The Ferrum 1 office building stands on the historic site of a former Russian factory in the Polustrovo district of St. Petersburg. It is situated on the right bank of the Neva River, directly opposite the Smolny Cathedral, which was commissioned by Prince Alexander Bezbrodko in the late 18th century. The cathedral’s design was created by the Italian architect Giacomo Quarenghi. This area, surrounded by a spacious park, has been the heart of local social life for centuries. In particular, during the late 19th century, it served as a favored recreational spot for St. Petersburg’s upper class.
At the intersection of the former palace garden and today’s Piskarevsky Avenue, the Summer Palace once stood. It was leased by the renowned Russian art historian and painter Alexander Benois during the years 1877/78 and 1882. By 1911, amid Russia’s industrialization, much of the area was taken over by machinery factories. These facilities included factory buildings, production sites, warehouses, and administrative offices. Over time, the original garden gradually vanished without a trace. After the mechanical factory closed, its buildings were abandoned for several years, leading to physical deterioration and decay.
For over ten years, under the guidance of the development company Teorema, this former industrial site has undergone extensive revitalization. During this time, the architectural firm TCHOBAN VOSS designed several key projects: the multifunctional House Benois commercial park (2008), the Seasons Ensemble office complex (2013), and the Five Stars residential complex (2016). Opposite the Ferrum 1 office building (plot 16), the adjacent Ferrum 2 (plot 17) is currently under construction, featuring a similar exterior wall design and a landscaped inner courtyard.
The Ferrum 1 Commercial Office Center consists of seven floors and is notable for being the first building in Russia constructed with weather-resistant steel. This material is highly durable and corrosion-resistant, imparting a distinctive rust-red hue and velvety texture to the building’s facade. The emphasis on the material’s character is a central theme of the architectural design, particularly visible in the facade treatment.
The name “Ferrum” means metal, highlighting the materials used for the building’s facade and reflecting the area’s industrial heritage. The sculptural facade features geometric grids that create a dynamic and flowing appearance, resembling a loosely woven fabric. The three-dimensional strips run vertically and horizontally across the rectangular structure. Alternating flat and protruding modules further enhance the illusion of woven texture.
Viewed from the side, the horizontal and vertical lines of the facade intersect with subtle variations, where sometimes the horizontal lines dip below the vertical ones, and vice versa. At the building’s corners, delicate structural glass alternates with sharply folded weather-resistant steel panels, creating the effect of steel wrapping around the glass. The building’s top is adorned with a band of golden aluminum strips, which visually softens the strong, rust-colored facade with their unique shine. The design philosophy of Ferrum 1 can be summarized as “rust on the outside and gold on the inside.”
The main entrance features a large doorway leading into a central foyer illuminated by a double-sided glass structure. This design floods the interior with natural light and visually connects the building to the adjacent park. Inside, the office building follows a two-tone color scheme, alternating shiny gold elevator doors with cool gray metal surfaces. The walls are covered with printed glass, enhancing the modern aesthetic.
Project Drawings
△ Location Map
△ Plan View
△ North Elevation View
△ South Elevation View
△ East-West Elevation
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Tchoban Voss Architekten
Area: 7,965 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: Ilya Ivanov
Suppliers: Guardian Glass, Mac Puar, Reynaers, SSAB
Lead Architects: Sergei Tchoban, Valeria Kashirina, Natalia von Kruechten, René Hoch, Puk Paludan, Evgenia Sulaberidze
Structural Engineer: Nord Fassade
Landscape Design: Teorema Business Park Polustrovo Ltd
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