Service
Architecture, Engineering, Lead design consultancy, PM/CM
Sector
Mix, Play, Work
Location
Minsk, Belarus
Magnet Minsk is a landmark mixed-use destination located along Independence Avenue in Minsk, adjacent to the iconic National Library and well-connected by major transit routes.
Encompassing approximately 169,000 m² of gross floor area, the scheme integrates a shopping mall, supermarket, offices, residential apartments, a five-star hotel with spa, entertainment facilities, and extensive parking amenities. Designed by HKR as Lead Design Consultant within a wider development masterplan, the project stands out for its ambition to create a “destination within a destination”, blending business, leisure, and hospitality in one cohesive architectural expression. Its bold scale and strategic placement reinforce its role as a new centre of gravity for Minsk’s eastward growth corridor, transforming a developing urban area into a vibrant, multifunctional hub.
Urban Integration & Place-making
Magnet Minsk is conceived as both a gateway and catalyst for city expansion. Positioned on a primary arterial route and adjacent to the National Library, one of Minsk’s most recognisable landmarks, the complex anchors the urban realm and supports transit-oriented growth. The masterplan embraces a hierarchy of scales: retail and public spaces at the base, rising through offices, residences, and hotel, culminating in a rooftop landscape that redefines the skyline. Generous promenades and terraces connect internal and external realms, offering flexibility for events, leisure, and social interaction across seasons.
Architectural Programmatic Ambition
At its heart, the project weaves a richness of uses into a singular, high-impact complex. Retail (including anchor stores, fresh-market formats, cinema, food courts), office floors, hotel apartments, spa, and wellness facilities converge to create a true mixed-use ecosystem. Ground-level planning accommodates high footfall while upper levels maintain privacy and performance. Parking is deeply integrated: multiple thousand spaces support visitors and residents alike, ensuring accessibility without compromising public realm quality.
Construction
Landscape & Urban Experience
Landscape design plays a critical role in softening the building’s scale and integrating it into Minsk’s natural fabric. A series of stepped garden terraces, promenades, and event areas surround the development, planted with native species, gravel for sustainable drainage, and snow-responsive planning, bringing a sense of seasonal dynamism and connection to the region’s pine-forest ecology. At the hotel entrance, sculptural stone forms and water featurescreate a shimmering sense of arrival, an elegant counterpoint to the complex’s broader urban presence.
