roger hill displacement catamaran

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Roger hill 12m design takes shape with duflex composite panels.

The divinely named “Celeste”, a 12-metre Roger Hill-designed power catamaran, is in build at G & T Marine, Auckland – it’s the first time seasoned boat builder Grant Symmans has worked with the DuFLEX panel system and Z-press from ATL Composites.

The privately-owned, custom-built, displacement-hull power cat is on track for delivery by May 2023 to an experienced owner looking for volume and ease of cruising.

So far, according to Grant, he has used the Z-press to join the DuFLEX panels for superstructure and cabin top.

“It’s a first for me,” he states. “Roger is a huge fan, so we went with it. It’s labour saving, comes as a kit, and the DuFLEX is lightweight and sturdy.”

The 12-metre vessel is a “fairly straight forward” build, single level sedan with a beam of 4.8-metres.

“Using DuFLEX has made construction a simple process and at this stage we’re impressed with it. We’ll know more when we do the hulls,” Grant adds.

Using ATL’s Z-Press streamlines the composite panel joining process, applying heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on the Z-Joints. Joins cure fully in 7 to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, type of hardener, core type and thickness of the panel.

Roger Hill, specialist power multihull designer, says the client sought a well-appointed powercat for “the next phase of his cruising lifestyle”.

“I have always said that these displacement hull power cats we design are ‘sailor’s power boats’,” he explains. “That is, when you have been a yachtie all your life and you’re facing the unavoidable ravages of time on your old body but don’t want to give up boating, these cats are a good option!

“For Auckland-based yachties who have been cruising around at around 6 to 8 knots, a lot of the time motoring (as you get older), and a lot of the time beating to windward, these smaller displacement hull power cats are ideal.

“They cruise most economically around 14 to 15 knots, or about twice the speed you have been used to going all of your previous boating life, and they are really fuel efficient. Also, they will motor directly into any head wind and nasty sea state without spilling your drink, or leaning over.”

Fortuitously, the client is Roger’s very first when he struck out on his own and established his design firm 27 years ago.

“He owned his lovely 11.9-metre cruising yacht from new, it fitted his requirements perfectly all of that time and he kept it in immaculate condition. Like all of us, he is getting older and the physicality of sailing a yacht basically on your own was starting to tell.

“He made the very hard decision to sell and move on with the next phase of his boating life. They went out for a ride on a smaller 10-metre displacement power cat we designed and from that, he commissioned his new 12-metre design.”

While there is nothing particularly new or radical about the design, there are some unique features.

“The client wanted something that he could trust and depend on to fulfil his future yachting aspirations,” explains Roger. “As with the original sailing yacht, the new power cat is specifically detailed around his requirements.

“Things like the very clever swimming diving platform that lowers down between the motors to form steps down to a wider bottom panel that allows easy access into the water for diving and launching a small RIB.

“It’s just the two of them, and the layout will be very comfortable for them to live aboard for extended periods through the summer as they have done with their yacht for many years.

“The choice to go with outboards was based on being able to explore areas they have previously not been able access with a deep draft keel, so adding a new dimension to their cruising ambitions.”

The choice to use the DuFLEX system came from the client seeing it for himself, visiting the 16-metre “Omahu” and speaking to its owner who had a previous sailing cat built out of DuFLEX and was extremely positive about the process.

“The preliminary design for the structure of “Celeste” was based on standard foam cored composite boat building methods. From that the options were costed up and DuFLEX won the job!

Cored with Divinycell foam, the DuFLEX panels in CELESTE have a combination of H80 and H100 densities in the hull shell. The hull bottoms are cored with 20mm H100 DuFLEX Strips that are laminated with a 460 grm unidirectional E-Fibreglass which will have an additional laminate applied on both sides, while hull sides are a mix of H80 thicknesses and laminated with double layers of 800grm quadraxial chosen to meet performance and engineering requirements.

Grant Symmans was a more traditional builder accustomed to using plywood, timber, and fibreglass skinning methods of construction, but he was intrigued with system and its multiple benefits – precision cut, time saving, labour saving and minimal waste.

Grant and his two co-workers are now well into the build.

“They made the large cabin top first and it went together very well and quickly, and they are now starting to plank up the first hull.”

“The client, whose father was a New Zealand timber boat builder and built many cold-moulded Kauri sailing yachts, was quite tentative about the process but is now also becoming much more relaxed and happy as he sees the boat coming to life.”

For more information:

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Our boats Displacement hull powercats, by Roger Hill Roger Hill 9m Displacement hull powercat

Roger Hill 9m Displacement hull powercat

Designed by Roger Hill Yacht Design, this is an efficient, smooth riding boat.

