PROJECT RUSSIA №42 - luxury

An acquaintance of ours found an idol to worship while serving as a member of the jury for the Salon magazine awards. The object of his admiration was Vsevolod Sosenkin, a graduate from the Stroganov Art School in Moscow, whose luxurious apartment made an unforgettable impression on the imagination of our friend, even though the latter is an architect who has been around a bit and seen it all. This is hardly surprising. When it comes to density of decor per square metre, Sosenkin is streaks ahead of the rest of the field. If he designs a ceiling, it has a fresco, mirrors, caissons, and plaster mouldings. If he creates a floor, it's made of marble - and usually has a mosaic too. If he conceives a portal, it has panels, cannelures, and carvings. Shades of gold and crimson mix with those of sand and sky blue. Carved wood takes its place beside wall painting, template ornamentation is joined by machine-made embroidery, and moulded bronze sits next to hand-made tiles. And everywhere there are chandeliers, chandeliers, and chandeliers (See 'Life with Piranesi', www.salon.ru.). Enchanted by what he had seen, our friend advised one female client (he himself had no wish to work with her, agreeing only to provide 'consulting services') to engage Vsevolod Sosenkin. The brief in question was fora lavish penthouse. Some time later, the lady rang back. For some reason or other, Sosenkin had turned out to be not quite what she wanted. Now she inquired what her consultant thought of an architect by the name of... Koolhaas. What happened next we don't know. However, the very mention of such diametrically opposite figures as Sosenkin and Koolhaas in connection with such a lavish commission gives food forthought - and suggests that all architects may at any moment be asked to create something luxurious. Alexei Muratov editor-in-chief CONTENTS NEWS First show: BuroMoscow In brief British firms in Moscow bribery Constructivist monument at risk On the way to Dubai Return of Krasny Oktyabr Tryumph of restoration Council architecture Avangard is being reborn at at cemetery Benois school: correcting mistakes Avangard calls for help Cildren's plays in Sukhanovo Perfect imperfection Milan in Moscow: Second edition Design for intellectual house Millionairs at kitchen New pride Ligne Rose Changes at kitchen front Business with pleasure Will offices improve? Solo for a mom with orchestra Terra nova by Silvestrina Sadly, Tsereteli only once a year Stroyprojekt, BuroMoscow Union Park housing office Zykov and partners Tourist hostel on the River Tom' bank in Kemerovo Region Outsiders are allowed LUXURY Editorial Luxury (and) hotels All you need to know about luxury in the beginning of the 21st century OBJECTS Alexei Kozyrand Maxim Atayants Private houses in Arkhangelskoe Ц Project Studio Concept of a family estate: VillaEmber near Kaliningrad Igor Pishchukevitch's model projects Salavat Timiriasov, Victor Nikiforov Apartment of Salavat Timiriasov Mikhail Belov Grand Collection Gallery (Faberge) Boutique Luxury Village. Values in architecture Project Meganom / West8 / Antonio Citterio and Partners Luxury Village in Zhukovka near Moscow Dmitry Dolgoy: Architect's work never ends Concept Design Office building in Zhukovka Concept Design Country house with swimming pool Concept Design Private house near moscow ACCESSORIES Small pleasantries Concept Design Water Tower. Reconstruction into library Yury Avvakumov Pheasant cage Art-Blya and asse architects Yahtsmen's houses on Zavidkin Mys. Pirogovo resort Hotel. Design for pleasure Lionel Leow, Yanling Tay Hotel Archipelago Anne-Katrin Menke ALDi Sleep Chin (Clarence) Choon Siong EDEN MONITOR Yuri Avvakumov Lightness of being. Exhibition project. Pirogovo resort Arch/) Private house in Pozdniakovo, near Moscow Proekt_Zet Counrty house Progress-88 Apartment in Moscow TEXTS Architectural luxury of Social Modernism The military-industrial complex and system of mass line design production TECHNOLOGY PROJECT RUSSIA CATALOGUE