Houzz Tour: A Special Inheritance in Russia
Two architects built this minimalist home for themselves. Now their architect son and his family are making it their own
When you think of a family apartment that has been passed down for generations, you might imagine a classic interior with carved furniture and vintage fabrics. Yet times have changed. Today, inheriting an ultramodern place is just as possible — especially if we’re talking about a family of architects ahead of their time.
This three-story apartment in an old Moscow building looks as if it could have been designed just yesterday, but the interior was created almost two decades ago. It has changed little since then: The dominant elements of the style — open space, stone, metal and glass — haven’t been touched.
This three-story apartment in an old Moscow building looks as if it could have been designed just yesterday, but the interior was created almost two decades ago. It has changed little since then: The dominant elements of the style — open space, stone, metal and glass — haven’t been touched.
The architects had designed the apartment for entertaining, so the bottom floor has lots of space for hosting guests in its open-plan common area. The quiet spaces — bedrooms and an office — are on the second floor.
“Hospitality has always been the central tradition of the house. We are happy when friends, friends of friends, and just good and interesting people come over. I hope Ivan and I will keep up the spirit of our house for many years to come,” Mamedova says.
Ivan had lived alone in this apartment for several years. Once he got married and had little Leonid, it turned out that children’s toys also fit perfectly into this modern space. “A few years ago, the atmosphere here was different. We had to create the feeling of a family home, a place where our family lives and will live, step by step, without destroying the original concept,” Mamedova says. “The interior is quite cold, not a family interior in the classic sense. But, oddly enough, little children change everything — even the coldest interior can turn into an incredibly warm and soft place.”
“Hospitality has always been the central tradition of the house. We are happy when friends, friends of friends, and just good and interesting people come over. I hope Ivan and I will keep up the spirit of our house for many years to come,” Mamedova says.
Ivan had lived alone in this apartment for several years. Once he got married and had little Leonid, it turned out that children’s toys also fit perfectly into this modern space. “A few years ago, the atmosphere here was different. We had to create the feeling of a family home, a place where our family lives and will live, step by step, without destroying the original concept,” Mamedova says. “The interior is quite cold, not a family interior in the classic sense. But, oddly enough, little children change everything — even the coldest interior can turn into an incredibly warm and soft place.”
The finishes throughout the apartment reflect the character of the interior as it was conceived by Ivan’s parents. The bottom level features concrete and patches of marble. The floor is heated in most areas, especially where Leonid likes to play. The walls are in several shades of white and, thanks to the many windows, light floods the space.
The entrance area and its storage unit offer perhaps the most unexpected art in the home. The front door, closets and entrances to the bathroom and the guest bedroom are covered with a metal finish that seems to insulate the living room from the outside world.
A huge fish covers an entire wall. The imagery has philosophical undertones. “In the paintings of the old masters, the fish symbolized Christ,” Ivan says. “The front door is exactly in the center of the fish. As a result, the image of Christ kind of blesses everyone who enters or leaves the house. Metal, in this case, acquires a surprisingly warm and plastic character.” Boris Belsky, a family friend, made the piece.
Metal is one of Ivan’s favorite materials, and he works with it often in his studio, Workingang, which carries out projects all over Russia. The most exacting critic of Ivan’s work is his grandmother, Liya Pavlova. Pavlova is still involved in educating aspiring urban planners, and she is convinced that good taste and intuition need to be fostered at a young age.
A huge fish covers an entire wall. The imagery has philosophical undertones. “In the paintings of the old masters, the fish symbolized Christ,” Ivan says. “The front door is exactly in the center of the fish. As a result, the image of Christ kind of blesses everyone who enters or leaves the house. Metal, in this case, acquires a surprisingly warm and plastic character.” Boris Belsky, a family friend, made the piece.
Metal is one of Ivan’s favorite materials, and he works with it often in his studio, Workingang, which carries out projects all over Russia. The most exacting critic of Ivan’s work is his grandmother, Liya Pavlova. Pavlova is still involved in educating aspiring urban planners, and she is convinced that good taste and intuition need to be fostered at a young age.
Doors hide behind rectangular panels in the central section of the fish.
Another piece of art stands next to the tail of the fish: a tinfoil Madonna and Jesus made by Ivan’s father.
Leonid has free rein in the apartment, except for the third floor, which has roof access. Children’s furniture is everywhere. It’s easy to move wherever and whenever Leonid wants to immerse himself in creativity.
Leonid has free rein in the apartment, except for the third floor, which has roof access. Children’s furniture is everywhere. It’s easy to move wherever and whenever Leonid wants to immerse himself in creativity.
Leonid’s chair, stool and table, which converts to an easel, are from Russian manufacturer Moonk. The set is made of sturdy birch plywood covered with oak veneer.