The displacement hull powercat by Roger Hill Yacht Design is a very efficient shape, smooth riding and economical.

The volume of this boat needs to be seen to be believed as the catamaran configuration makes this boat feel so much bigger than any mono hulled boat in its class.

It sits flat in the water at speed with minimal bow waves and almost non existent chine spray. Whilst top end speed sits at an impressive 23kts, a 16kt cruising speed gives us an astonishing range of almost 300miles at 4200RPM. Matched with the comfort and volume of twin hulls, you find a vessel with the feel of a boat much larger than 9 meters and running costs of a boat much smaller.

The lower deck accommodation has two aft cabins with single berth, a forward double berth, shower and head forward to port.  On the main deck there is a galley, settee with dining table and a centre line helm station.

Power:  Twin 80hp 4 stroke outboards outboards

Performance (subject to sea conditions and loading):

Max speed 23 knots, economical cruising speed 16knots at 4200revs, economy at cruising speed 1.7 litres per nautical mile total both engines

*This boat is able to be customised to your specific requirements

Need to know more?

Like what you see but need more info? Give us a call or send us an email and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

Hull features

Boat details.

• Length Overall: 9m
• Displacement: 4.45 tonnes
• Fuel capacity: 2x 250 litres
• Fresh water: 2x 200 litres
• Draft, with outboard up .56m

The Kingfisher 620 Hardtop Powercat is pure magic. Safety, luxury, and adventure seamlessly merged, creating an unforgettable escape. From a cozy cabin to thrilling open seas, it's the epitome of boating perfection. For those craving an unparalleled experience, this Kingfisher is your dream come true. James Cook, Tauranga

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New Roger Hill design takes shape with DuFLEX

The divinely named Celeste , a 12-metre Roger Hill-designed power catamaran, is in build at G&T Marine, Auckland – the first-time seasoned boat builder Grant Symmans has worked with the DuFLEX panel system and Z-press from ATL Composites.

The privately-owned, custom-built, displacement-hull powercat is on track for delivery by May 2023 to an experienced owner looking for volume and ease of cruising.

So far, according to Grant, he has used the Z-press to join the DuFLEX panels for superstructure and cabin top.

“It’s a first for me,” he states. “Roger is a huge fan, so we went with it. It’s labour saving, comes as a kit, and the DuFLEX is lightweight and sturdy.”

The 12-metre vessel is a “fairly straight forward” build, single level sedan with a beam of 4.8-metres.

“Using DuFLEX has made construction a simple process and at this stage we’re impressed with it. We’ll know more when we do the hulls,” Grant adds.

Using ATL’s Z-Press streamlines the composite panel joining process, applying heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on the Z-Joints. Joins cure fully in 7 to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, type of hardener, core type and thickness of the panel.

Roger Hill, specialist power multihull designer, says the client sought a well-appointed powercat for “the next phase of his cruising lifestyle”.

“I have always said that these displacement hull power cats we design are ‘sailor’s power boats’,” he explains. “That is, when you have been a yachtie all your life and you’re facing the unavoidable ravages of time on your old body but don’t want to give up boating, these cats are a good option!

“For Auckland-based yachties who have been cruising around at around 6 to 8 knots, a lot of the time motoring (as you get older), and a lot of the time beating to windward, these smaller displacement hull power cats are ideal.

“They cruise most economically around 14 to 15 knots, or about twice the speed you have been used to going all of your previous boating life, and they are really fuel efficient. Also, they will motor directly into any head wind and nasty sea state without spilling your drink, or leaning over.”

Fortuitously, the client is Roger’s very first when he struck out on his own and established his design firm 27 years ago.

“He owned his lovely 11.9-metre cruising yacht from new, it fitted his requirements perfectly all of that time and he kept it in immaculate condition. Like all of us, he is getting older and the physicality of sailing a yacht basically on your own was starting to tell.

“He made the very hard decision to sell and move on with the next phase of his boating life. They went out for a ride on a smaller 10-metre displacement power cat we designed and from that, he commissioned his new 12-metre design.”

While there is nothing particularly new or radical about the design, there are some unique features.

“The client wanted something that he could trust and depend on to fulfil his future yachting aspirations,” explains Roger. “As with the original sailing yacht, the new power cat is specifically detailed around his requirements.

“Things like the very clever swimming diving platform that lowers down between the motors to form steps down to a wider bottom panel that allows easy access into the water for diving and launching a small RIB.

“It’s just the two of them, and the layout will be very comfortable for them to live aboard for extended periods through the summer as they have done with their yacht for many years.

“The choice to go with outboards was based on being able to explore areas they have previously not been able access with a deep draft keel, so adding a new dimension to their cruising ambitions.”

