An architect on everyday buildings

What it is

The TikTok of architect Denis Gorbachev, who describes himself as holding a master's in architecture and running an architecture firm, and signs his videos den_architect. He films the buildings around him and says plainly what works and what doesn't. Why buildings painted like bright toy blocks look cheap, and how real facade depth comes from volume, light and shadow. What a ventilation cowl on top of a flue actually does. Why wayfinding, art pieces and details matter in a shopping mall. What happens in a fire when the glass bursts in a window set too close to its neighbour. The videos are in Russian.

Why we picked it

We walk past new buildings every day and rarely stop to ask why one street feels pleasant and another feels oppressive. This account gives you the vocabulary for it. He's emotional and sometimes blunt, happy to call a faceless housing block an "anthill", but his verdicts are backed by professional reasoning. At the moment he's apartment hunting in Astana and reviewing Kazakh new builds along the way, which gives the feed a fresh angle beyond Moscow.

Videos come out almost daily. Bear in mind it's a personal blog, so everyday stories and travel notes turn up now and then.

Where to start

• The video on facades painted in bright colours and what to do instead.
• The explainer on ventilation cowls.
• The one on fire safety and closely spaced windows.
• His take on what makes a good shopping mall.
• The series on new housing in Astana, useful if you're house hunting yourself.

Who it's for

Russian speakers choosing an apartment who want an expert eye on the building. Anyone interested in cities and urbanism. Architecture students who can learn from a practitioner.

Quick answers

What language is it in? Russian.

Is it only about Russia? No, many recent videos were filmed in Kazakhstan.

Where else can I find him? On Instagram as den_architect.