tenants
Location: Moscow, Russia
Size: About 440 square feet (41 square meters) with about 12-foot (3.6-metre) ceilings
Designers: Аlexander Malinin and Anastasia Sheveleva from INT2architecture
This brick building housed an aircraft manufacturing bureau from 1947 to 1990; it was turned into an apartment complex in the 2000s. The outer brick walls were retained during the renovation.
Apartment layout with furniture
Section: A false ceiling was put into the bathroom to conceal the ventilation system
The apartment was sold without any internal partitions, and the architects maintained the original layout – only the bathroom is separate. They chose not to demarcate the entrance hall, so it has the same decor as the rest of the space. “The renovation costs were very low. The walls were painted without any levelling, wiring is exposed, the ceiling is concrete and the floor is painted tongue-and-groove,” Sheveleva says.
A row of metal lockers serve as a closet. “These kinds of lockers are often used for storing clothes in offices, factories and gyms, as well as for storing household equipment. They are a very low-cost solution, and, at the same time, highly damage-proof. The closet sections are narrow, which limits their functionality, but they work just fine for a small rental studio apartment,” Sheveleva says.
Partitions between apartments are made of new brick. The designers covered them –deliberately messily – in a thin layer of plaster to hide the regular pattern of the brick. The concrete ceiling was cleaned up and finished with a matte varnish to protect it from dust.
Since they chose not to sand the walls or ceiling, they saved money on materials and labor.
Armchair: Westney; coffee table: Cage by La Redoute
Since they chose not to sand the walls or ceiling, they saved money on materials and labor.
Armchair: Westney; coffee table: Cage by La Redoute
The kitchen is made up of two units: A large storage unit that houses the larger home appliances, and a longer work surface, which includes the sink and stove.
Instead of a standard module, the designers went for an industrial stainless-steel work table like the ones usually found in bars and restaurants. The work table features a wide border along the wall and storage shelves beneath. There is a dish towel holder in the sink area.
Instead of a standard module, the designers went for an industrial stainless-steel work table like the ones usually found in bars and restaurants. The work table features a wide border along the wall and storage shelves beneath. There is a dish towel holder in the sink area.
The shelving unit for electrical appliances is made up of welded stainless steel fitted into a wooden box. The metal is easy to wipe clean and resistant to damage, dents and scratches. This kitchen can be used practically forever and any damage will be easy and inexpensive to fix.
The dinner table was made at the Greyboard workshop, which specialises in reclaimed wood. The top is made of repurposed barn boards. The same material reappears on the shelves of the bookcase that separates the living room from the bed area, and in the kitchen drawers. The rough boards were sanded and treated with oil and wax so they won’t catch on clothes.
Although it’s a studio, the apartment can fit a full-sized double bed. The team repainted cast-iron radiators – which had been installed by the original developer – the same colour as the walls. On the other hand, they added a crystal chandelier to provide atmospheric lighting and a contrast to the otherwise rough interior. The light fixtures’ wiring was left visible and covered with a black textile braid.
Chandelier: Castello, Lightstar; bed: Ikea; wall lamp next to bed: Game, House Doctor; poster: from the “I See the Whale” project
Chandelier: Castello, Lightstar; bed: Ikea; wall lamp next to bed: Game, House Doctor; poster: from the “I See the Whale” project
The bathroom door is flush with the wall. To create the illusion of a continuous surface, the outer wall and door of the bathroom were covered in the same repurposed boarding as elsewhere in the home. Only the handle gives away the door’s location.
Inside, the bathroom is finished in white square tiles in various sizes: Nothing over-the-top, just geometric patterns. Instead of a standard vanity, the sink is supported by a vintage sewing table. Cosmetics and other small items can be stored in small drawers on the sides.
Wall tiles: Vitra; floor tiles: Dual Gres; sink: Melana
Wall tiles: Vitra; floor tiles: Dual Gres; sink: Melana
Toilet: by Belbagno; faucet, shower and accessories: by Veragio; ladder: by Teak House
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What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Strict budget limitations can be restricting for architects, but in this case they led to a creative design that fits the client’s brief perfectly. Alexander Malinin and Anastasia Sheveleva took the idea of an indestructible apartment to the extreme: They went for industrial metal lockers and stainless-steel countertops, balanced them with vintage flea market finds and bespoke furniture out of repurposed wood, and saved big on finishes.