WHITE ROCKS

Architecture Inspired by Nature

WHITE ROCKS is our latest village, featuring Business+ segment villas. It is located in a scenic area of Sochi on a hillside with stunning views of the sea and the Olympic Village. We enhanced the natural beauty of the location with a striking architectural design alongside innovative engineering and planning solutions. This thoughtful approach achieves a perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality, harmonizing the natural and built environments.

Area: 2.2 ha
Project scope: 26 houses
Year: 2022

Unique architecture

Engineering solutions

Integration with nature

Recreational infrastructure

Complex geology

Natural Landscape and Engineering Constraints as a Shaping Factor

The village is located near Sochi Airport, set on steep terrain with several significant design challenges:

A terrain drop of over 80 feet on the short side of the site
Complex geological conditions, including landslide-prone soils
Existing engineering infrastructure, such as power cables, a gas main, and a protected locator within the airport’s radius

These factors directly impacted the design process and influenced the final architectural appearance, requiring thoughtful solutions to integrate nature and infrastructure seamlessly into the project.

Village Master Plan

The natural topology of the site primarily guides the master plan. The design and routing of the main street are carefully planned to minimize earthwork and avoid the construction of large retaining walls throughout the village. By working with the existing topography, we preserved the natural landscape, ensuring the development blends harmoniously with its surroundings without disrupting the land's inherent character.

Legend

	Type 1 houses
	Type 2 houses cantilever 4 m
	Type 2 houses cantilever 8 m
	Type 2 houses cantilever 12 m
	Pool

We classified the houses into two types based on their final area, which influenced both the layout and visual characteristics of each plot. This approach ensures that every future resident enjoys a comfortable living experience with beautiful views.

Additionally, part of the site falls within the airport locator area, where residential development is prohibited by regulations. In this section, we designed a small landscape park featuring eco-trails that wind through the existing greenery and forested areas, creating a serene space for relaxation and nature exploration.

Territory Balance

Most of the area—76%—is dedicated to residential use, while 24% is allocated to public infrastructure and engineering facilities. Each lot includes a landscaped patio, private pool, and carport, with common recreational areas conveniently located within walking distance, ensuring a well-balanced blend of private and community spaces for residents.

Legend

	The boundary of the projected area
	Boundary of residential plots
	The centerline of roads and driveways
	Roads and driveways

Site specification

№

S, ha

6,9

4,9

4,3

4,6

5,2

6,3

5,4

4,9

6,2

5,8

4,8

5,7

4,8

5,5

5,9

6,1

5,9

4,7

5,1

4,4

4,9

7,2

S, m2

688

491

434

463

523

575

525

488

602

667

504

623

668

505

495

500

503

455

589

661

588

472

510

439

488

724

House Typology

The two types of houses in the development have distinct characteristics that respond to the site's natural topography.

Type 1: These homes are integrated into the terrain, with entry organized from the lower part of the plot. They are more static in design, focusing on harmonizing with the landscape, allowing the home to flow naturally over the contours of the land.

Type 2: These homes are slightly larger and fall under the category of "dynamic" architecture. Entry is from the upper level, with a cantilevered overhang extending deep into the plot. This overhang houses the common kitchen and dining space. By orienting the building in relation to the site, these homes offer enhanced views while minimizing visibility from neighboring houses, ensuring both privacy and scenic beauty.

House type 1

1st floor 57 m²

Possible content: kitchen-dining room, living room

2nd floor 133 m²

Possible content: master bedroom, guest bedrooms

3rd floor 57 m²

Possible content: fully developed isolated master bedroom

Building area 165 m²
Total area 283 m², of which 20 m² terrace in the master bedroom

House type 2 with 12 m cantilever

1st floor 54 m²

Possible content: fitness / spa unit, hobby room, kitchenette with recreation and barbecue area, swimming pool equipment

2nd floor 133 m²

Possible content: kitchen-dining room, living room, hobby-area or room, possibly a guest bedroom

3rd floor 54 m²

Master bedroom, guest bedrooms, study with separate entrance from the street

Building area 175 m²
Total area 295 m²

Street Profile

When designing the street profile, we prioritized the views from each villa, which overlooks the stunning Black Sea shoreline, the Olympic venues, and the developing Sochi valley. However, these desirable views also align with the southwest, where the sun is strongest.

