Elena Kiseleva. On the top level | Architectural Digest Magazine (Russia) №5, 15.05.2008
Eduard Berman, the Head of Capital Group, has moved into his new penthouse on Shabolovka. One can see half of Moscow from these windows, yet there is much more to impress the guests.
The project was completed by Sergey Estrin Architectural Studio; the same company has completed the other penthouse of Mr. Berman at Sokol. This time client’s specification was brief: “I want the same but ten times more spectacular.” In three years time he has received four levels apartment with “special effects” on each one.
Actually the space initially had three levels. The first one was to be used for dining and sitting rooms. The second – office and master bedroom. The third floor – small pool, gym, sauna and two guest bedrooms. But when it was decided that the swimming pool along the entire glass wall with the view is inevitable, both guest bedrooms and bearing columns were cancelled.
Thus the lower floors had to take the load of hundred and eighty tonnes of water and concrete.
One summer evening both the architect and the client were at the building roof. “That was a lovely day, very warm; with fresh air and dramatic view”, – reminisces Sergey Estrin: “There and then we have found the best place to put guest bedrooms”. Mr. Berman has noticed that it would’ve been nice to have a possibility to make shish kebab in the open air as well. As a consequence appeared the fourth floor with two guest rooms and a terrace. Instead of stairs there is a lift.
As for the interior, one can place ‘custom made” stamp on almost each interior detail. Two thirds of sitting room is taken by runway with diagonally built-in half meter deep aquarium inhabited by ten rays, run of golden fish and one piranha. Snow-white bell like structure runs from sitting room ceiling to second floor lobby. Sergey Estrin calls this sculpture “the snake”. The master bedroom’ door opens as ship sluice. The pool with overflow seems to be pouring water right on the city. At night the interior with all these built-in lights even more resembles spaceship hovering above Moscow.
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