Artplay Design Center

The Artplay Design Center is a unique creative space in the very heart of Moscow, uniting art, design, architecture, and contemporary culture. Located on the territory of the former Manometer factory in the area of Kursky Railway Station, this cultural cluster has become a true magnet for creative people, tourists, and all admirers of modern art.

History of the Creation of the Artplay Creative Cluster

The Artplay project was founded in 2003 by entrepreneur Sergey Desyatov with the ambitious goal of creating a space where commercially successful creative projects could coexist alongside experimental art. Initially, the center rented a small premises of about 1000 square meters on Myusskaya Square, but within a year, it had to look for a new location due to the termination of the lease agreement.

Stages of the Center's Development

After the first move, Artplay settled in the shed workshop of the Krasnaya Roza complex—a former silk factory on Timur Frunze Street. Here, over two years, a real creative cluster was formed, exhibitions and cultural events were held, and a business model combining commercial and non-commercial functions was developed. In 2008, a landmark move took place to the current location—the territory of the former Manometer factory on Nizhnyaya Syromyatnicheskaya Street. This industrial enterprise with a rich history was founded in the late 19th century by Podolsk merchant Fedor Gakental. The factory specialized in the production of pressure gauges, fittings, and cast iron products. In 1896, the enterprise's products were awarded a large gold medal at the All-Russian Industrial Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod.

Territory and Infrastructure of the Creative Cluster

Today, the Artplay Design Center occupies an impressive area of more than 65,000 square meters. The complex consists of about a dozen loft-style buildings, each with its own serial number, color scheme, and specialization. The spacious former workshops with large windows have been carefully restored and converted into studios, offices, and exhibition spaces, while preserving the authentic industrial atmosphere.

What is Located on the Artplay Territory

The creative cluster unites about 450 tenants from various spheres of the creative industry:

• Architectural bureaus and design studios — more than 300 companies specializing in interior design, landscape design, and architectural projects
• Showrooms and monobrand stores — featuring leading global brands of furniture, lighting, finishing materials, and interior items
• Educational institutions — British Higher School of Design, University of Creative Industries, Signon Vocal and Stage Art School, foreign language courses
• Cultural spaces — exhibition halls, cinema, concert venues, children's studio with educational programs
• Food and beverage establishments — cafes, restaurants, bars with diverse menus
• Service enterprises — beauty salons, coworking spaces, recording studios

Center for Digital Art: Innovative Exhibition Format

In 2015, the largest Center for Digital Art in Russia opened on the Artplay territory, occupying an area of about 4,000 square meters. This two-level space of 600 square meters is equipped with modern multimedia equipment—projectors, high-resolution screens, sound systems that create a full immersion effect.

Multimedia Exhibitions of Great Masters

Interactive exhibitions present the works of world-famous artists in a completely new format. Visitors can see animated canvases of masters such as:

• Salvador Dali — the king of surrealism with his incredible imagination and mysterious images
• Frida Kahlo — an icon of feminism whose work combines Buddhism, Mexican traditions, and personal experiences
• Leonardo da Vinci — the exhibition "Secrets of a Genius" features major masterpieces, including "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa"
• Ivan Aivazovsky — majestic seascapes by the brilliant marine painter in an innovative multimedia format
• Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Bruegel, Michelangelo, and other classics of world art

The unique feature of these exhibitions is that they allow visitors not just to view works of art but to literally immerse themselves in them thanks to 3D effects, sound accompaniment, and dynamic image changes. This completely transforms the perception of art and makes it accessible to the widest audience.

Open Museum of Street Art and Public Art

In 2022, an Open Museum was opened on the Artplay territory, becoming a new attraction of the cluster. The museum is a collection of street art and art objects located outdoors throughout the complex. Access to the exhibits is free, with audio guide accompaniment available.

Iconic Art Objects on the Territory

Among the most notable works by contemporary artists:

• "Whisper" — an installation of intertwined scythe blades twisted into a dynamic vortex inside a bowl-shaped form
• "Hide and Seek" — a sculpture of a boy turning away, touching on the theme of loneliness and alienation in the modern world
• "Reinterpretation" — a series of four graffiti reimagining classic works by Picasso, Munch, Rodin, and Vermeer in a new light
• Works by renowned street artists — Slava PTRK, Sneksy, Kirill Stefanov, Alexander Morozov, Alexey Partola, Ulyana Podkorytova, and French street art master C215

The Artplay territory itself represents artistic value—charismatic graffiti, sculptures, and unusual installations are organically integrated into the industrial architecture, creating a unique atmosphere of contemporary art.

Cultural Program and Events

The Artplay Design Center is one of Moscow's main cultural venues with a rich program of events for every taste. Events of various scales and formats are regularly held here.

Types of Cultural Events

• Exhibitions — classic expositions of contemporary art, design, architecture, photography, including international projects like World Press Photo
• Festivals — music festivals "Rock on the Roof", Femme Fest, "Mediaudar", design markets, charity fairs
• Biennales — Moscow International Biennale of Contemporary Art, street art biennale "Artmosphere"
• Concerts and performances — performances by contemporary musicians, theater productions, opera performances, including the resonant opera "Sverliytsy"
• Educational programs — lectures, seminars, workshops, master classes from leading specialists in design and art
• Special projects — "Night at the Museum", City Day, "Architectural New Year", "Drevolution" practicum
• Fashion shows and presentations — Chanel exhibitions: The Little Black Jacket, Lexus Hybrid Art, "Innovation" award

Buildings and Structures of the Creative Cluster

Each building on the Artplay territory has its own specialization and characteristic color scheme, facilitating navigation across the vast area.

