In 2019 the Department of Capital Repairs of Moscow was determined to create new viewpoints on the Balchug Island embankments, which were being developed at the time. The spots would suggest a different perspective on the city sights. The Department requested our client to enhance a visual match with the iconic objects situated on the opposite side of the Moskva River bank, across the City Balconies: the Kremlin and Zaryadye Park.
SHAPE • KREMLIN
SHAPE • ZARYADYE
When developing the concept, we came across the fact the top views of the Kremlin and the Floating bridge of Zaryadye share a similar feature: they fit in a triangle. Yet the Kremlin Wall faces the water front with a side, while the bridge — with an edge. This detail became our starting point that evolved into two balcony typologies: facing water with an edge and with a side.
TRIANGLE • SHAPING
KREMLIN = SOLID
+
ZARYADYE = FLOATING
=
TRIANGLE • VOLUME
SIDE FACING WATER
Sofiyskaya Embankment
EDGE FACING WATER
Raushskaya Embankment
TRIANGLE • MATERIAL
CONCRETE = STOUT
CONCRETE = MODERN
MATERIAL • PATTERN
Another difference between the two balcony typologies is in the facade patterns: they emphasize the connection with the place on the opposite river side.
• PATTERN IN MATERIAL •
Congress and Exhibition Hall in Mérida
Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos
The Museum for Architectural Drawing in Berlin
TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten
• SOFIYSKAYA EMBANKMENT •
• RAUSHSKAYA EMBANKMENT •
We aimed to create a neat and agreeable shape. On the one hand we were restrained by normative rules of indent from the embankment granite barrier, on the other — we were designing a simple and clear image, which would not disturb one from observing the marvelous views.
Steel construction of the Balcony is faced with fiber cement boards with milled patterns. Continuous glazing short of a handrail provides for better photoshoots and emphasizes the floating shape of the structure. An LED strip light is installed in the metal U-profile of the enclosure for concealed architectural lightning in the daytime and in the evening. The City Balconies is a new way of interaction between the citizens and the river.
