From Prehistoric Settlements to the Space Station

 The Challenge

 How do you design a building—or a system of buildings—in the middle of nowhere? A rural, near-desert valley with a harsh climate and no urban context for miles around? What shapes the architecture when civilization is absent? These were the key questions we explored during the design process.

The Concept

 It may sound surprising, but prehistoric settlements and space stations share a lot in common architecturally. Both emerge in isolation, without surrounding structures to influence their form.

 Ancient settlements often followed a circular logic—modular units of various sizes organized around a central courtyard, linked by walls or corridors. It was the most efficient and organic solution for community living.

 Space stations work the same way. Functional modules connected by a corridor—often arranged in a ring, like in Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s a logic born from necessity, simplicity, and efficiency.

The Site

 Roughly at the center of the 90-hectare site, there’s a natural semicircular plateau—an ideal spot for a 96-meter circular plan. It’s near the main road, on relatively flat ground, and well-positioned for future expansion.

The Project

 Instead of a single building, we propose a mini campus: a system of independent modules, each serving a unique function, all stitched together by a circular corridor. At the heart of it is an inner courtyard—a small green oasis in a dry, open landscape.

The corridor creates a continuous circulation path and a dual experience: on one side, the vast, untamed landscape; on the other, a protected, cultivated space. It gently follows the terrain, forming soft ramps, echoing the design language of the COAF Smart Center in Debet.

Each module is shaped freely according to its purpose, without hierarchy. They are sturdy and compact, designed to “survive” the environment of Armavir. A double skin made from expanded metal mesh protects the interiors from the sun while giving the complex a light, breathable appearance.