Project: Tsvetnoy Central Market, Tsvetnoy Boulevard, Moscow
Client: RGI International
Design: HMKM
Built on the historic site of the Moscow central flower market, Tsvetnoy, a 36,000 sq m sevenstorey retail development dedicated to fashion retail, is a truly modern piece of design to match the new world of consumerism in Russia’s capital.

The building itself was built in 2008 by Moscow’s architecture superstars Meganom, and now has sleek and luminous interiors by the UK’s HMKM, creator of some of the world’s most high-end retail spaces. Following Meganom’s cue of using mountain ranges as structural inspiration, HMKM has carried it through to the interior with the five floors of fashion featuring mineral or stone references.

For example, on the lower ground floor – young fashion – the colour palette is based on the darkness of jet, with black open ceilings and polished concrete floor. The ground floor is silver featuring face-etched silver mirror panels, with individual sections framed in mirror-polished stainless steel, then zinc, followed by steel and then gold.

The fifth and sixth floors house the public dining spaces and have a cloud theme with vast, high glass ceilings – these spaces have been designed by fellow UK-based architecture practice Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands.

As with many great retail spaces, the atrium is a place for striking statements and to make use of interesting finishes and materials. The surrounds and ceilings to each floor are clad in a dimpled mirror-polished stainless steel with a low iron and clear glass balustrade. The linear ceilings on the floors are finished in a metallic paint corresponding to the mineral theme of that area. There are also bespoke lighting installations by White Void, as well as a green wall. ‘It spans the full height of the five-storey atrium,’ says Mark Billington of HMKM. ‘It is bathed in natural light during the day and focused lighting at night. But with maintenance in mind, the wall has been created from a series of mirror stainless steel troughs, allowing easy access for planting and watering.’

A strong art bias was present from the start, led by the client, which has invested in striking pieces to be incorporated into HMKM’s scheme. ‘RGI insisted on controlling the frequency of collaboration and with whom they collaborate,’ says Billington, ‘so we felt we needed to design a gallery-like space that would allow for varying styles of art and sculpture to reside there.’ So the main entrance hall has a monochrome, random chequerboard floor of nero assoluto black granite and white aghia marina marble as the backdrop.

HMKM was also heavily involved in the finer details of the retail spaces, creating bright yellow powder-coated steel rails in the Denim area of young fashion, inspired by denim stitching. Lighting is key to navigation, with angled cold cathode light batons drawing customers’ eyes and feet down and through the space.

The menswear floor, entitled the Den, is styled as a contemporary take on a gentlemen’s club, with the obligatory vintage leather chairs sourced in London, as well as vintage ‘toys’ including a Lambretta and a Fifties Foosball table. Other furniture pieces are bespoke designs by the team, made by Dula, with an oak framework and grey and granite black powder-coated steelwork.

The development also sees huge brands Reiss and All Saints making their territory debut, with HMKM working closely with them to ensure that Tsvetnoy is an opportunity to make their mark. An opportunity all parties involved in this project have definitely seized.