10 Contemporary Homes That Showcase Russian Architecture

In today’s modern and news-savvy world, brand Russia is in a downward spiral. Yet despite its non-egalitarian standpoint on many issues, Russia has often maintained an open-minded outlook on its varied architecture: from contemporary homes to brutalist facades and imposing palaces to the tightly-packed Khrushchyovka (originally well-intentioned, these mass standardized housing projects were erected to deal with housing shortages and overcrowded cities in what was the former Soviet Union).

Russia has witnessed a burgeoning of architecturally designed contemporary homes by Russian architects, their presence symbolizing both a level of progress and the growing disparity between those who are well off and those in need. Setting aside socio-economics (this picture is after all repeated across the world), Russia’s progress has enabled many new architectural firms to flourish.

Budding European Flavor

There are numerous projects showcasing a remarkable array of contemporary architectural structures that place an emphasis on aesthetic design, functionality and longevity. The minimal perspective, evident clean lines and use of natural materials are at variance with the brutal, abstract and formidable forms of Soviet Modernism. This fresh contemporary architecture has arguably more of a European quality and style.

Peter Kostelov Smolenka Oak Tube Apartment kitchen

The examples of contemporary Russian architecture shown below, both single houses and apartments, are crafted with meticulous flair, skilfully framing both landscape and space. Their pristine arrangement and sense of innocence conjures up the notion of a line in the sand, where old Russia is left behind and new Russia is forging ahead. That said, those buildings from the old Russia are unique to its history and heritage, their often modern and brutal abstraction emblematic of a fascinating architectural chapter that doubtless influences what we see today.