The modern trend in the development of residential complexes for a long time implies the design, construction and sale of a complete thought-out product, where the potential investor gets a well thought-out modern exterior of the facades, landscaping and landscaping of the adjacent territory, a grand lobby with concierge, comfortable accumulation zone for guests and visitors, stylish and spacious elevator halls, safe corridors and stairs, and a thought-out layout of apartments or suites. This trend is not new – it was successfully used in the 20s of last century in the design of residential complexes in America and Europe. Suffice it to recall the grand lobbies of the Empire State Building created by the American architect William F. Leib and the Rockefeller Center building by Reinhart. It was these solutions that set the bar high for the quality of finish in the common areas of high-rise buildings and apartment complexes.

Common areas of modern residential complexes


Today – the developer understands the need to create an integral product – where the successful layout of the apartment and the attractive location of the house – are supported by a well thought-out design of the entrance, lobby, halls, common corridors, evacuation stairs and even elevator cabins.
The need for a single solution in the design of the public areas creates, first of all, the investment appeal of the residential complex, where the investor is buying not an apartment, but the lifestyle and the opportunity for comfortable daily living. High-quality design of the public areas and the use of expensive finishing materials are the guarantee of presentability of the residential complex in general. As “the theater begins with a hanger,” the apartment building begins with the reception of the lobby group.


Functionally, common areas can be divided into public areas and access zones for residents of the housing estate.
Public areas mean free access for guests and visitors, delivery of mail and parcels, waiting in the lobby area – usually these areas are localized by the lobby group, reception area, lounge area.
Access zones for residents and visitors of the housing estate are filtered by the reception or card access system and exclude the possibility of external visits. These are the areas by the apartment corridors, floor elevator halls, wheelchair rooms, bicycle rooms, depository – to store valuable correspondence of tenants, halls of the evacuation stairs.
Separate attention should be paid to the finishing materials used in the design and decoration of these areas. The quality and materials depend not only directly on the level of the residential complex, but also on the requirements of construction standards – the number of floors of the complex, fire safety, non-combustibility and non-toxicity of materials on the evacuation routes, the possibility of noise absorption and soundproofing, vandalism, resistance to long-term operation – especially in the paths of constant movement of human traffic.
The cost and quality of materials directly depends on the level and budget of the residential complex. So the quality of finishing can be quite low budget – if we are talking about low-rise residential complexes in bedroom communities, or very close to a 5-star hotel trim – speaking of residential complexes in central areas of the city. The use of natural stone, wood paneling, glass, metal.
An important role is played by the height of the complex – it directly depends on the requirement of building regulations on non-combustibility of materials used for finishing. And the use in areas of intense human traffic – the requirement for wear resistance, noise absorption and vandal-proof coatings – noise-absorbing wall panels, suspended ceilings, anti-vandal coating of ceramic tiles, non-slip coating slabs on the evacuation routes.
It is also worth noting the use of intuitive navigation in the interior of the residential complex, where the color or texture of the material stands out the direction of movement, evacuation.



Color navigation of the corridor of the typical floor of "Poetica" Residential Complex. The design was developed in the design and architecture studio ZIKZAK.
To date, it is worth separating several options for the design of the common areas:
– The design of communal areas is envisaged both at the design stage of the architecture of the complex as a whole – which is much more convenient and preferable. It is possible to lay down logical and simple solutions for design and finish, taking into account the laying of utilities, in-house networks and equipment.
– Design MOS in under construction residential complex – possible at the stage of construction to take into account, or make adjustments in the construction – which will positively affect the design concept. The possibility of the realization of the show room – to work off or make a decision on the design concept.
– Design of existing rooms in the completed residential complex – when a developer has come to the need to increase the investment attractiveness of its product – through design decisions. At this stage, there are a number of difficulties in the analysis and adaptation of existing source data and a number of constraints in finding and implementing the design concept.
Separately, it is necessary to mention the necessity of realization of the show room as an advertising product demonstrated in the process of realization of the residential complex.
ZIKZAK company is successfully engaged in development and realization of show rooms of any complexity and budget, and the extensive list of realized objects is the best proof of our professionalism.




