This project was developed as part of a master’s thesis commissioned by the Diocese
of Tver Region. The research topic, “A Contemporary Interpretation of Balkan Church Architecture Traditions Through the Design of a Monastery-Based Religious Facility
in Tver,” was informed by an analysis of Balkan monastic complexes, their spatial structure and façade articulation. Particular attention was paid to the architecture
of a cultural borderland, where the Byzantine church tradition interacted
with Western European influences.

A synthesis of Byzantine traditions and Transylvanian Gothic. The architecture retained a narrowly
regional character.

A synthesis of Byzantine traditions and Transylvanian Gothic. The architecture retained a narrowly regional character.

An architecture that synthesised non-Orthodox and Orthodox traditions while affirming Serbian identity. These are relevant approaches to development, demonstrating resilience in a non-Orthodox environment.

The project’s main objective was a contemporary architectural reinterpretation of historical prototypes
and the adaptation of the Balkan tradition as a system uniting a church, monastic buildings, educational, public
and administrative functions into a single spiritual
and spatial ensemble.

RESEARCH

GREEK SCHOOL

ROMANIAN SCHOOL

RAŠKA SCHOOL

CATHOLICON OF THE GREAT LAVRA, MOUNT ATHOS,
10TH C.

CHURCH OF PANTANASSA MONASTERY, MYSTRAS,
15TH C.

CHURCH OF CHRIST PANTOCRATOR, NESSEBAR, BULGARIA, 14TH C.

CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS MALITSA MONASTERY,
DIOCESE OF TVER,
RUSSIA, 21ST C.

CATHEDRAL OF ST GEORGE
THE GREAT MARTYR,
VORONEȚ MONASTERY,
LATE 15TH C.

ASSUMPTION CATHEDRAL, CURTEA DE ARGEȘ MONASTERY, EARLY 16TH C.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY IN CUHUREȘTI, MOLDOVA, 1910S

CHURCH OF ST GEORGE AT ĐURĐEVI STUPOVI, 12TH C.

CHURCH OF THE MOTHER
OF GOD, STUDENICA MONASTERY, 12TH–13TH C.

ASCENSION CHURCH IN MILEŠEVA, EARLY 13TH C.

INTERCESSION CATHEDRAL
OF THE RUSSIAN OLD
ORTHODOX CHURCH,
MOSCOW, 1910S

The religious complex is located in Tver, on a picturesque site along the Volga River near the village of Cherkassy. The site lies on an important route between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, visible from the high-speed motorway. The complex is therefore perceived not only as a local church centre, but also as a prominent spiritual landmark between
the two capitals.

The main challenge in developing the form was to combine traditional church imagery with a contemporary functional programme. The complex had to preserve recognisable features of Orthodox architecture while accommodating a broad range of religious, educational, public and administrative functions.

The complex is conceived as a major spiritual, public and educational centre in Tver with a monastic foundation. It includes the main church, an educational centre with a house church, a bell tower, a judicial centre, a monastic residence with a church, a chapel and a multifunctional public-services centre.

This led to a complex volumetric composition combining cylindrical, polygonal and rectangular forms with
an extensive system of domes, towers
and connecting elements.

LOCATION

FORM DEVELOPMENT

FUNCTIONAL ZONING

01

02

03

04

The architectural identity of the complex is based
on a contemporary reinterpretation of the Balkan church tradition. The building is conceived as a multi-part ensemble combining religious, monastic, and public functions.

The main church, bell tower, smaller domed volumes, galleries, and auxiliary buildings follow a unified compositional hierarchy. The central church remains
the conceptual and spatial focus of the complex.

The surrounding volumes create a developed monastic and public environment. The façades use a light stone palette, accented by gold and blue domes that strengthen the expressive architectural image.

The building’s articulation combines arches, drums, apses, zakomara gables, towers, and extended galleries. Traditional elements are enlarged, simplified, and reinterpreted in a contemporary spatial composition.

ARCHITECTURE

NORTH FAÇADE

SOUTH FAÇADE

FUNCTIONAL
ZONING

LEVEL 0

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 1

EAST FAÇADE

The complex is conceived as a major spiritual, public and educational centre in Tver with a monastic foundation. It includes the main church, an educational centre with a house church, a bell tower, a judicial centre, a monastic residence with a church, a chapel
and a multifunctional public-services centre.

Church interior

Educational-centre church

Church stairs and lifts

Monastic refectory church

Monastic complex

Educational centre

Bell tower
Guard towers

Engineering building
(boiler room)

Chapel

Chapel of the
administrative building

Administrative
and judicial building

The structural system of the monastery complex combines massive load-bearing walls, reinforced-concrete floors and monolithic belts that provide spatial rigidity. The main church volumes have a pronounced vertical structure: the central domed space, drums, apses and tower elements work as an interconnected load-bearing system. Domes and roof structures are formed by steel members and trusses, allowing large spans above the church spaces.

STRUCTURAL
SOLUTIONS

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The plan is organised around the central church core and a system of connected buildings that form internal courtyards, galleries and pedestrian links. This structure separates worship, educational, monastic, administrative and public activities while preserving the unity of the ensemble.

A cruciform structure underlies the composition, reinforced by circulation axes, entrance groups
and domed landmarks.

PLANNING
SOLUTIONS