Inside A Duplex Apartment In Tyumen, Shaped By Its Architecture

Designed by LEVSHAGROUP studio, this 128-square-metre duplex apartment in Tyumen, Russia, makes the most of an unusual two-level layout. Occupying the top two floors of a residential development, the home was designed for a young family with an active lifestyle and a love of entertaining.

Rather than treating the architecture of the building as something separate from the interior, the studio allowed the two to inform one another. Elements of the exterior are echoed inside, creating a visual continuity that gives the contemporary apartment its distinctive character.

The clients wanted a home that felt calm and considered without becoming overly designed. With the original plan already relatively open, but with wet areas fixed in place, LEVSHAGROUP studio focused on establishing a clearer division between private and social spaces.

The first floor is devoted to the family’s private life, with a main bedroom, child’s bedroom, two bathrooms, hallway and dressing room. Upstairs, the atmosphere becomes more social, with an open kitchen, dining and living area, guest room and laundry. A private terrace extends the living space outdoors during warmer months.

A Kitchen Designed For Entertaining

The kitchen and living area sit at the centre of the home and were designed with gatherings in mind. The family regularly hosts friends, so the challenge was to create a generous entertaining space without making it feel crowded.

The brief was deliberately pared back: no gold, heavy curtains or unnecessary decoration. Instead, the interior relies on simplicity, fresh colour and carefully selected furniture. Green acts as the defining accent, appearing in upholstery, artwork and smaller details throughout the apartment.

 A full-height wall of cabinetry helps separate the dining and living zones while accommodating the kitchen. Concealed pocket doors slide into the cabinetry to reveal a dedicated coffee station, keeping the space visually streamlined when it is not being used.

At the centre of the kitchen is a three-metre island incorporating a breakfast bar, sink, hob and integrated extraction. Its durable porcelain stoneware surface is repeated on the dining table, creating continuity while also offering practical resistance to scratches and everyday wear.

The apartment’s technical infrastructure was handled with similar discretion. A complex network of ventilation ducts serving the upper floors was integrated into the kitchen cabinetry and coordinated with the bathrooms, ensuring that practical requirements did not disrupt the clean-lined interior.

Personal Details And Clever Technology

Although the overall design is restrained, personal touches prevent the apartment from feeling impersonal. The designers paid close attention to texture, even encouraging the clients to travel to Yekaterinburg to select upholstery fabrics in person after initially choosing them remotely. The trip resulted in a more nuanced combination of colours and materials.

Art adds further personality. Two abstract works on the lower level reference the visual language of Mark Rothko, accompanied by the playful inscription 'This is not Rothko'. Upstairs, a primitive-inspired painting depicts part of a house through three green-lit oval forms, subtly referencing the apartment’s two-storey configuration.

Technology is integrated throughout rather than left on display. Glass stair balustrades, concealed storage, independent ventilation and smart-home systems reinforce the apartment’s architectural simplicity.

Several furniture pieces were also designed specifically for the project, including a suspended entrance console with integrated seating, a dressing table in the main bedroom and a TV unit in the child’s room with dedicated cable management and storage for games consoles.

The child’s bedroom takes the idea of a self-contained world further, incorporating sleeping, studying, dressing, sport and relaxation zones. A sofa and television create a small lounge, while coordinated furniture and colour keep the multifunctional space cohesive.

Ultimately, the apartment demonstrates how architecture can become the starting point for an interior rather than simply its backdrop. By bringing storage, technology, colour and furniture into the architectural language of the home, LEVSHAGROUP studio has created a duplex that feels sophisticated, practical and distinctly personal.

Credits

Design & Styling: LEVSHAGROUP Studio, Instagram: @levshagroup.design

Photographer: Mikhail Stolyar

Media Relations: Facade Buro, Instagram: @facade.buro