The choice to use the DuFLEX system came from the client seeing it for himself, visiting the 16-metre Omahu  and speaking to its owner who had a previous sailing cat built out of DuFLEX and was extremely positive about the process.

“The preliminary design for the structure of “Celeste” was based on standard foam cored composite boat building methods. From that the options were costed up and DuFLEX won the job!”

Cored with Divinycell foam, the DuFLEX panels in Celeste have a combination of H80 and H100 densities in the hull shell. The hull bottoms are cored with 20mm H100 DuFLEX Strips that are laminated with a 460 grm unidirectional E-Fibreglass which will have an additional laminate applied on both sides, while hull sides are a mix of H80 thicknesses and laminated with double layers of 800grm quadraxial chosen to meet performance and engineering requirements.

Grant Symmans was a more traditional builder accustomed to using plywood, timber, and fibreglass skinning methods of construction, but he was intrigued with system and its multiple benefits – precision cut, time saving, labour saving and minimal waste.

Grant and his two co-workers are now well into the build.

“They made the large cabin top first and it went together very well and quickly, and they are now starting to plank up the first hull.

“The client, whose father was a New Zealand timber boat builder and built many cold-moulded Kauri sailing yachts, was quite tentative about the process but is now also becoming much more relaxed and happy as he sees the boat coming to life.”

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www.atlcomposites.com.au

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Roger Hill 13.8 Raptap

Author : Barry Tyler  

While prolific catamaran designer Roger Hill has designed a significant number of hulls in the 12-14-metre size range, few are ever even remotely close to each other in layout, power or appointments. Hill’s latest Roger Hill 13.8m version to hit the water was for a couple whose number one priority was creature comforts – and therefore the parameters were extended in a way seldom seen in a vessel of this size. 

Put it down to Hill’s seemingly endless portfolio of ideas, but perhaps more realistically put it down to what over the last few years is an increasingly more discerning band of seafarers who more than ever know exactly what they require in a boat, and are prepared to pay for it. Purchase a ‘production’ vessel and you are very much governed by the constraints and parameters of the more cost-effective style of mass-produced hull, deck and flybridge configurations. Enlist the services of a predominantly custom designer like Roger Hill however and virtually the sky is the limit.

Raptap’s owners, a semi-retired dentist and his lovely lady, with thoughts very much on his full retirement, had dabbled a little in smaller boats over the years but now was their one opportunity to finally realise the boat of their dreams. They had decided on exactly what features and above all what level of specification they wanted – so they could literally set off into the sunset and travel unimpeded where and when they wanted to – in complete comfort as well as luxury.

That was the theory anyway, but as with all good theories there would always be some pitfalls along the way, as designer, owners and builder all worked toward accommodating each and every requirement of two owners who in effect were striving for an extension of their own home. The end result was nothing short of spectacular, in fact well above the standard of specification and presentation of your typical 12-14m vessel, but of course this did come at a cost I will allude to further on in the story.

Trade-mark Roger Hill Design

My first impressions of Raptap were of a vessel unmistakably of Roger Hill’s design, perhaps the only really visibly obvious difference with this model over earlier models being the aft flybridge overhang which stretched right aft so as to fully cover the entire cockpit area. Very easy on the eye, the lines of the three levels of topsides, cabin and flybridge were very much in ‘sync’ with each other.

Boarding was user-friendly courtesy of the full width boarding platform, which in itself was somewhat of a rarity as traditionally the central tunnel of most catamarans is higher than it was in this particular instance, and often splits this platform. Another pleasant surprise here was the size of the rear cockpit. Well protected from the elements as I say, by this huge flybridge overhang, this teak lined area provided space for huge storage and refrigeration modules each side of the saloon entry doors, along with an equally grandiose transom module that housed the obligatory BBQ and tackle boxes. Neat moulded steps led you up onto the walkways each side, but interestingly while there was certainly room for it, there was no seating of any description in this cockpit area.

The neat stainless steel and teak step assembly led you up onto a flybridge level that courtesy of this aforementioned overhang, was huge in area – big enough in fact to house the Davco davit, a cradle-mounted 3.4m Gemini inflatable and if you required it, a jet ski as well. The ‘hard-top’ flybridge was enclosed on three sides and I would venture to suggest the interior size of this coupled with the generously-sized U-shaped guest settee, would be the precise reason there was no seating below in the rear cockpit. This couple intend spending all their time on this level.

With this settee being the dominant feature, naturally Raptap was right hand drive. A two-person helm module offered good visibility to all corners of the vessel, and the designer even found space to include a sink and refrigeration module to the side and in behind this helm seating. The instrumentation and indeed the entire dash presentation was for me however, a slight disappointment in the context of the specification and presentation of the rest of the vessel. Certainly nothing wrong with the integrated C120 Raymarine electronics package, micro Commander remotes or the Yanmar instrumentation, but it all seemed a little cramped and unspectacular – as I say, in the context of the presentation of the rest of this flybridge level, and indeed the rest of the boat as I was about to discover.

