Avilon Plaza

Moscow has a rich tradition of monumental buildings that put their mark on the landscape. One example of this is the ring of seven skyscrapers, built in the social realism style at the order of Joseph Stalin, around the capital. The present generation focuses on mega-skyscrapers as a symbol of the new capitalist Russia. With its 61 floors and 268 m, the Naberezhnaya Tower is presently the highest new building, but several skyscrapers are under construction which will rise significantly higher. This trend is visible in the residential sector as well as the office sector and will change the look of the Russian capital in the coming years.  

Many of Moscow’s new buildings are not only tall but also quite large and robust. They give the impression of having been carved out of a single block. The Avilon Plaza, named after one of the Mercedes-Benz dealers in Moscow, is a good example of this. It was designed by the Archfactory architectural firm and is located a few kilometres southeast of the city centre. By Moscow standards, the Avilon Plaza is a relatively modest building, even though it contains 21 floors and a total floor space of almost 37,000 m². The bottom two floors of the building contain shops situated on top of a car park. A feature which sets this building apart is the helicopter landing platform on the roof. According to DTZ, the owner of the building, this landing platform provides tenants with the option of avoiding the busy traffic in the Russian capital. The massive cube-shaped form of the building makes a very striking impression. The symmetrical design and the consistent structure of the outer walls further strengthen its monumental character. Three façade systems were used in this building: CW 86-EF, CW 50-SC and CW 50. For windows and doors, the CS 77 system was used. The inside and outside corners of the walls required special attention, and tailor-made solutions were developed to deal with them. The ‘drum’ in the centre of the recessed front façade is the Avilon Plaza’s eye-catcher. In all its simplicity, this adds a dramatic element to the building and sets it apart from thousands of other buildings.