Construction Begins on Moscow’s Green-Roofed, Geometric Kuntsevo Plaza

US-based firm <a href="http://www.jerde.com/" target="_blank">The Jerde Partnership</a> just broke ground on their latest project in Moscow - the creative and geometric <a href="http://www.jerde.com/regions/place171.html" target="_blank">Kuntsevo Plaza</a>. The mixed-use project stitches together office, retail and residential spaces over an entire city block in the Kuntsevo District on the west side of the city. Extensive use of glazing and skylights will fill the space with loads of natural daylight, while green rooftop decks will expand open space for residents and shoppers. With this project The Jerde Partnership is aiming to create a model of economic, social, and environmental sustainability for Kuntsevo and all of Moscow.

Taking over an entire city block, the Kuntsevo Plaza will provide 250,000 sq m of retail space, entertainment, residences, class-A office space, rooftop decks and public plazas.

The contemporary design is a collage of the different buildings intersecting one another for an eclectic and energetic feel.

The project is made up of a few office buildings and two residential towers connected together with retail spaces below. A central atrium or canyon meanders through the project connecting everything together.

David Rogers FAIA, Jerde Design Director, <a href="http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&amp;upload_id=21810&amp;region=3" target="_blank">expound</a>s, “We designed Kuntsevo Plaza with the intention of bringing a renewed energy to Moscow - a city already rich in culture and history - and a goal to breathe new life into it. There hasn’t been a development of this scale, program mix, or contemporary design style before in Russia.”

The project has high goals for environmental, social and economic sustainability. Among the strategies to be employed is a high use of natural daylighting through efficient glazing and skylights.

The use of local materials is a high priority along with energy efficiency. Green rooftops will provide visitors and residents additional open space and will help to reduce the project's cooling load. Construction just began and it is expected to be complete by 2014.