Mamedova explains why they chose it: “Firstly, this is the only children’s furniture that fits with the modern interior of the apartment. Second … all this furniture is so safe that there is simply no danger of him getting hurt.”
Mamedova explains why they chose it: “Firstly, this is the only children’s furniture that fits with the modern interior of the apartment. Second … all this furniture is so safe that there is simply no danger of him getting hurt.”
The prewar grand piano is another point of pride. A friend gave it to the couple, saying, “it will be better for it here.” Today, many of their guests like to play it, and the couple often host home concerts with professional musicians.
The long line of kitchen cabinets is very practical. Behind the translucent and solid fronts are kitchen utensils and appliances as well as utilities. A stainless steel countertop and the control panel for the smart home system complete the kitchen island.
“The lights and blinds, among other things, are controlled with buttons. Leonid only knows two words, ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad,’ but he understands the system better than us,” Mamedova says.
“The lights and blinds, among other things, are controlled with buttons. Leonid only knows two words, ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad,’ but he understands the system better than us,” Mamedova says.
The huge fireplace is not only a source of additional heating, but also an important symbol of the home and familial warmth — the connotations the hearth commonly carries in Russian culture. The family even uses it for the traditional burning of the effigy during Maslenitsa (a Slavic holiday that marks the end of winter and the start of orthodox Lent).
A frosted-glass staircase leads to the second floor. In the background is a panoramic window that overlooks a small courtyard and one of Moscow’s central ring roads. The big hall leads to the master bedroom, Leonid’s room and the office.
The owners changed little in this area after the baby was born except for installing an unobtrusive volleyball net for safety.
The owners changed little in this area after the baby was born except for installing an unobtrusive volleyball net for safety.
The decor on the second floor is warmer, with additional touches of wood.
One of the main elements of the master bedroom’s decor is the round sunken bathtub. The shower and toilet are hidden behind a frosted-glass partition, while the sink is right in the bedroom, in a long marble vanity. The owners say it’s so heavy that they had to bring it in through the window with a crane.
The white artwork pictured on the left is an architectural model of the Luzhniki Stadium, created by architect Leonid Pavlov — Ivan’s grandfather.
“The Meganom architectural bureau prepared a monograph about my grandfather. It was recently printed in Italy. We tried to help in any way we could; we gathered documents and restored models. This is why part of the collection was then sent on to museums and archives,” Ivan says.
One of the main elements of the master bedroom’s decor is the round sunken bathtub. The shower and toilet are hidden behind a frosted-glass partition, while the sink is right in the bedroom, in a long marble vanity. The owners say it’s so heavy that they had to bring it in through the window with a crane.
The white artwork pictured on the left is an architectural model of the Luzhniki Stadium, created by architect Leonid Pavlov — Ivan’s grandfather.
“The Meganom architectural bureau prepared a monograph about my grandfather. It was recently printed in Italy. We tried to help in any way we could; we gathered documents and restored models. This is why part of the collection was then sent on to museums and archives,” Ivan says.
The drapes on the dormer windows resemble sails, and the cozy French balconies remind Mamedova of her native Azerbaijan. “In Baku, all the houses have similar balconies. To me, our Moscow balcony is a little piece of a southern city, where windows and doors are always wide open. It’s easy to watch fireworks — sometimes several displays at once — from the Red Square [and other central Moscow landmarks]. You can even see them from the bed. It’s as though the fireworks are raining down on you — it’s a very curious feeling.”
In winter, a fireplace helps heat the space and creates a romantic atmosphere. The owners use it a lot when it’s cold. They store firewood on the roof.
In winter, a fireplace helps heat the space and creates a romantic atmosphere. The owners use it a lot when it’s cold. They store firewood on the roof.
Ivan’s childhood room will soon go to Leonid. For the moment, he sleeps with his parents, as is common for babies and toddlers in Russia.
“We would like to keep the interior as much as possible as it is now so that Leonid knows it’s a room with a story,” Ivan says. “There are family pictures, his dad’s books and work, and drawings of soldiers on the walls, which I once put together into a collection. Of course, Leonid will grow up and change things according to his tastes, but he needs to have a sense of his heritage because he is a link in the long chain of our family.”
The painting of the sheep is by artist Abbas Kyazimov, in his characteristic “carpet style.” “Abbas is a close friend of the family. He began the piece the day Leonid was born. The back of the painting is full of scattered thoughts and wishes for Leonid. That’s why we like the work even more,” Mamedova says.
“We would like to keep the interior as much as possible as it is now so that Leonid knows it’s a room with a story,” Ivan says. “There are family pictures, his dad’s books and work, and drawings of soldiers on the walls, which I once put together into a collection. Of course, Leonid will grow up and change things according to his tastes, but he needs to have a sense of his heritage because he is a link in the long chain of our family.”