Something Very Special

Time we had to kill before the rest of our party turned up for our test day gave me the perfect opportunity to enjoy a thorough and uninterrupted tour of the interior of Raptap. “Wow” was my first reaction upon entering a saloon that suggested immediately that this boat was something very special. Opulent was more the word, for there was a standard in here not expected in a vessel of this size.

The galley was aft and to starboard and was very stealth-like in appearance, the patterned stainless steel theme providing looks as well as practicality in a ‘kitchen’ that would keep the most discerning of gourmet chefs more than happy. Heaps of storage, bench space, cupboards and drawers, twin sinks, servery, house-size refrigerator, generous freezer provision, range hood, convection microwave oven, four-burner gas stove, coffee-maker – not so much an overkill as simply addressing the owners’ requirements that this boat be an extension of their own home. 

Modern was a word that sprung to mind to quantify the galley appearance and this theme was certainly maintained throughout the saloon proper. Décor was the darker jarrah hardwood intermingled with appealing plush maroon leather dining settees. White vinyl ceiling and wall panels added the final touches of real elegance to this area. Even the layout was very much a break from tradition, with not one but two dining settings provided. The ‘day-time’ setting was aft, and up front and virtually scalloped into the bulkhead was the rather striking ‘mood’ setting of a U-shaped settee around the Corian dining table – a very romantic and appealing spectacle! 

While the saloon caught my attention I admit to expecting a little lower specification below decks – how wrong I was! As with most catamaran configurations there are a number of different cabin layout options along with discretionary ‘room’ to include a little owners’ flair along the way. In this instance, with extended family in mind, our owners opted for a ‘three double and one single’ layout, with the décor theme in tune with that of the saloon.

While the saloon was modern, luxurious was justifiably the buzz-word below.

The ensuites had tiled floors, Corian-topped vanities, solid jarrah doors and glass panelling between the separate showers and the Tecma heads. Three of the bedrooms featured conventionally-placed king-single or queen-sized berths in generously sized rooms. Wardrobes, mirror, drawers, overhead ventilation and good lighting were all ‘standard issue’. The owners’ cabin was however an entirely different story – with the focal point a massive four-poster bed across rather than fore and aft, which took pride of place in this room. Very impressive, I mean, how often do you find four-poster beds in a 13.8m catamaran?

Specs and Mechanicals

Raptap was built by Steve Braedyn of Custom Boatworx, of an ‘interesting’ composite of foam panelling, cedar planking, plywood and GRP with woven rovings, that gave it not only immense strength but in theory it also should have provided a significantly lighter design payload of around 12,000kg at lightships. Should have, being the operative statement, for it was somewhat of an annoyance for designer Roger Hill (it is well documented how ‘insistent’ most designers are when it comes to the all-important weight factor) to find out that air conditioning, heavier wood, glass panelling, four-poster beds, an inflatable, a watermaker and a multitude of other discretionary items (how could you not have any of those, I ask!) had all been added to the original plans, that increased the displacement figure up to around 16,000kg.

As such, and I hasten to add that there is a trade-off involved, the twin 370hp LYA-Series 6-cylinder Yanmar diesels through 2:1 ZF gearboxes and conventional shaft drives to the 21 ½ x 21 ½ Performance propellers inside a typical Roger Hill tunnel cavity within the hull bottom – in this instance returned a top speed of 21 knots. I say trade-off, for a sister-ship I went aboard a while back was right on the design weight of 12-tonnes, it sat 100mm higher in the water, and it reached a top speed of 25 knots. 21 knots however lies very easy with these owners for in their own words they are not the slightest bit interested in running at full speed wherever they go. Theirs is an idyllic cruising boat, to be enjoyed at cruising speeds – which in this case was still a most respectable 15-16 knots!

As already noted, mechanicals included the 14.7kW Cruisair air-conditioning system, a Fisher Panda 12kVA genset to power the 1,100Ah of Mastervolt batteries through two Mastervolt Mass Combi 2000 inverter/chargers, and an Australian made Hydrive hydraulic steering system around in-house engineering by Steve Braedyn. While Raptap carries a significant fuel payload of 2500 litres, the 900 litres of fresh water is supplemented by a cruising-obligatory 100 L/h HRO watermaking system. Deck equipment included a serious winch in the form of a Maxwell Liberty RC 2500 attached to a stainless steel Sarca anchor.

