Urban Farm, Moscow

The Urban Farm is a place for family recreation where children can learn more about the world around them. They can learn about domestic animals, plants, and hands-on skills. And all of this is set in a picturesque spot by the pond.

The farm is divided into three large sections, consisting of both open and enclosed areas located on sites with varying terrain. The first section is dedicated to interaction with domestic animals. Here, under the guidance of zoologists, children can get to know the animals and take care of them, for example to prepare food, feed them, and clean up after them.

The second section features year-round workshops and the “Construction Site.” The third section introduces visitors to the world of botany, with a greenhouse, an orchard, and a vegetable garden. In addition, the farm includes extra facilities: a Young Naturalists’ House with a forest library, a children’s fishing area, a kiosk, a summer picnic area, a restaurant with a children’s cooking school, and a playground.

The architectural design of most pavilions is based on the image of a traditional village house with a gabled roof. This archetype was adapted into buildings of varying sizes and proportions, the main ones being the barn, the workshops, and the greenhouse. The key stylistic device is the combination of massive timber trusses with large expanses of glazed façades. The only difference from this archetypal form is in the craft workshops, where training takes place as these pavilions have a parabolic shape and are clad in wooden shingles, emphasizing the overarching theme of artisanal production.