The painting of the sheep is by artist Abbas Kyazimov, in his characteristic “carpet style.” “Abbas is a close friend of the family. He began the piece the day Leonid was born. The back of the painting is full of scattered thoughts and wishes for Leonid. That’s why we like the work even more,” Mamedova says.
There is also a cozy office on the second floor, where the owners store a huge collection of books, pictures and documents linked to their family history.
The architectural pictures of Moscow churches and monasteries are from the 19th century and come from Ivan’s mother’s collection. The oldest dates back to 1882.
The architectural pictures of Moscow churches and monasteries are from the 19th century and come from Ivan’s mother’s collection. The oldest dates back to 1882.
The large black-framed photograph is a piece by Mamedova’s father, artist and director Rauf Mamedov, who gave it to Ivan’s parents.
“This is a section of a large polyptych called Games on Windowsills,” Mamedova says. “All in all, it’s amazing how everything works out in this world. Years ago, my dad made friends with Andrey and Alexandra, and I went to Ivan’s grandmother’s studio to learn to draw. Now we are all one family.”
“This is a section of a large polyptych called Games on Windowsills,” Mamedova says. “All in all, it’s amazing how everything works out in this world. Years ago, my dad made friends with Andrey and Alexandra, and I went to Ivan’s grandmother’s studio to learn to draw. Now we are all one family.”
The bathroom on the second floor is entirely covered with square white tiles, in keeping with the minimalist spirit of the apartment. Only the collection of rubber ducks adds a bright touch.
There is a separate large laundry and utility room on the second floor.
There is a separate large laundry and utility room on the second floor.
The third floor is divided between the winter garden, shown, and Ivan’s workshop, pictured below.
This studio was once used mainly for sketching, but Ivan conceptualizes his work differently: He likes to build prototypes. This is where the potentially dangerous tools, including the soldering station, are stored.
“A husband who knows how to work with his hands is great. Ivan has made and fixed a lot of stuff at home,” Mamedova says. “Our son is not allowed in the workshop, but Ivan sometimes takes him in anyway. There he shows Leonid his levitating objects, which he makes himself. Leonid is always delighted. It seems like he will follow in his father’s footsteps.”
“A husband who knows how to work with his hands is great. Ivan has made and fixed a lot of stuff at home,” Mamedova says. “Our son is not allowed in the workshop, but Ivan sometimes takes him in anyway. There he shows Leonid his levitating objects, which he makes himself. Leonid is always delighted. It seems like he will follow in his father’s footsteps.”
The winter garden was started by Ivan’s parents and is constantly changing. Flowers brought by the couple’s friends take the place of plants that have faded. “[Ivan] insists on growing his own parsley, basil, arugula and carrots in the garden. Generally speaking, no one can avoid a healthy lifestyle,” says Mamedova smiling.
The workshop exits onto an open terrace that’s home to the couple’s larger plants — conifers do particularly well on the roof.
In the summer, the owners spend a lot of time on the terrace, and when guests come by, they often smoke meat and fish. To do this, they installed a professional smoker created by Ivan’s company, Workingang.
“After graduating from the Moscow Institute of Architecture, I of course had the opportunity to work at a studio and have some certainty about the future,” Ivan says. “But I always wanted to go my own way, create something new and worthwhile. I was always attracted by high-tech products. At the end of the day, I’m also a link in a long family chain. I would like for my son and myself to someday reach the same degree of success and greatness in what we do as those before us in the family.”
“After graduating from the Moscow Institute of Architecture, I of course had the opportunity to work at a studio and have some certainty about the future,” Ivan says. “But I always wanted to go my own way, create something new and worthwhile. I was always attracted by high-tech products. At the end of the day, I’m also a link in a long family chain. I would like for my son and myself to someday reach the same degree of success and greatness in what we do as those before us in the family.”
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Ivan Savin, the third generation of architects in his family; Tamara Mamedova, pictured, who is completing a master’s degree at the Diplomatic Academy; their son, Leonid, also pictured; and their cat, Stalker
Location: Moscow
Size: 3,767 square feet (350 square meters)
Architects: Andrey Savin and Alexandra Pavlova, Ivan’s parents
Ivan Savin’s parents, renowned Russian architects Andrey Savin and Alexandra Pavlova, gave Ivan this apartment. They had designed this interior for themselves almost 20 years ago. “Back then, Andrey had undertaken the complete renovation of this pre-revolutionary building, which has stood witness to a long history,” Mamedova says.
Mamedova visited this apartment for the first time when she was 12 years old. “Ivan’s parents and mine are friends, but Ivan and I couldn’t stand each other when we were kids. Apparently something changed afterwards. I guess every war comes to an end, doesn’t it? We have been living here for three years, since our wedding and the birth of our son,” says Mamedova, smiling.