graft architects: the russian jewish museum

the interior consists of undulating floors and structures image courtesy of graft architects

the russian jewish museum by graft architects is meant to bring new life into one of moscow‘s landmark buildings, the bakhmetevsky bus garage by konstantin melnikov. the museum will be housed in the 154 x 54 meter space that is contained by the garage’s shell.

originally meant to house a number of buses, the exterior of the structure will remain untouched, to make it visible that the building is a monument of russian heritage. the interior will include an undulating landscape animating the space, offering a highly versatile stage for events of all kinds. the architectural intervention will illustrate a literal translation between the past and the present – the historical on the outside with the present inside. history is present in a series of underground studios, informing the floor above which houses the activity of today’s russian jewish community. the formal contract of the interior surface enhances the architectural space of the original melnikov buildling.

the open space combines history with modernity image courtesy of graft architects

the undulating interior creates various cavities within the museum image courtesy of graft architects

the winding hall to the upper level image courtesy of graft architects

a profile view of the updated space image courtesy of graft architects

image courtesy of graft architects

a model of the design image courtesy of graft architects

image courtesy of graft architects

image courtesy of graft architects