Homes

This Moscovian apartment by BIGO Architecture Studio is a lovely blend of colours, contemporary design and vintage elements

DEC 26, 2020 | By Aneesha Bhadri
Other than the bespoke bed, all other furniture is vintage. Accessories include ceramic lamps made by the wife, a Goga Totibadze piece, linen from Items and carpet by Mark Patlis Studio; Photograph by Sergey Krasyuk
A vintage lamp from Viva Vintage, collage by Masha Titova and vase by Eugene Kudryavtseva add colour to the lounge; Photograph by Sergey Krasyuk
View of the repainted antique mirror, table and chair, modern door with antique fittings and carpet by Mark Patlis Studio; Photograph by Sergey Krasyuk
The tree-framed fence is customised by the designers and the wife, while the carpet is by Mark Patlis Studio. A manhole on the mezzanine accesses the kids’ bedroom; Photograph by Sergey Krasyuk

Situated in a 20th-century building with retrofitted interiors, this charming contemporary apartment by BIGO Architecture Studio delights with its bold palette.

“We crafted these interiors for our friends: my classmate, his wife, their children and pets. The layout of the house was redone several times due to the age of the house, so we had to invent it from scratch,” says Elizaveta Golubtsova, co-founder of BIGO Architecture Studio.

To restore the original feeling of old Moscow, Golubtsova along with co-founder Marina Biryukova dismantled all the new additions. They reorganised the layout entirely to make a comfortable home for the family of six. The result is a vibrant yet elegant space.

Above the kid’s bed is a nest-style manhole leading to the adjacent playroom. Seen here are a blanket by Tkano, pillowcases from Objects, IKEA sofa, vintage table and chairs, and a bespoke lamp; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

The residence accommodates a living room, kitchen, master bedroom, two-storeyed children’s playroom and bedchamber, small drawing room, two bathrooms, and a small utility area.

This niche features a vintage armchair by Viva Vintage, inbuilt shelves, bespoke lamps and table from Moon-stores; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

By the entrance of the apartment is a closet to hold outerwear and further ahead, a rack separates the light and spacious hallway from the kitchen. The passage houses retro folding chairs from an old cinema hall and one wall is decorated with photographs of all sorts—from old family archives to small graphic drawings.

Aside from the custom bed, all the furniture is vintage. Accessories include a piece by Goga Totibadze, linens from Items and carpet by Mark Patlis Studio; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

A bathroom and a small pantry-cum-laundry room lie on the right. Further ahead is the living room with an adjoining kitchen, demarcated by a kitchen island. This living room differs from the standard one because there is no TV. Instead, the emphasis here is on the dining table, since the family spends much of their time there.

The filling of the kitchen and stove is artificial to create the atmosphere of an apartment with history; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

Behind the table is a metal bed found by the client in the trash heap, which has been refurbished by the architects. A small office with a comfy sofa opens into the living room, allowing for a smaller lounge. The cabinet here hold several vinyl records from the homeowner’s collection.

Bright hued pieces like the antique mirror, table, chair and carpet by Mark Patlis Studio complement the modern, made-to-order doors with antique fittings; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

A small corridor leads to the children’s area, with one large playroom in a voluminous space. Next to it is a small bedroom with two beds. “We divided the rooms not between the two kids but based on their functions. One room for sleeping, while the other’s for playing. They are connected by a small opening between the upper level of the playroom and the children’s bedroom. This is the part we most enjoyed designing,” says Biryukova.

Seen here are an IKEA sofa, vintage armchair by Viva Vintage, table from Moon-stores, carpet by Mark Patlis Studio and a collage by Masha Titova; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

The layout is completed with a master bedroom, an attached balcony and a common bathroom. “We try to make timeless interiors without any clear stylistic link. We start from the space itself, the location and the wishes of the homeowners. We strive to make decisions that will look good over the years. In this case, because the clients love old objects as much as we do, a lot of it is seen in the house—from vintage German furniture to 19th-century Russian items,” says Golubtsova.

The bathroom features a custom ladder design that’s used as a towel rack; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

A combination of oak flooring and shades of the Vrubel hall of the Tretyakov Gallery and Vrubel paintings has been chosen by the architects for this home. Artworks specially made to order by Masha Titova adorn the interiors. Vintage furniture both from the mid-century and 19th century, some restored by the architects, adds to the dynamic appeal of the interiors.

The master bedroom has an attached balcony, where the wife—who co-owns a flower shop—brings in and maintains the plants herself; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

“We like putting together elaborate concoctions, mixing objects and materials of different eras and styles, layering these onto a classic background until we achieve the impression of a cosy home with history,” says Biryukova.

Instead of a blank wall, a rack rests between the hallway and kitchen; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

“Each client will only have one solution to their particular requirements for a future home and we arrive at it by going through all their needs and wishes with devoted attention. Finally, when the magical moment arrives and the project comes together into a perfect design, our clients’ faces light up with joy. This is our purpose and the reason we chose our profession!” adds Golubtsova.

Scroll to see more images of this Moscow home by BiGo Architecture Studio…

Inbuilt drawers, stairs and its fence in the form of a stylised tree have been made-to-order. A manhole on the mezzanine leads to the kids’ bedroom. The carpet is by Mark Patlis Studio; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

 

A mirror and antique fittings are seen on the other side of the rack between the hallway and kitchen; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

 

Fittings from IKEA, bespoke wardrobes, lamps by Karman and an antique first aid kit are seen here; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

 

Summery hues come together in this space, where a carpet by Mark Patlis Studio is placed; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

 

A repainted antique chair and seater are seen along the shelving unit; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

 

Another view of the smaller lounge reveals tomes and knick-knacks; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

 

View of the modern doors that have antique fittings; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

 

A sofa from IKEA is paired with custom-made pillows, a vintage armchair by Viva Vintage, table from Moon-stores and a carpet by Mark Patlis Studio; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk

 

A vintage armchair pairs well with the Mark Patlis Studio carpet and ceramic lamps in the bedroom; Photographs by Sergey Krasyuk