Russia to Build a Locomotive-Shaped Smart Housing Complex

An upcoming digital neighborhood in Perm will feature a locomotive-inspired building as its architectural centerpiece.

In the Russian city of Perm, construction is set to begin on one of the country’s largest smart residential districts—and one building will take the form of a locomotive. The design, chosen to reflect the area’s cultural and architectural identity, will become a new visual landmark for the “Railway Workers’ Cultural District,” according to TASS.

The ambitious project spans 25.3 hectares and will add more than 200,000 square meters of housing. Social infrastructure is a key focus: plans include the region’s first “smart school,” designed for 1,400 students, and a cutting-edge kindergarten for 200 children.

The neighborhood’s technological backbone will be developed with the help of the IT company Unicorn, which is setting digital standards for next-generation educational facilities. Completion is scheduled for 2033, with a construction agreement already signed.

The project was unveiled at the “City of the Future” development forum in Perm, where experts discussed digital transformation in urban environments and the adoption of innovative housing and public-utility technologies.