Specialization of Buildings by Numbers

• Building No. 2 — designer furniture (Milanohoum), unique lighting (Bezhko)
• Building No. 3 — furniture and interior items (Euroform), facing materials (Mir Kvarts)
• Building No. 4 — doors (Guardian), home theaters (Nazarov Gallery), lighting solutions (Luxburg)
• Building No. 5 — interior clocks and accessories (Nomon Russia), designer solid wood furniture (Artfabric)
• Building No. 6 — premium lighting (Hudson Valley Lighting Group)
• Building No. 7 — flooring (Kaindl), designer carpets (Art de Vivre), architectural projects (AABA)
• Building No. 8 — recording complex (Vibe Records), interior design (Geometrium)
• Building No. 9 — Italian furniture (Enne), Scandinavian design (BoConcept)
• Building No. 10 — handmade wooden floors (Sturdy Design), recording studio (Newtone Studio)
• Building No. 12 — Italian office furniture (Las Mobili), furniture company (Luxburo)
• Building No. 25 — aluminum and glass structures from an Italian factory (Albed)

Practical Information for Visitors

Opening Hours and Admission Costs

The Artplay Design Center is open daily according to the following schedule:

• Sunday — Thursday: from 11:00 to 21:00
• Friday — Saturday: from 11:00 to 22:00

Entry to the cluster territory is free. Ticket prices for multimedia exhibitions range from 550 to 950 rubles depending on the day of the week and availability of discounts. Children under 9 years old and people with disabilities visit exhibitions for free. Gift certificates for two are also available for 1700 rubles.

How to Get to Artplay

Address: Moscow, Nizhnyaya Syromyatnicheskaya Street, building 10 By personal transport: paid guarded parking is available on the territory By public transport:

1. From Chkalovskaya metro station by tram No. 24 to the "Poliklinika No. 116" stop (travel time about 5-7 minutes)
2. On foot from Chkalovskaya metro — approximately 14-15 minutes walking

Walking route from Chkalovskaya metro:

1. Exit the metro and turn right
2. Walk straight along the fence to the roadway
3. Turn left onto 4th Syromyatnichesky Lane (without crossing the road)
4. Pass under the bridge and cross the road
5. Walk straight, then cross the road again
6. Turn right onto Syromyatnichesky Proezd
7. Follow to Nizhnyaya Syromyatnicheskaya Street
8. Find building No. 10 and cross the road
9. The landmark is a bright yellow building — pass it and the barrier

Artplay as Part of Moscow's Cultural Landscape

In 2019, the Artplay Design Center joined the Union of Creative Clusters together with the Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art, Flacon Design Factory, and Fabrika Center for Creative Industries. In the same year, a tripartite agreement was signed with Winzavod and the Moscow government to create the territorial association "Art Quarter" with unified landscaping and navigation in the Kursky Railway Station area. In 2020, Artplay received two important recognitions:

• Status of Moscow's first creative technopark — official recognition of the cluster's significance for the development of the capital's creative industries
• Traveller's Choice award from Tripadvisor — as a venue in the top 10% of the world's best attractions

In 2019, the international agency Resonance Consultancy included Artplay alongside Winzavod and the Garage Museum among Moscow's main cultural sites, thanks to which the capital ranked sixth in the ranking of the world's best megacities.

Additional Amenities and Services

Pet-Friendly Infrastructure

In 2020, Artplay held a competition to create infrastructure for visitors with pets. Now available on the territory:

• Stations with bags for cleaning up after pets
• Drinking fountains for animals
• Bird feeders

Coworking and Space Rental

The center offers rental of premises for various purposes:

• Coworking — equipped office spaces for comfortable work of creative people
• Exhibition halls — three specialized spaces for holding expositions
• Event venues — organization of conferences, seminars, presentations, private events
• Showroom placement — opportunity to open a sales point or demonstration space

Frequently Asked Questions about Artplay

What is Artplay and why is it interesting?

Artplay is Moscow's first creative cluster, uniting design studios, architectural bureaus, exhibition spaces, shops, cafes, and educational institutions. It is a unique place for inspiration, creativity, and cultural leisure in an atmospheric industrial environment.

Are there age restrictions?

Most events at Artplay are accessible to visitors of all ages (marked 12+). Some special events may have age restrictions — this information is indicated in the announcements of specific events. A specialized studio with educational and entertainment programs operates for children.

Do I need to buy a ticket to enter the territory?

Entry to the Artplay territory is free. Tickets are purchased only for visiting paid multimedia exhibitions at the Center for Digital Art. The open street art museum, walks around the cluster, and visits to cafes and shops are available without tickets.

Is photography allowed on the territory?

Photography on the Artplay territory is permitted and even encouraged — the atmospheric loft-style buildings, graffiti, and art objects create an excellent backdrop for bright and original shots. However, some exhibitions may have restrictions on photography.

Why Visit the Artplay Design Center

Artplay is not just a place for cultural leisure; it is an entire world of creativity and contemporary art in the center of Moscow. The creative cluster offers:

• Unique atmosphere — industrial architecture transformed into a stylish creative space
• Innovative art format — multimedia exhibitions with full immersion effects
• Rich cultural program — exhibitions, concerts, festivals, lectures for every taste
• Open museum of contemporary art — free collection of street art and public art
• Variety of establishments — from designer furniture stores to cozy cafes and restaurants
• Educational opportunities — courses, master classes, lectures from industry professionals
• Convenient location — within walking distance from Chkalovskaya metro and Kursky Railway Station

The Artplay Design Center is a place where history meets modernity, commerce harmoniously coexists with art, and every visitor finds something interesting just for themselves. Whether you are interested in contemporary design, seeking inspiration, planning a cultural outing, or simply want to stroll through an atmospheric space — Artplay will be an excellent choice for spending time in Moscow.