This was one of the most appealing vessels it has ever been my pleasure to go aboard. It was opulent yet it had warmth. Its appointments were perhaps to an overkill level but once again in the context of the owners’ criteria – entirely appropriate. The downside of course was the very influencing weight intrusion which basically transformed the boat from a high-speed model into a cruising model. And of course in a boat such as this the price certainly got away on them a bit – but at the end of the day the owners got exactly what they wanted for their retirement package. Presentation was superb, as was the standard of workmanship – I couldn’t find any defective workmanship anywhere. And no, perhaps surprisingly under the circumstances, there was no pronounced pounding up the tunnel of the hull, as a result of the lower waterline! In fact, just how pleased the owners were could be summed up by their response when I asked the question, “What would you change in your boat? What would you do differently, now that the boat is in the water?” Their prompt reply: “Nothing!”

Specifications

• Boat Design Name: Roger Hill 13.8 Power Catamaran
• Year Launched: 2007
• Designer: Roger Hill
• Builder: Custom Boatworx
• Beam: 5.57m
• Draft: 1.05m
• Displacement: 16.4 tonnes
• Max Speed: 22 knots
• Cruise Speed: 16 knots
• Construction: foam, cedar, plywood, GRP
• Fuel Capacity: 2500 litres
• Water Capacity: 900 litres
• Engines: Twin 370hp Yanmar

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Omahu - 16m Displacement Power Catamaran

Design Concept

New Zealand multihull designer Roger Hill designed this long-range displacement power cat for an existing client, whose previous boat was sailing cat, also designed by Roger, who is now ready for some long range adventures around the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand in the Summer and cruising around the Pacific islands during the Winter.

The accent is on comfort rather than speed and plenty of space for two couples to live aboard along with all of the equipment and storage required for long trips in remote places with no easy access to fuel, water, and food.

Construction

Because of previous experience and construction success, Roger based the design for construction with DuFLEX Composite panels  and construction began this month at Lifestyle Yachts in Pipiroa, New Zealand.

The owners of Omahu decided on a dark blue hull which dictated the choice of foam core to be used in the hull and transom areas. A combination of Divinycell HP80 and HP100 foam cores in 20mm were chosen for the DuFLEX Strip Planks used for these areas to provide elevated temperature performance under the dark blue paint and offering high properties in all significant areas including mechanical performance, elongation to break, adhesion/peel strength, fracture toughness and dimensional stability.  Divinycell HP is type approved by DNV-GL Maritime.

The panels were laminated with a high temperature laminating resin with an 800grm unidirectional E-Fibreglass and scarfed on the shorter edges of the panels to facilitate joining to panels to the full length of the hulls and the DuFLEX Z-Press was shipped with the panels to New Zealand.

Other DuFLEX Composite Panels components in the first shipment included wingdeck, soles, girders, webs, bulkheads and longitudinal all supplied in CNC-Routed Kit Form with various core types and densities – from H100 in 25mm and 30mm laminated with an 800grm unidirectional for strip planking the wing-deck sections,  to 25mm H80 with 2 layers of 600grm or 800grm double bias on either side for the bulkheads – that were engineered to suit the design loads in the vessel.  ATL also manufactured the CNC-routed MDF Build Jig for the project and each panel type, including the jig, was supplied with a CNC nesting and joining booklet to aid in the assembly process.

More soon….

19.8m Displacement Power Cat

Ocean going motor yacht.

This design has been commissioned by an experience yachtsman who is ready to hang up his sea boots and foul weather gear and enjoy a more comfortable mode of marine transport and live aboard amenities!

It will be a family boat, the size can be confidently controlled by a husband and wife team, and the accommodation and living areas are very generous for a cat of this size.

The Owner’s cabin fwd is large and comfortably laid out with king sized double, lounging furniture and desk, it also has it’s own bathroom with separate toilet compartment, double hand basins and large shower stall.

The 2 guest cabins can be configured as twins or doubles.

The main deck clearly shows the true advantages of the space afforded by a wide catamaran, the living spaces are very large, the galley, the dinning areas inside and outside, and the raised lounge amidships are one large interconnected space, 50 or 60 people could enjoy a day out on this boat without getting in each others way and a small family party and guests of 4 or 6 would not need to worry about getting on each others nerves from being in too close a proximity.

The flybridge has internal access handy to the lower cockpit/cabin entrance, up there we have additional lounging space, large pop up flat screen TV, wet bar and fridge, a sit down navigation space, and twin helm seats behind a large and comprehensive console that will be fitted with the latest touch screen ‘glass bridge’ technology.

Engine power required for a top speed of 25 knots is 450hp per side and cruising at 15 knots will use an economic total of 240 hp.

