Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©
In 2021, in a stunning display of architectural innovation, Moscow’s chief architect Sergey Kuznetsov
unveiled a pipe-shaped cabin that appeared to defy the laws of physics. The holiday home, located in
Russia’s Nikola-Lenivets Art Park, cantilevers over a hill, its sleek, stainless steel exterior reflecting the
surrounding forest. But perhaps the most astonishing aspect of this unique structure is that it is held
together using only six bolts.
Weighing twice as much as a fully-grown elephant and spanning 39.7 feet (12 meters) in length, the cabin
was conceived for the annual Archstoyanie festival, often referred to as Russia’s Burning Man. Drawing
inspiration from shipbuilding techniques, Kuznetsov and construction company Krost employed a method
known as transverse framing to create the cylindrical structure.
Instead of traditional wall studs, the cabin features a system of closely spaced, circular ribs running along its
entire length. These ribs, cut from sheets of stainless steel and connected by horizontal guides called
stringers, form a robust yet lightweight frame that can support itself without breaking.
The construction process involved simultaneously manufacturing six cylindrical modules before connecting
them together, much like the assembly of a ship’s hull. The biggest challenge was ensuring the cylinders
were joined with precision and virtually no tolerances.
To create the illusion of the cabin hanging in mid-air, the foundation is concealed inside a small hill that had
to be almost entirely demolished during excavation, then rebuilt and reinforced with sand cushions. A
concrete slab foundation extends underground in the opposite direction of the cabin, acting as a
counterweight and housing the plumbing and electricity.
Despite the complexity of the construction, no one on Kuznetsov’s team knew for certain whether the
structure would hold up in its cantilevered position until it was physically installed on-site. After removing the
supporting structures, the bottom of the console dropped by a mere 0.86 inches (22 millimeters), well within
the calculated maximum tolerance of 1.18 inches (30 millimeters), bringing a sense of joy and relief to
everyone involved.