To address this, we incorporated passive cooling strategies into the architecture from the concept stage. This includes features like closing shutters and cantilevered overhangs, which create shaded inner courtyards and patios. These shaded areas offer a comfortable, naturally cooled space for residents to enjoy their private landscaped surroundings.

Design Code

In developing the village concept, we always prioritize establishing a cohesive design code. For this project, the visual identity is shaped by the unique characteristics of the site, the region's climate, and local features. These factors are carefully considered to ensure the design aligns with market demands while enhancing the project's overall aesthetic and functionality.

Finishing Materials

We chose durable stone materials in light shades and wood decking for the many terraces that define the courtyard spaces. Given the steep topography, maintaining large green areas would be challenging, so we strongly emphasized terraces, making wood a key material.

To meet the region's climatic and cultural requirements, we incorporated light stucco, fiber cement panels, and natural wild stone. These materials are used in architectural finishes and engineering elements such as retaining walls and fences, blending durability with aesthetic appeal.

Upper level: decorative light plaster
Middle level: concrete, untreated/wood planking
Lower level: wild stone, boulders

Entrance Group Design – Type 1

Fencing: Reinforced concrete for durability and structural integrity.

Gate: Single-section sliding gate made from a welded steel pipe construction, finished with a RAL 7024 powder coat for a sleek, modern appearance.

Fence: Welded sectional steel pipe construction, also coated in RAL 7024 for durability and a uniform look.

House Number: Solid polished aluminum with a screw-mounted frame, featuring white LED illumination (6-9 LEDs) for easy nighttime visibility.

Street Lighting: Pole, lamp head, and underground strip made from steel with a thickness of 0.2 inches, finished with a RAL 7024 powder coating for weather resistance and a cohesive design.

Entrance Group Design – Type 2

Fencing: Solid wood fence boards with a graphite-colored wood texture for a natural yet modern look.

Gate: Retractable, hidden gate design with a sleek finish in RAL 7024 to blend seamlessly with the fencing.

Wicket: Welded structure with a RAL 7024 finish, made from profiled steel pipe for durability and style.

House Number: Solid polished aluminum with a screw-mounted frame and white LED illumination (6-9 LEDs) for easy visibility at night.

Street Lighting: Pole, lamp head, and underground strip made from steel with a thickness of 0.2 inches, finished in RAL 7024 powder coating for durability and weather resistance.

Land Improvement

The landscaping features two primary areas: the entrance groups, the central park, and the park area. The placement of these spaces was determined by the site's unique characteristics. The park area, for example, is located in a section unsuitable for residential development but ideal for outdoor recreational activities, making the most of the land's potential while enhancing the overall experience for residents.

Park area

Another key infrastructural and technical feature of the development site is a power cable, which creates building restriction zones throughout the settlement. However, this did not pose a challenge for us.

We transformed the area where the cable runs into a recreational trail, incorporating small public spaces and playgrounds. This solution enhanced the recreational infrastructure and seamlessly integrated into the natural topography, maintaining the land's integrity.

Central Square

In developing the final concept for the settlement and its architectural vision, we crafted the naming and conceptual positioning to align with the overall aesthetic. The resulting design reminded us of White Rocks seamlessly integrated into the landscape. This imagery inspired the name "White Rocks," reflecting both the architectural elements and their natural surroundings, evoking a clear and harmonious association with the environment.

FUTURE CAMPIONSHIPS: an overview of large-scale projects for the developer

What should a modern village be like? What requirements does the modern real estate market dictate? How to create a liquid business project? Based on our experience we have formed a unique settlement design system and opened a separate liquid design division to work with developers and developers, consisting of representatives of regional offices around the world and a creative team in Minsk.

8 Feb. 2023

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WHITE ROCKS

Architecture Inspired by Nature

Natural Landscape and Engineering Constraints as a Shaping Factor

Village Master Plan

Territory Balance

Site specification

House Typology

House type 1

1st floor 57 m2

2nd floor 133 m2

3rd floor 57 m2

House type 2 with 12 m cantilever

1st floor 54 m2

2nd floor 133 m2

3rd floor 54 m2

Street Profile

Design Code

Finishing Materials

Entrance Group Design – Type 1

Entrance Group Design – Type 2

Land Improvement

Park area

Central Square

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1st floor 57 m²

2nd floor 133 m²

3rd floor 57 m²

1st floor 54 m²

2nd floor 133 m²

3rd floor 54 m²