The boat will be set up with all of the required modern fixtures, fittings, and systems, full size domestic appliances, air conditioning, water making, power generation, etc.

Do you like what you see?

Contact RHYD about this design

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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Moscow's High Rise Bohemia: The International Business District With No Business

• Written by Dario Goodwin
• Published on March 17, 2015

The Moscow International Business Center (Also known as Moskva-City ) was meant to be Russia ’s ticket into the Western world. First conceived in 1992, the district at the edge of Moscow’s city center is intended to contain up to 300,000 inhabitants, employees and visitors at any given moment and, when completed, will house over 4 million square meters of prime retail, hotel and office space to create what the Russian government desired most from this project: an enormous financial district that could dwarf London’s Canary Wharf and challenge Manhattan . Twenty three years later though, Moscow-based real estate company Blackwood estimates that as much as 45% of this new space is entirely vacant and rents have plummeted far below the average for the rest of Moscow. The only press Moskva-City is attracting is for tenants like the High Level Hostel , a hostel catering to backpackers and other asset-poor tourists on the 43rd floor of the Imperia Tower , with prices starting at $25.50 for a bed in a six-person room. This is not the glittering world of western high finance that was envisioned back in the post-Soviet 90s; but what has it become instead?

As one might expect from a project of this sheer ambition, Moskva-City has a troubled past. The economic crash in 2008 hit Russia hard enough to evict the previous Mayor of Moscow , Yuri Luzhkov, who had been a cheerleader for the district, and replace him with the considerably more austere Sergei Sobyanin, who famously declared that the whole idea was an “urban planning mistake.” But as recently as 2013, the Wall Street Journal was triumphantly claiming that Moskva-City had risen from the dead, citing 80% occupancy rates and glowing quotes from industry insiders claiming that Moskva-City was the "place to be." Driven by record highs in oil prices, Moscow looked poised to become the next Dubai .

Instead, Moscow is now in the grip of an economic winter prompted by western sanctions and drops in the price of oil. The large financial groupings that Moskva-City was meant to shelter have been warned off by their inability to issue credit to international markets, for example - but Moskva-City isn’t just an Empire State Building left empty by the Great Depression.

A fundamental problem that is holding Moskva back compared to the rest of Moscow is the simple fact that currently, getting to Moskva-City is nigh-on impossible at peak hours. Moscow has long been plagued with transport problems, ever since the government failed to match the dramatic expansion of the city with a dramatic expansion of the transport system after the Second World War. Despite being only 2.5 miles from the Kremlin , Moskva-City is only just inside the ring road that bounds the city center and which acts as the only real transport link to it (and as a result, is clogged by construction vehicles.) A railway and metro hub has been finished, but so far only runs a one-stop shuttle service to the closest Metro station that is actually integrated with the rest of Moscow Metro. The isolation of the outer districts is a large, negative part of the Moscow psyche, and it’s not surprising that this is driving away the globetrotting financial elite this project was meant to attract.

The project is managed by architectural practice No.6, which is a constituent part of the large Moscow based practice Mosproject-2 , which is itself a public corporation headed up by Mikhail Vasilyevich Posokhin, who is apparently the “People’s Architect of Russia.” Despite all this state involvement, the project has still managed to become bogged down in bureaucratic infighting - each lot is managed and developed individually, which has led to developers competing for occupants by slashing rates.

Much has been written about the way modern financial districts and towers that inhabit them can be unwelcoming, forbidding or even hostile by design, but the skyscrapers of Moskva-City seem even less friendly than usual. The site - a former stone quarry, chosen out of necessity as the only place in the city center where a new district could be plausibly constructed - is isolated both physically and visually, leaving the cluster a stark anomaly on the city skyline. Even the names seem more imposing than optimistic now: Imperia, City of Capitals , Steel Peak.

The Mercury City Tower , so far the tallest completed building on the site, is officially “a strong reference to Russian constructivism, [which] gives the tower a strong vertical thrust similar to the one found in New York's Chrysler building .” It would be easy to criticize the Mercury City Tower for picking ‘inspirations’ that are so totally opposed to each other - The Chrysler building the defining emblem of American pre-crash confidence and Constructivism created with the express purpose (especially architecturally) of extending the Bolshevik revolution into a social revolution - but the way they smash those two inspirations together is almost beautifully ironic.

Even though the High Level Hostel is less an asset to a financial district than it is a PR problem, it’s been a huge success since opening in September, already ranked 27th out of 766 hostels in Moscow by TripAdvisor. According to the management agency for Moskva-City , 58% of the new occupant signings this year have been non-financial, including a number of small to medium size businesses. Other areas of office space have been occupied by a restaurant and a culinary school, while another space has been redeveloped into a 6,000 seat theater.

