OKO Residential Tower - Russia

OKO - Residential Tower ranks 3rd in the list of the tallest building in Europe. OKO - Residential Tower, located in Moscow City, the busy, bustling financial center of the Russian capital, is a beautiful modern example of a residential high-rise. The building is part of a twin tower construction with a smaller office building, and its design is based on its smaller counterpart. The two towers' façades are articulated with crisp diagonal folds and connected by a faceted base, creating a striking shard effect that defines the buildings' appearance. As the towers rise, the canted folds allow them to taper away from one another, establishing a conversation between their bold, straightforward shapes.

At the ground plane, the towers form an L-shaped composition that is drawn to the site's boundary. This positioning, together with the façade folds, allows the building to cant over the primary roadway infrastructure that runs parallel to the property line. At the base of the buildings, a planted plaza forms a covered, private garden that leads hotel guests and building occupants to separate lobbies. This pedestrian-scaled plaza provides a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of Moscow City, where open space is in short supply.

The building's all-glass façade provides a number of benefits to its tenants. Manually open ventilated mullions to enable natural air flow into the inside. These mullions also aid in the reduction of the stack effect. Such elements, in addition to their practical ramifications, provide a dynamic, moving exterior.

From the purity of its robust yet nuanced shapes to the rich materials of its gracious interior spaces, the beauty of OKO - Residential Tower is evident in every aspect. It serves as a model for design excellence and a major tourist attraction in Moscow.

Location: Moscow
Height: 354.2 m
Floors: 90
Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Building Function: Residential / Office/ Serviced apartments / Hotel
Completion: 2015