Russian design studio ATRIUM has completed a private multi-use garage in Moscow. Set within a forested estate, Garage for Car Collection, is a bespoke building for a private collection of luxury and vintage vehicles. The 200-sq-m (2,153-sq-ft) garage is a modern extension to the site, and also features a home gym, office, lounge areas, practical storage, mud room, and ski racks.
A key aspect of the build is the architect’s approach to the existing environment by positioning the garage carefully among existing trees. The team decided to avoid large-scale clearing, in an effort to protect the natural layout of the site. As a result, the building weaves through the landscape and is carefully inserted between existing trees, with parts of the structure allowing them to pass through the outdoor terrace decking. Rather than relying on separate block foundations, the design uses a single flowing geometry that wraps around trees to define the interior and exterior spaces.
"The design emerges from a Möbius-inspired ribbon that wraps around the site, preserving every existing tree," says ATRIUM. "This continuous gesture organizes the program: at ground level, it encloses a glazed exhibition space for the automobile collection; along its length, it frames entrance and rear terraces; and as it ascends diagonally, it leads to a rooftop outdoor workout zone."
The garage functions as an hybrid space where storage and daily use overlap. At ground level, the garage feels more like an exhibition space for the private car collection. Large windows frame the vehicles, allowing natural light and forest views to become part of the setting. Sadly, none of the supplied imagery includes vehicles in the collection, probably for privacy and security reasons.
The open design removes the sense of enclosure typically associated with garages, turning the interior into something closer to a gallery. Above the garage, the structure extends into a series of terraces, including a designated area for outdoor physical activity. Below ground, additional spaces feature a gym and home office, where natural light is filtered into these lower areas through subtle openings at ground level.
The exterior facade of the garage boasts a smooth white surface that gives it a sculptural character, while also drawing upon automotive design. The interior design features the use of timber and copper, introducing warmth and contrast to the space. Furthermore, its highly engineered design and hidden setting within the Russian woodlands, makes it feel like something you’d expect to see in a Bond film.
The Garage for Car Collection was selected as a finalist at the World Architecture Festival 2025 in two categories: Completed Buildings - Transport and the Small Project Prize.
