Sevkabel Port is a big coastal development project for the historic Sevkabel factory, situated on Vasilyevsky Island in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

The site is located in an industrial district, where old red brick 19th century buildings of the Siemens & Halske manufactory coexist with industrial facilities of the 70s.

Dealing with an existing and complex environment, Chvoya focused their efforts on the renovation and adaptation of existing buildings, as well as on the preservation of the industrial genius loci.

These buildings are located in different Coordinate grids of the brick and concrete buildings differ from each other, and that difference creates complex, trapezoidal spaces between them. 

This approach allowed them to emphasize the existing features of the site, including some of the industrial artefacts.

The embankment is divided along into two zones. Long benches are located in each niche of the elevation, and on the lawn one may find vertical double-berths for sunbathing. All design solutions are as simple as possible and use industrial materials and aesthetics.

A lawn is spread right next to the water, while wooden slab forms a new hyper-porch for the main building.

The historical red-brick buildings are mainly occupied by small workshops and bureaus, as well as offices. Ground floors are mainly used for restaurants and bars. The former cable hall has been turned into a cozy event space.

The Soviet administrative building accommodated a variety of educational and sports projects, as well as shops.

The largest concrete building, which faces the sea, accommodates a covered plaza, music club and a restaurant on the ground floor.

Museum, gallery and theatrical exhibition project are expected to run on the first floor by the end of the year.

The architects chose black raw metal and plain wood as basic materials. The main entrance is marked by four large rusty rotating pylons. The inner alley is flanked by multifunctional wooden objects that combine a tower, a bench and a lamp.

Their design is inspired by cable reels, which were widely used in this particular factory. 

The Sevkabel PORT project is a process and represents the development perspective of the entire coastal industrial zone of this area. Former industrial site turns into a multifunctional cluster for everyone, and a place where the city meets the sea.

The functional infill of the buildings is truly diverse, all of the residents were carefully selected by the project team in such a way that all of them are involved in the renovation process.