Awards: ALAROS Award winner in the category "Best Implemented Comprehensive Residential Landscaping Project (Under 1 ha)," 2025; 100+ AWARDS 2026 shortlist
The second phase of development for the Nagatino i-Land residential island is currently nearing completion. Evocative and picturesque imagery is a distinctive feature that sets this Etalon Group residential complex apart from other modern housing developments in Moscow. The complex’s name draws on its location —surrounded on three sides by the embankments of the Moskva River and the Novinki Backwater — while the names given to the courtyard areas visualize the site’s future character: "World of Birds," "Lost City," "Living Hills," "Sleeping Volcano," "Wild Beach," the "Jungle" play hub, and the "Rivers" boulevards.
In this phase of the project, four buildings form an inner courtyard themed "Lost City."
CONCEPT
The foundational metaphors behind the project idea helped create a new identity for the site, complete with its own history and legend. The character of the "Lost City" courtyard is reflected in an intricate network of paths—mimicking fissures in the earth's crust—and a dynamic, multi-level landscape reminiscent of an ancient settlement lost in the jungle. The layout of the playgrounds forms patterns resembling ancient petroglyphs.
Every element of the courtyard’s landscaping embodies symbolic imagery and reinforces the "Lost City" theme. The paving patterns of the winding paths leading to each mysterious location evoke the look of ancient cobblestones, while artifact inlays within the paving add to the site's atmosphere of mystery and authenticity.
"The Lost City" is an intriguing courtyard rich in thematic elements: a mysterious labyrinth featuring a totem sculpture, secret gardens, shaded pergolas, a small plaza with a metaphorical map of the future island, and stylized playgrounds for children of various ages.
SITEPLAN
Much like an ancient city, this courtyard features a complex functional layout. The space caters to the diverse needs of residents of all ages: here, you can relax with children, enjoy a casual Saturday picnic, and socialize with friends in the "city's central square."
Themed play scenarios take children on an engaging journey into a world of riddles and mysterious discoveries amidst the ruins of an ancient settlement, set against a backdrop of impenetrable jungles and refreshing oases. The playground surfacing resembles flowing magma partially covered by sand, while the play structures look like authentic, overgrown ruins of an ancient city.
