Swedish architects design housing in Saint Petersburg

SWECO’s architects have been commissioned to plan a Russian housing development with a Scandinavian design. The contract, worth nearly EUR 2.5 million, is one of SWECO FFNS’s largest ever in the country.

Last spring, SWECO FFNS’s Seagull proposal won a design competition for a new housing development along the Neva River northwest of Saint Petersburg. The project is now entering a new stage and SWECO has been given overall responsibility for detail planning and design of the project.

”There are enormous opportunities for Swedish architects in Russia, which is in the midst of a febrile building and expansion phase. Many financially strong investors in Russia are seeking Western quality in both new construction and renovation projects,” says Jan Mattsson, Managing Director of SWECO FFNS.

Work on the housing development has been characterized by a Scandinavian approach with a focus on sustainable development and energy conservation.

”We have applied a Scandinavian model featuring through apartments and large windows that make maximum use of the light. We have also chosen to place a strong emphasis on the outdoor environment, with green zones and parks,” according to Mark Ryberg, Overseas Manager at SWECO FFNS.

A number of housing projects are under way along the Neva River. Because the Seagull development borders directly on a heavily trafficked road to the north, SWECO FFNS has designed a double-bowed main building with thickly wooded protective grounds and four tower blocks flanking the river. The bowed form, reminiscent of a seagull, has also given the development its name. The area will contain a total of 230 apartments, all with a view of the water, as well as a preschool and a restaurant. The assignment is being carried out on behalf of the listed Setl-city, one of the largest property companies in Saint Petersburg.