City 5: Expressive Minimalism, Apartment in Moscow with Sculptural Interiors and Textured Surfaces

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In the City 5: Expressive Minimalism project, a 108 m² apartment in Moscow designed for a young professional, minimalism takes on a new identity — it is no longer harsh but filled with textures, objects and light that add emotional depth. The project team led by Mikhail Novinsky together with Polina Litomina, Mark Grishin and Elizaveta Podust aimed to create a delicate balance: a spatial framework of restraint that enhances the impact of sculptural furniture and carefully selected lighting.

Minimalism with Character

At first glance, the apartment's surfaces appear minimalist, their calm geometry creates an atmosphere of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, each zone has its own unique focal point — a expressive element that transforms restraint into character.

In the kitchen, the island becomes a sculptural centerpiece, its form arising from the dialogue between strict geometric order and chaotic energy of natural volumes. This collision of opposites sets the tone for the entire interior.

The dining room glows under the influence of a Czech glass chandelier, its fragile transparency contrasting with the solidity of surrounding materials. In the living room, a bright sofa brings energy, its bold color and shape disrupt the neutral silence, asserting itself with character.

Bedrooms with Drama

Private zones are equally expressive. In the bedroom, a marble wall panel serves as a dramatic backdrop for an enormous yet elegant chandelier. The scale is deliberately exaggerated, creating an atmosphere of theatricality contrasting with the rest's calm palette.

Textures as Atmosphere

All these different elements are united by the project's pursuit of the history of materials. Smooth, modest surfaces serve as canvases for vibrant furniture and lighting fixtures, while textured elements — stone, glass, fabric — add tactile richness. This minimalism does not mean absence but implies precision: removing the unnecessary for a few key objects that define the ambiance of space.

A Young Spirit

Designed for a young woman, the City 5 apartment reflects a desire for living space that feels contemporary, functional and expressive without visual overload. The result is an apartment celebrating carefully chosen simplicity, where every item has meaning, and each surface serves a purpose.