Affordable Housing Architecture: A Cohousing Prototype in Moscow

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This article was written by UNI Editorial and published on uni.xyz, a platform for design professionals and creative thinkers.

Q: What is "Affordable Housing Architecture: A Cohousing Prototype in Moscow" about?

This article covers topics related to Urban Design, Housing. A bold take on affordable housing architecture—shared spaces and compact living reimagined for young families in urban Moscow.

As urbanization accelerates and housing costs rise, affordable housing architecture has become a critical focus for city planners and architects alike. In response to Moscow’s growing demand for economical urban living, this project "HUSTLE HUB Moscow" by Ekaterina Popova offers a bold vision for compact, cost-efficient housing designed around a communal lifestyle.

Shortlisted in the Hustle Hub 2019 competition, the project challenges the conventional residential model by compressing private living spaces and enhancing shared facilities. Its aim is simple but powerful: to reduce the cost of living while maintaining a high standard of social interaction, environmental quality, and user comfort.

A bold entry plaza framed by modular blocks and skybridges defines the communal identity of the co-housing project.

Layered residential volumes reveal a shared green courtyard—an elevated oasis in the heart of the structure.

Urban Integration and Masterplan The building is strategically located within the Moscow urban fabric, providing easy access to the city’s key amenities and public infrastructure. The masterplan shows a clear integration with surrounding blocks, while carving out a vibrant, semi-public space around the structure to encourage pedestrian activity and outdoor community use.

Architectural Form and Space Organization The design employs a modular approach of stacked blocks, displaced longitudinally and transversally to create voids and bridges. These interstitial spaces serve as communal zones, including shared kitchens, lounges, coworking areas, and green terraces. The architectural language balances solid mass with porous volumes, giving residents varied spatial experiences across levels.

Programmatic Distribution

Communal Spaces: Located on every floor, large living rooms and dining areas provide shared amenities for residents. These spaces are oriented to take advantage of scenic river views.
Common Facilities: Co-working spaces, libraries, gyms, and children's play areas are embedded within the structure, some of which can also be rented to support building maintenance costs.
Private Units: Compact, corridor-type housing blocks are optimized for solar access. The units range from 48 to 63 square meters, accommodating different family sizes while minimizing material usage.
Green Zones: The building features rooftop gardens and a green courtyard at the core, promoting sustainability and offering residents recreational and ecological benefits.

Programmatic zoning divides the structure into public floors, communal spaces, and compact living units for optimized cohabitation.

A Prototype for Future Urban Living This architectural exploration demonstrates how affordable housing architecture can go beyond budget constraints to foster human interaction and resource efficiency. By integrating shared space into the residential core, the project not only economizes real estate but also encourages a collective lifestyle model that could redefine future living standards in dense urban contexts.

Project by: Ekaterina Popova

Shortlisted entry of Hustle Hub 2019