Checklist of the Perfect Apartment: 8 Signs of Real Estate That Will Remain Relevant for Years to Come

Choosing real estate is an investment that reflects status and sets the lifestyle for decades. Using the SHIFT residential complex near the Happy Garden as an example, we explain eight key characteristics of truly prestigious real estate confirmed by market research and successful global practices.

Perfect Location and Infrastructure

The location of an apartment significantly affects its status. According to a VCIOM survey, 60% of Russians would like to live near a park. The choice is explained by the desire for quiet and high quality of life. Green zones reduce stress levels, promote vitamin D synthesis, and make the urban environment more favorable for health and well-being.

Besides, proximity to parks forms a habit of activity and opens access to new hobbies, walks, and sports right at home.

SHIFT is built in the prestigious Don district near one of Europe's largest parks. Within 300 meters is the Happy Garden — a place for meetings and unhurried walks. Seven kilometers of embankments (Crimean, Pushkinskaya, Andreevskaya, and Vorobyovskaya) are ideal for year-round runs and cycling.

Bonus: Baumanskaia School for Children by Registration (among the top 20 Moscow schools), a private courtyard-park, and easy access to the Kremlin (just 12 minutes) and TTk (only 2 minutes), making living here extremely comfortable.

Contemporary Architecture

Today's architecture no longer serves only as a shell but becomes part of the long-term lifestyle scenario. Not only expressive facades, but also how the building integrates into its environment and whether it harmonizes with the urban setting matter. Moderate height, well-planned structure, and a limited number of apartments make the building modern. This architecture remains relevant for years to come: it is independent of trends and in dialogue with the future.

SHIFT Residential Complex

SHIFT has 5 towers, each with only 18 floors — a rare feature in Moscow where the trend is toward constructing skyscrapers. Low density and floor count grant residents true privacy.

Bonus: 100% parking spaces provided. Each resident will have their own parking space and comfortable access to their building.

Flexible and Adaptable Layouts

Premium-class modern apartments are distinguished by flexible layouts that allow easy adaptation of space to individual needs and changing family circumstances. Thanks to the absence of many load-bearing walls and open spaces, the room can be quickly transformed: a living room easily becomes a spacious office or cozy children's room.

This helps maintain the relevance of the space for many years, avoiding major re-planning and discomfort from construction work.

SHIFT Residential Complex

Layouts in SHIFT are designed with minimal corridors, light-filled rooms, and private bedrooms located away from elevators and common areas, creating a unique atmosphere of comfort.

Bonus: 30% of apartments feature terraces measuring 10 sq m, and there are also two-level penthouses.

High Ceilings Over 3 Meters

High ceilings visually expand the room's volume, creating a sense of endless space and opening new opportunities for interior design — such as multi-level structures and exclusive lighting solutions.

According to a study in the Consumer Research journal, ceiling height is directly linked to how people think. Marketing experts Joan Meyer-Lewis and Rui Zhu changed ceiling heights in rooms to study participants' reactions.

It was found that high ceilings encourage free and creative thinking, while lower ceilings restrict thought. In one experiment, volunteers were placed in a room with 10-foot (3.05 m) high ceilings and asked to solve anagrams. They completed the task faster than those in a room with 8-foot (2.44 m) low ceilings.

In SHIFT, ceiling heights are record-breaking for premium residential complexes — 3.65 meters without finishing and 3.4 meters with finishing. Penthouse ceilings, where residents can create a second level or even install a fireplace, reach 7.9 meters.

Panoramic Windows and Views

Panoramic windows contribute to the visual appeal of an apartment and directly influence a person's emotional state. Australian studies conducted at Bond University prove that natural lighting and scenic views from windows can increase serotonin levels, improving mood and reducing stress.

Modern complexes are designed to ensure panoramic windows offer stunning views: such as the Happy Garden, the Moscow State University buildings, Luzhniki, and the Moscow City business center — places that shape Moscow's visual identity. This adds aesthetic appeal and supports high emotional and psychological comfort for residents.

Having the capital’s attractions in one line of sight is a rare opportunity. Spaces with such views do not require additional accents: nature, architecture, and the rhythm of the city become part of the interior. Panoramas are revealed through floor-to-ceiling windows. The glazing format and thoughtful floor planning allow more than just looking at the city — it creates a constant visual dialogue with it.

SHIFT Residential Complex

Window heights in SHIFT are 3.1 meters, and ceiling heights in apartments with designer finishes are 3.4 meters. Windows feature structural glazing, double-glazed units combining sun protection and energy-saving properties.

Private Zones in the Apartment and on the Territory

In the premium real estate segment, special attention is paid to privacy: residents value personal space and opportunities for solitude. Thoughtful zoning in apartments helps avoid family conflicts — this is especially important for those who enjoy quiet and seek a way to relax after a busy day.

It's great when master bedrooms include private wardrobes and bathrooms, separate zones for work and study, and quality sound insulation to avoid distractions from external noise.

The trend is closed private courtyards with landscaped greenery. A green courtyard without cars and with zones for games and sports allows for rest in peace and safety.

The internal courtyard in SHIFT features a designer landscape park — decorative plantings echo the vegetation on balconies and rooftops of commercial buildings, and the overall park ambiance is enhanced by stone benches and chairs, planters for trees, and urban lounges.

Bonus: Heating systems for walkway tiles are provided at each building's entrance for residents' comfort.

Exclusive Infrastructure for Residents

Modern buyers indeed have higher expectations of housing. This is due to changing lifestyles in megacities and the growing appreciation of home space. Experts at the Institute for Sustainable Development in Construction (NIIS) studied trends in residential environments and concluded that in the next 30–40 years, the focus in constructing residential buildings should be significantly shifted toward human needs.

Private spaces for work and rest, accessible only to residents — all this becomes part of the norm when discussing premium-level projects.

If the public space interiors evoke a sense of home, and residents don't rush to go back to their apartments but actively use club infrastructure, it means the entire building becomes more than just a location — it's a place where one can rest, restore energy, and recharge.

SHIFT will allocate 350 sq m for internal infrastructure exclusively for residents. In addition to traditional meeting rooms and lounge zones, the complex includes a dedicated space with a bar and fireplace.

Additional Services for Residents

Modern residential complexes are an entire ecosystem built around comfort. It's not just about architecture or layouts, but also how each day is organized: how quickly one can get delivery or solve a household issue. Infrastructure, services, and technologies become invisible helpers that simplify routine and allow focus on what matters most. The space works for people, not the other way around.

SHIFT provides service elevators and separate corridors for residents to avoid crossing paths with couriers or management company staff. Entry areas feature contactless access systems via electronic tags — convenient, safe, and eliminates minor household inconveniences. Concierge services help with daily tasks: ordering water, calling a specialist, or handing over keys — these can all be delegated to one person.

This approach to comfort becomes the new standard. Living space no longer ends at the apartment threshold — it encompasses the entire journey: from parking to individual daily routines. Where once time and effort were required, now it's enough to make one request.