Town-planning concept of the Nikolo-Penye settlement

Project idea

The project for the village of Nikolo-Penye reimagines rural life in the 21st century through the lens of memory, silence, and dignity. At its heart stands the Church of Saint Nicholas, built in 1863 and now undergoing restoration. It serves not only as a historical and spiritual anchor but also as a symbolic center of gravity for the settlement.

This is not a nostalgic replica, but a living environment where history is embodied in the geometry of space, in the rhythm of walking, and in the sense of presence.

Project description

The masterplan is based on a dialogue of geometries: a rigid rectangular grid in the residential quarters meets a soft radial layout in the civic core. At their intersection lies the church — not merely an object, but the soul of the village.

The central square is framed by buildings inspired by imperial Russian façade pattern books from the era of Catherine the Great and Alexander I. On the eastern edge, a colonnaded structure marks the boundary of the space with restrained grandeur, setting a slow architectural rhythm rather than proclaiming monumentality.

Residential areas are built in the spirit of traditional Russian wooden vernacular — complete with ornamental gables, front fences, gardens, bathhouses, and storerooms. Each home extends its meaning beyond the built envelope, into cultivated land, shadows, and silence.

Streets are designed with a clear pedestrian priority. The central road is paved in asphalt, while the side walkways are laid with historic-style concrete slabs, evoking imperial-era textures. Low, semi-transparent rows of trees line the routes, offering rhythm and openness without obscuring the built form.

Technical information

The village occupies a compact yet articulated territory, where functions are clearly stratified: private dwellings, collective public space, and connective landscape.

The street system integrates modern transport with historical resonance; tree planting supports visual permeability and spatial clarity.

Architecture here is not loud — it is durable, respectful, and honest, using wood, metal, and stone. It doesn’t strive for spectacle but for continuity. It offers not just buildings, but a way to live with history — quietly, attentively, and with grace.