Arcus 4

Moscow, Russia

Arcus 4

Arcus 4 is a new business complex located within Moscow’s thriving Leningradsky business district. We have delivered a distinctive landscaped plaza that provides employees and visitors access to unique, inviting and generous green outdoor spaces rarely found in the city.

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Arcus 4 is a natural continuation of the well-received Arcus III scheme completed in 2014 and is considered the benchmark for a modern and successful corporate accommodation in Moscow. Gillespies has created an attractive landscaped setting connecting two new commercial towers by leading Russian development AB Development - Arcus III and Arcus 4. The landscape response is deliberately restrained to generate sleek elegance, rhythm and timeless minimalism in harmony with the bold office towers. The landscape will create a compelling open space that will act as a hub for collaboration, knowledge exchange and improve employee well-being.

The generous entrance piazza provides a welcoming and direct route to all buildings within the development. It features a striking mirror water feature with a landmark artwork designed by Stanton Williams Architects and a grid of formal lime trees for an impressive and formal arrival experience. Adjacent al fresco dining terraces provide an elevated spot surrounding by planting and overseeing the piazza.

In contrast, the linear garden with its feature pavilions, seating, ambient lighting and diverse sensory planting will offer tranquillity and a touch of rural nature in the city. The cosy pocket spaces will cater for relaxation, work, dining and socialising. Tenants will also have an opportunity to enjoy panoramic cityscape views from the sky garden located on the top floor.

Sustainability and enhancing site biodiversity was of key importance. The aspiration to comply with BREEAM has informed the planting mix selections (with over 20 species selected following BREEAM recommendation). The central garden features several semi-mature trees such as silver birch, decorative apple and cherry trees, which will offer a variety of scale and all-year-round interest such as colourful bloom in spring, accent fruit and golden to red tones in the autumn.

The planting beds highlight the linearity of the scheme and a distinct building grid and reinforce the architectural rigour with a series of low evergreen hedges. The linear formality has been contrasted with species-rich blocks of wonderful deciduous shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses. Species such as Deren or Spiraea will offer striking winter colour and form, whilst perennials such as Salvia or Achillea and grasses such as Calamagrostis will provide sensory scent and display of textures and colourful flowers throughout the spring and summer.