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The Amazing Capital Hill Residence – Zaha Hadid’s Only Private Home Project

By Simona Ganea | Published on

Iconic and world-famous architect Zaha Hadid didn’t design many private residences in her lifetime. In fact, there’s only one completed project that was designed by the late architect and it’s called Capital Hill Residence. It’s a truly amazing structure located within the Bervikha Forest outside Moscow, in Russia. The house sits among pine and birch tree that grow to be 20 meters high and both the architect and her client described it as a dream home. As you’d expect, the architecture and the design of the building are defined by Zaha Hadid’s unique and easily unmistakable style, featuring fluid geometries and lines inspired by the residence’s natural surroundings.

The residence has a futuristic and unconventional appearance and from certain angles resembles a shipView in gallery
The residence has a futuristic and unconventional appearance and from certain angles resembles a ship
The architect's signature style can be admired in every little line of this residence's architectureView in gallery
The architect’s signature style can be admired in every little line of this residence’s architecture

The concept for this surreal project was created more than a decade ago and the first visuals were unveiled in 2008, followed by the first photos in 2011 and now images of the completed structure. The residence is structured on four levels and is defined by two main components, one which blend into the sloping hill and another which floats 22 meters above the ground. This allows the top floor to offer spectacular views of the forest and the blue sky which is exactly what the client requested all those years ago.

Seen from below, the house looks dramatic and imposing and has an otherworldly appearanceView in gallery
Seen from below, the house looks dramatic and imposing and has an otherworldly appearance
The two lower floors feature angled glass facades and irregular roofs and they house the social areasView in gallery
The two lower floors feature angled glass facades and irregular roofs and they house the social areas
The living room, dining area, kitchen, entertainment spaces and an indoor pool occupy the bottom floorsView in gallery
The living room, dining area, kitchen, entertainment spaces and an indoor pool occupy the bottom floors
The glazed surfaces and the angled facades are designed to frame the beautiful surroundingsView in gallery
The glazed surfaces and the angled facades are designed to frame the beautiful surroundings
The top floor houses the master bedroom suites and two exterior balconies which are elevated above the tree canopiesView in gallery
The top floor houses the master bedroom suites and two exterior balconies which are elevated above the tree canopies
The third floor is the element which connects the lower and upper levels and which contains the entrance foyer, library, a guest room and playroomView in gallery
The third floor is the element which connects the lower and upper levels and which contains the entrance foyer, library, a guest room and playroom
Access to the upper floors is ensured by a transparent glass elevator and a stylish staircaseView in gallery
Access to the upper floors is ensured by a transparent glass elevator and a stylish staircase
The residence, unlike most houses, has a dynamic and organic appearance as opposed to looking staticView in gallery
The residence, unlike most houses, has a dynamic and organic appearance as opposed to looking static
The main reason for designing the residence this way was to allow the client to be able to wake up in the morning and see the blue skyView in gallery
The main reason for designing the residence this way was to allow the client to be able to wake up in the morning and see the blue sky
The top floor offers the most spectacular views of the forest in all directionsView in gallery
The top floor offers the most spectacular views of the forest in all directions