za bor architects‘ collaborative relationship with Yandex – the largest IT-company in Russia, was born more than six years ago. Since then, we have been delighted with creative office designs that embrace an informal and creative atmosphere, and put emphasis on the working environment. Over the years, the architecture firm has developed 21 Yandex offices in 12 cities of four countries of the world.
Image © Maria Turynkina
The latest addition to za bor’s portfolio, is the recent Yandex Office in Moscow. Located in the Stroganov building, in Krasnaya Roza 1875 business quarter, the office space embraces the “happy”, and colourful design so characteristic of the Russian architecture firm.
Image © Maria Turynkina
This reconstructed building is full of columns and interstorey premises, which influenced the interiors a lot.
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
The first three floors of the building are connected through a continuous ribbon-like element, that creates “streamlined volumes of meeting and conference rooms”. These three floors also present recognizable elements found in all Yandex offices, such as open communication lines on the ceiling, unique ceiling lights in complex geometrical boxes, and compound flowerpots with flowers dragging on the ceiling.
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
The walls have been finished in traditional industrial carpet, marker covering, and cork. Another recognizable element from previous Yandex offices, is the poured floor. Throughout the space, the architects used Alcove sofas by Vitra to add pops of colour, and create informal communication points.
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
The thematic scheme changes completely on the fourth and fifth floor. Most of the differences come from the complex and challenging construction elements. The ceiling heights that vary from 2 to 6 meters, balconies, as well as beams left over from the previous tenants, made the space quite challenging to work with.
Image © Maria Turynkina
You may only notice two signature elements of za bor architects here – large meeting rooms – architects call them «bathyscaphes», and employees named them «Orange» and «Tomato» due to their colors.
Image © Dmitry Kulinevich
The two floors include more formal meeting rooms, large open spaces, a cafeteria, as well as a game room with a sport corner. The colour theme is more neutral, with grey and white interiors, complemented by Herman Miller furniture systems.
Image © Dmitry Kulinevich
While the building may seem divided into two separate offices, it does in fact help function wise. The lower floors allow for clients and numerous visitors of Yandex Money department to take care of business, without distracting technical specialists, located on the top floors.
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Dmitry Kulinevich
Image © Dmitry Kulinevich
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Image © Maria Turynkina
Drawing © za bor architects
Drawing © za bor architects
Drawing © za bor architects
Drawing © za bor architects
Drawing © za bor architects
Facts:
Client: Yandex
Address: Stroganov business center, 18B Leo Tolstoy str, Moscow
Project management: Yandex
Architecture and design: za bor architects
Architects: Arseniy Borisenko and Peter Zaytsev
Project coordinator: Nadezhda Rozhanskaya
Furniture: Herman Miller, GlobeZero4, Vitra
Light: Slide
Acoustic material: Sonaspray
Acoustic solutions: Acoustic group
Flooring: Interface FLOR
Time of project: 2012-2013
Floor area: 5800 m²
Photo: Maria Turynkina, Dmitry Kulinevich
*All images and information courtesy of za bor architects.
