Squire & Partners has won an international design competition to transform a historic Russian coach house into a luxury residential development.

The Royal Stables at Konyushennaya Square is in a protected building in a smart shopping district of St Petersburg, with the brief placing great importance on quality of materials and design.

The idea was to create freestanding structures in the refurbished 22,000sq m stables.

The practice’s design drew on local Russian elements including Fabergé eggs, luxury yacht designs and ornate churches using gold leaf and cobalt mosaics.

“These eccentric and colourful inspirations create interesting, high-quality interventions within the retained and refurbished historic building and give a new lease on life to the structure,” said partner Henry Squire.

The practice will also create a new hotel, spa, business centre, restaurant and courtyard on the site, as well as refurbishing an existing church.

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