New Zaha Hadid's creation worth 36,5 mln USD opens in Moscow

Dominion Tower, the new Russian project of world-famous British architect Zaha Hadid, has opened in south-eastern Moscow. This is Hadid's second Russian creation after a luxury private house built for Russian tycoon Vladislav Doronin outside Moscow in 2012.

It took more than 10 years for Russian developer company DominionM to fulfill the idea of constructing an innovative office centre that "couldn't become outdated". The idea was conceived as a business fantasy in 2004.

Construction started in 2007, but was interrupted in the early stages just a year later by the global economic crisis. It was renewed only in 2011. Total construction costs are worth 36,5 mln. USD.

Hadid's concept was to design the building as a series ofvertically stacked plates offset at each level. It was implemented in full— the most offset 5th floor has a protruding section 8 meters long with no support.

Hadid’s architectural style is seen in both the exterior and interior ofDominion Tower with the connecting curved elements of the facade,the intricate form of the steps, and the artful wavy shapes of the furniture in theatrium.

The atrium is the centerpiece of the building. Theintricate cross-lines of the staircases seem to puncture thelaconic black and white space.

The building is constructed mostly of materials made in Russia.A rare exception is the Aluvobond composite panels producedin Germany. They were used in the facade.

Balustrades of the atrium staircases and balconies are made of fibrous concrete. Lighter than ordinary concrete, it makes possible the complex uneven elements so beloved of Zaha Hadid.

Dominion Tower isalready an architectural hit and the subject of more media discussion thanthe ultramodern skyscrapers of the Moscow City project.

Though the building is innovative, it is surrounded by Stalinand Khrushchev-era architecture. This contrast was a part of the design concept.

The street on which Dominion Tower stands is called Sharikopodshipnikovskaya ulitsa.Unpronounceable for English speakers, it literally means “ball-bearing street.”