Tamer ElSerafi

advisor

Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering Architecture Department.

Egypt

Dr. Tamer ElSerafi is the Head of the Architecture Department and Director of the Master of Science… more

This residential project addresses the extreme climatic conditions of Murmansk by integrating a centrally located “warm atrium” designed to create a temperate microclimate for social and recreational use. The atrium, planted with perennial vegetation and structurally framed with expressive reinforced concrete trusses, acts as the project’s architectural and social heart—offering protection from cold temperatures and fostering indoor community interaction.

Functionally, the project is sensibly divided into residential, commercial, and sports facilities, with floor levels ranging from two to six stories. Bay windows on the exterior enhance solar gain, while terraces opening into the atrium provide transitional semi-private spaces. The design employs a monolithic concrete frame filled with brick and plastered externally, reflecting an appropriate approach for durability and insulation in subarctic conditions.

However, while the atrium concept is compelling and contextually appropriate, the external architectural expression remains relatively conservative. The relationship between interior and exterior spaces could be further enriched, and more attention could be given to material differentiation, façade articulation, and the integration of passive energy strategies beyond spatial enclosure.

Overall, this is a technically sound and climate-responsive proposal that successfully foregrounds indoor communal life, though further architectural refinement would enhance its formal identity and spatial nuance.