How a British Farmer and His Russian Wife, Together with the Low-Rise Housing Association, Are Building the City of the Future Near Petushki

The idea was born not in offices, but from real life. Tourism at “Bogdarnya” is seasonal, and the surrounding villages are emptying out. The family realized that what was needed was a permanent, living organism where people could live year-round, work, raise children, and not flee to megacities. “TroikaGrad” erases the boundaries between city and countryside, preserving the best of both worlds. Low-rise housing, farms, digital technologies, tourism, and production — all in one place. Jobs are planned here for veterans of the Special Military Operation, resettlers, and active seniors.

The “Troika” in the name is no coincidence. For years, “Bogdarnya” has hosted Russian troika festivals, and in 2026 this equestrian sport was officially recognized as a national sport. It is a symbol of forward movement, a connection to tradition, and at the same time — dynamism. The project is based on the “Russian code”: multi-generational families, cooperation, respect for land, culture, and self-organization. Local tourism here is not about one-off excursions, but about deep immersion — farming, crafts, education, and events that truly unite residents and guests.

A key role in the project is played by the Association of Low-Rise and Individual Housing Market Participants (Low-Rise Housing Association). Established in early 2025, it brings together existing non-profit associations and leading low-rise and individual housing developers. Its primary goal is to promote the large-scale replication in the regions of successful practices in project financing and construction under contract agreements using escrow accounts. The organization represents the interests of more than 15,000 companies and actively cooperates with banks, architects, realtors, and materials manufacturers.

Under the leadership of respected figures — Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Hero of Socialist Labor Yefim Vladimirovich Basin, Chairman of the Management Board Valery Semyonovich Kazeykin, Association President and State Duma deputy Alexander Vladimirovich Yakubovsky, and Vice President Dmitry Viktorovich Aniskov — the Association develops modern standards, improves legislation, and promotes effective practices nationwide. The Association’s involvement in “TroikaGrad” is a natural and powerful stage of this work.

The project предусматривает the mechanism of an experimental settlement with the participation of local communities, digital land verification, master planning, a financial model, and the attraction of project financing. Separately, work is underway on mortgages for buyers, Russian-made house kits, “green” certification under GOST R 71392-2024, and a consumer cooperative for agricultural products.

The Low-Rise Housing Association continues to systematically consolidate the industry, replicate successes in the regions, and improve the legislative framework. Publication in “Parlamentskaya Gazeta” became well-deserved recognition and an additional impetus. Thanks to this partnership, the Kopiski family’s dream is turning into a scalable model for sustainable territorial development.

In June 2026, an agreement on developing the concept was signed at the World Trade Center. This is a pilot project that could spread across the country within the framework of the Russian Federation’s Spatial Development Strategy through 2036. Nina Kuzmicheva speaks plainly: this is about a different quality of life, where families grow and stay rooted in place. John Kopiski and his team have already proven at “Bogdarnya” that private initiative can transform a territory. And with the support of the Low-Rise Housing Association, these ambitions gain solid mechanisms, financing, and federal backing.