While Moskva-City is failing to be a financial district that could take on the world, it’s inadvertently becoming a humanized space catering to the very groups that the Russian economic miracle left behind. Taking advantage of rents lower than the rest of Moscow , the world class facilities and the sheer desperation of the developers, the humanization of Moskva-City could well create the world’s first high-rise bohemia.

Of course, these are not spaces designed for a community, or even for people: these are spaces designed for money, and there’s little scope for changing something that seems so baked into the design of Moskva-City . The High Level Hostel is trading off of the irony of being a hostel in a banking tower, but it’s perfectly possible that at some point people will no longer find this joke funny (especially in a building that seems hostile to the very idea of humor). The isolation of Moskva, even though it allowed this community to spring up in the first place, is just as detrimental to a humanized district as it is to a financial one: even bohemians need to move around the city, or the district risks becoming a black-spot instead of a hot-spot.

Moskva-City’s isolation won’t last forever. The end of construction will open the roads up to traffic, and plans to properly integrate the spur lines of the Metro in this area into the wider system are well under way. The integration of the district will inevitably push up rents, and the Russian economy will eventually boom once again. When that happens, Moskva-City is prime territory to be reconquered by the giants of international finance, and it seems unlikely that the municipal or national governments would want to step in to protect this accidental district. For now, though, the towers capture perfectly this moment of Russia ’s schizophrenic understanding of its place in the world.

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5 of Moscow's most BEAUTIFUL districts

1.  Sokolniki

By 9 a.m., the main square of Sokolniki district in the northeast of Moscow begins to fill up with dog-walkers and cyclists. The mobile coffee shops and hot dog outlets are not open yet; the only sounds are the rustling of the autumn leaves and gurgling of the main fountain, around which sleepy guards walk.

“But on the weekend, there are crowds of people here, as if the whole of Moscow descends on it,” says Raisa Bazarova, a resident of Sokolniki. She says that she literally “married” Sokolniki 21 years ago, in 1999, when she moved from the central Arbat district to live with her new husband.

Police fire station with a tower-tower in Sokolniki

It took three years for her to feel at home, finally making friends with the neighbors. Now, Raisa considers it the most beautiful area of ​​Moscow and is fond of its low-rise skyline and architectural monuments.

“As soon as you step out of the subway, you’re in Sokolniki, and the first thing that catches the eye is the pre-revolutionary watchtower [built in 1884]. It saw the old wooden Moscow and has been preserved in all its splendor,” says Bazarova. 

Moscow, park Sokolniki

Raisa also advises foreigners to visit Sokolniki Park, one of the oldest in Moscow, founded in 1878, with fountains, ponds, a swimming pool, an amusement park and its own rose garden. Sokolniki was adored by Peter the Great and Alexander I and it was here that they often held feasts. For Bazarova, the lush greenery makes it the “lungs” of the district.  

The Viktyuk Theater. The building of the outstanding architect Konstantin Melnikov, 1929

Another must-see, according to Bazarova, is the Roman Viktyuk Theater — if nothing else, then to see one of Moscow’s main architectural gems, designed and built in the Constructivist style that prevailed in the city in the 1920s. Moreover, Russian-speaking theater lovers might want to catch a performance of ‘The Maids’ by French playwright Jean Genet. 

2. Levoberezhny

Galina Yakunina, director of a sports club in Moscow’s north for nine years, walks with unfeigned pleasure along the main alley of Rechnoy Vokzal (“River Station”) Park, which was restored in 2020 under the ‘My district’ city improvement program.

Aerial view is a beautiful panorama of the renovated Northern River Station in Moscow

In the summer of 2020, the station, which resembles a ship, was enveloped in scaffolding, as the original 1937 edifice was being restored. Today, it is surrounded by fountains with children running around, endless flower beds and an all-new embankment that runs along a miniature replica of the Moscow Canal, replete with children’s paddle boats and other attractions.

“It’s really beautiful. Cruise ships and motor vessels depart from here. Muscovites love it and tourists definitely will as well,” says Yakunina. 

Park Levoberezhnyj, Moscow

Her second favorite place for a post-work evening stroll is Druzhba (Friendship) Park, laid out for the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1957. The main features are its monuments and sculptures dedicated to children, international friendship and war heroes, as well as the pond-reflected willows and the playgrounds. Thanks to these two parks, the air in the district differs sharply from that in central Moscow - that she is sure of. 

Park Druzhby

In summer, Levoberezhny beach (renovated under the ‘My district’ city improvement program in 2018) becomes the main focal point and Galina heartily recommends it to tourists. 

“The beach is covered with sand, with a cafe, sun loungers and beach volleyball. It’s very relaxing,” she says, describing the place. 

