As you probably know, it is not very easy to find a good hotel in Russia, and Moscow is not a exception to this. In the soviet times our country wasn’t very interested in tourism, either in internal or international. Due to historic circumstances, we now have very few hotels, and as you know, absence of competition leads to high prices and low quality.
As an active traveller I am always happy to see new hotels appear in Russia, as it gives hope for the future development of the hotel industry and turism as a whole. The opening of new hotel types, which previously did not exist, is a good way to stimulate this process.
This is the reason why I eagerly responded to an invitation from “AZIMUT Hotels” to make a photo series of their newly-opened AZIMUT Moscow Tulskaya Hotel, and to tell about it in my blog. Let alone this is the first loft style hotel in Moscow!
*** beginning of advertising material***
1.
What is a loft
The idea of loft was born in 1940s in Manhattan’s factory district as a way of using cheap accomodation under the roof of old buildings for housing and office purposes.
Land was quickly getting more and more expenxsive, and young penniless artists and musicians couldn’t afford renting traditional accomodation, that’s why they began settling down in lofts and attics, which were available at a significantly lower cost.
At the same time owners of manufacturing businesses were forced to bring them out of the city. The empty factories and storehouses were also modified into creative workshops and studios due to their functional characteristics (high ceilings and good lighting) and low cost.
Loft evolutioned from a workshop into a stylish accomodation and was at the peak of popularity in 1950s. New York’s creative life was centered in lofts. A classic example of this was Andy Warhol’s “Factory”. Very soon, though, lofts, as well as office space, became an elite type accomodation. It became very expensive to rent space in the city’s historical districts in buildings that were close to being considered historic landmarks. Artists couldn’t afford this type of accomodation anymore, and their place was taken by successful businesses.
The key characteristics of the loft style are dictated by manufacturing buildings: open layout, maximum space and light, and a mixture of old a new materials as a must. Old brickwork, painted concrete walls and plank floors are combined with glass, chromium-plated details and modern equipment.
2.
AZIMUT Moscow Tulskaya Hotel is located in the loft business district «Danilovskaya manufactory 1867» at Varshavskoe shosse, 9, which is about 7 minutes walking distance from metro station Tulskaya. The hotel’s building was constructed in the 19th century to serve as a dormitory for manufactory’s workers. The building has been fully renovated and is now converted into a hotel.
2.
AZIMUT Moscow Tulskaya Hotel positions itself as a hotel for buisness travellers both from Russian cities and from abroad. The hotel has 144 rooms of different categories, including rooms for disabled.
3.
The hotel has 4 floors plus a basement floor. Reception, lobby and service rooms are on the ground floor. I am sorry I am not using the words “antechamber” or “waiting room” to describe this place, as they are not very suitable for a modern hotel :)
4.
Bookshelves are half-empty because the hotel has just opened. The truth is, there hasn’t been any official opening ceremony yet. It’s standard practice to hold such an event after 2-3 months of operation.
5.
The basement floor has a restaurant and a cafeteria.
6.
All other floors only have rooms.
7.
8.
The upper floor is composed of loft rooms.
There are 4 room categories in the hotel.
Business rooms are the most compact and budget-wise option. Their cost is from 2890 roubles per night and varies according to seasonality, day of week and other factors.
9.
Despite its compact size, the room has all that guests need.
10.
The necessary things include not only a bathroom and a shower, but also conveniently placed electric sockets and cable Internet connectors. Wi-Fi is also available in every room.
11.
The telephone device has a charger for iPhone and AUX out to loudspeakers and two USB ports for charging other devices.
12.
13.
The comfy loft windows are also very practical.
14.
They are operated by a remote.
15.
They are also equipped with rain, snow and light sensors, which allow them to automatically open or close depending on wheather or lighting conditions.
16.
17.
18.
19.
One can program the windows with the same remote device.
20.
The rooms are decorated using modern ecologic materials. Even chairs are very original!
21.
This ecologic chair Emeco was made from 100 recycled Coca-Cola bottles.
22.
23.
The hotel’s design was thoroughly thought out by German designers. Even the stair platform, no matter where you look, reminds you of loft geometry.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Below you’ll find photographs of rooms in the Business Deluxe, Junior Suite and Premium Suite categories.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
All rooms are similar in style and only differ in size, layout, bed size, bathroom/shower cabin options and small details (bathrobes and brand slippers).
37.
Here’s the comparison of room categories:
| Business | Business Deluxe | Junior Suite | Premium Suite | |
| Size, sq.m. | 17 | 20 | 27 | 30 |
| The size of Queen bed, cm | 160 х 200 | 180 х 200 | 180 х 200 | 180 х 200 |
| Shower | Shower cabin | Shower cabin | Bath | Bath |
| Bathrobe, slippers | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Safe boxes, air conditioning and fridges are available in all room types.
The hotel also provides visa support to international guests.
The hotel is already open, you can learn more and book a room here:
http://www.azimuthotels.ru/ru/hotels/moscow/about_hotel/
Welcome!
*** / end of advertising material ***
My thanks to Olga Lermontova for translating this post in English.
Pavel Kosenko 
Very nice photo portfolio of this new hotel. I am sure that your work will be used by the hotel in it brochures and advertising. The hotel is very modern in it styling and decor and the color accents really make it seem very inviting and friendly. Very nice interior photographs.and the history on lofts was also very interesting. Wish I could visit.
You are welcome! :)
krasota splashnaya
The nice red chairs from recycled Coca-Cola bottles is very fascinating.