As Russia’s design scene continues to flourish, both national and international architecture and interior design practices have made their mark by transforming the country’s urban landscape. Workshop Studio founded in 2014 by interior designer Alexandra Potapova – a graduate of the Moscow Architectural Institute – is once such firm building a growing reputation.
Known nationally for both residential and public projects, Potapova’s latest initiative is Mone, an 89 sq m one-bedroom apartment housed within the newly built 18-storey premises (designed by architecture practice Aukett Swanke) of the same name, in Moscow’s upscale Presnya neighbourhood. The area surrounding Mone is home to notable city landmarks and leafy parks, including Patriarch’s Ponds, and is cherished for its diversity among the central Okrug districts. Old and new buildings sit side by side, hosting a mix of restaurants, private residences and bars, making this address a marker of luxury living.
Muted greys are paired with sky blues in the kitchen and further living areas. Photography: Sergey Ananiev. Stylist: Natasha Onufreichuk
Favouring a timeless aesthetic over trends, Potapova chose a soft colour palette for the apartment. Muted greys are paired with sky blues in the main living areas, while in the bedroom ochre and splashes of cobalt blue make a bolder statement, lending a Mediterranean feel.
Meanwhile, Scandinavian favourites by Normann Copenhagen, &tradition and Muuto fill the airy residence. The designer has also enlisted local craftspeople and firms to produce custom-made pieces, like Moscow-based Studio Stameska who crafted the apartment’s sleek mirrors.
Potapova has conceived playful yet elegant interiors for Mone that quietly promote and celebrate local creatives who are confidently paving the way for the future of Russian design. §