3. Filevsky Park

For social conflict expert Alexei Ivanushkin, Filevsky Park in the city’s west has always been the main symbol of Moscow. 

Fili Park embankment

“I moved here in 2005 from St Petersburg, when the Gorbushka electronics market was one of Moscow’s main draws. There were always crowds of people, poorly dressed, but eager for gadgets. We used to go to the wooded parts of Filevsky Park, clearing branches, because it was impossible to get through. There were bottles everywhere that people had just left. In other words, it was a hub for alcoholics,” Ivanushkin shares his first impressions of the area. 

Church of the Protection of the Theotokos in Fili, 1690-1694, Moscow

Fifteen years later, the now-landscaped embankment of the park is Alexei’s favorite spot for daily walks and he also advises tourists to visit.

“For me, the place is full of energy and inspires the soul,” says Ivanushkin. 

No less significant is the Baroque Church of the Intercession at Fili, constructed in the late 17th century and financed by the boyar Lev Naryshkin, asserts Ivanushkin. In 1812, Napoleon’s soldiers converted the first floor of the church into a stable. In 1943, the lower church was used as a hospital and then, until 1963, as a warehouse for paper products. Highly recommended to anyone interested in unusual places of worship. 

Gorbunova recreation center

“The Suvorov Military School stood opposite the church. And every year at the graduation ceremony, it was a tradition for graduates to secretly raise the flag of the armed forces on the building. They tried to stop it, but no one was ever punished,” recounts Ivanushkin.

To learn more about Russian rock music, Alexei advises a visit to the Gorbunov Palace of Culture, named after Sergei Gorbunov, the director of an aircraft factory and built in 1938. In 1986, it housed the first “rock-n-roll laboratory” in Moscow, earning the building a reputation as the capital’s premier venue for rock concerts and festivals. 

4. Krylatskoe

To learn more about sports facilities built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Krylatskoye is the place to start, says local resident Yulia Zhiltsova, who moved to Moscow from Siberia and has lived in the city’s western part for 21 years. 

Krylatsky hills. Panorama

“I love walking around the velodrome and other Olympics facilities. There’s also a speed-skating center and rowing canal. Red Bull regularly organizes the Flugtag competition here, it’s really fun and interesting,” notes Zhiltsova.   

Cycle Track "Krylatskoe"

In her free time, Yulia enjoys what are perhaps the capital’s most beautiful views from West Krylatsky Hill in the nearby park, offering a panorama of Moscow-City, the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and the arch of Zhivopisny Bridge.

She advises tourists to climb the hill, take shots of the stunning Moscow backdrops and escape the hustle and bustle of the central historical districts. 

Red Bull Flugtag 2017 in Moscow

“Here you feel at one with nature, yet central Moscow is just 20 minutes down the road. There are no crowds, even on weekends. The center is packed and impersonal, but here the atmosphere is a bit more homely,” Zhiltsova explains. 

5. Khoroshevsky

Khodynskoe Field in the Khoroshevsky district is notorious as the site of a deadly crush during celebrations to mark the coronation of Nicholas II in 1905. Today, it looks more like a futuristic city with fantastical towers, art objects in the local park and dancing fountains. By 8 p.m. on weekdays, the park is especially crowded — school students shoot TikTok dance videos and ride skateboards, while children run with their parents through the mirror maze. 

Local resident Alexander Lyubarsky moved to Khodynka in 2010 and, as a photographer, immediately fell in love with the views. 

“Every part of Khodynsky Park — be it a swing, a pond, a sports ground stylized as an airplane and helicopter, or the fountains behind us — is photogenic,” explains Lyubarsky. The Park appeared in 2018 under the ‘My district’ city renovation program.

Chapel of the Transfiguration of the Savior in the Memorial Park complex of world war I heroes. Built in 1998

His second favorite place for photos is the small Berezovaya Roscha (“Birch Grove”) Park (renovated in 2020 as part of the ‘My district’ program), which, besides birches, is home to maple, ash, and linden trees. 

Every visitor to Khodynka simply must go to the World War I Heroes Memorial Park at the Bratskoe (Fraternal) Cemetery, Lyubarsky insists.

World war I Heroes memorial Park

“There’s a wonderful chapel with the buried ashes of Grand Duke Nikolai Romanov [the grandson of Nicholas I and an uncle of Nicholas II who was the Russian commander-in-chief during World War I]. Everything’s also very photogenic there,” says Lyubarsky. 

In his opinion, every foreign tourist should visit Khodynka for a glimpse of what the future Russia might look like. 

“It would be good if all the suburbs could be like this. I’d love this to spread beyond the Moscow Ring Road [MKAD],” he concludes.

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