The Fili Transport Hub project, shortlisted in an architectural competition, proposes a reinterpretation of transport infrastructure as a mixed-use urban complex that combines mobility, public space, and architectural identity. Developed by a multidisciplinary team of architects, engineers, and transport planners, the concept is based on the idea of a “house-window” — an architectural frame that structures both movement and perception within the city.
The complex is composed of two high-rise towers connected by multi-level cantilevered volumes. Approaching the site from Bagration Avenue toward the city center, the building forms a deliberate visual axis: the skyscrapers of Moscow City appear framed within the architectural volume, turning the transport hub into a navigational and symbolic urban landmark rather than a purely utilitarian object.
At ground level, the project is organized around a column-free podium that accommodates the transport interchange. The metro station, MCD rail line, bus terminal, and pedestrian crossings over the railway tracks and the avenue are integrated into a single continuous spatial system. The main hall of the transport hub is conceived as a contemporary interpretation of early 20th-century railway stations, where large-span structures define the architectural character. Here, the structural logic is intentionally exposed and becomes a key element of the spatial experience.
Beyond its transit function, the central hall also serves as a public interior. It includes exhibition areas dedicated to the history of aircraft manufacturing previously located on the site, along with cafés and waiting areas. This historical reference anchors the project in its local context while expanding the role of the transport hub as a civic space.
Additional public programs are distributed on the upper levels of the complex. Sports and leisure facilities are located at higher elevations, providing publicly accessible spaces with panoramic views of the city and Moscow City skyline. The functional program of the towers was defined through an analysis of the surrounding urban fabric and includes a mix of business and public uses.
A unified architectural language is achieved through the consistent use of polished aluminum as the primary finishing material. It is applied across the towers, podium, and platform roofs, visually connecting elements of different scales and geometries. A project-specific design code extends from façade articulation to interior finishes, landscape elements, paving patterns, lighting fixtures, and hardware, reinforcing the coherence of the overall composition.
The structural system represents a high-tech engineering solution. After the construction of the two towers, the connecting multi-level structure is assembled on a free site and lifted to a height of up to 250 meters without interrupting traffic on the avenue or the MCD line. The main hall’s spatial truss is assembled at ground level and then shifted longitudinally into position using temporary supports on the platforms and adjacent infrastructure.
Helipads for commercial air taxis and unmanned aerial vehicles are located on the roof, anticipating future modes of urban mobility. In this way, the Fili Transport Hub positions transport infrastructure as an active framework for urban life, technological experimentation, and architectural expression.
