Kiev's Miami

Designed by "Arkhimatika" Bureau for a remote area on the left bank of the Dnipro River, the residential complex "Slavutich" affirms a new, by the Ukraine's capital standards, type of a city "resort" housing project.

Written by:
Anna Starostina
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

14 July 2016

Object

Architect:

Firm:

Archimatika https://www.archimatika.com

Situated pretty far from the city center, this neighborhood on the left bank of the Dnipro has formed gradually since the early 1990's, and ended up being a multicolored "showcase" of controversial architectural experiments of a controversial epoch. On the other hand, this is almost a riverside resort area situated within the city limits with an abundance of trees, people's dachas, and free access to the river. "We always try to make our projects set a new trend for this or that city, and "Slavutich" is no exception - says one of the founders of "Arkhimatika", Dmitry Vasilyev - Here is the thing, though: while we always want to add color to the bleak and dreary construction of the soviet period, in this case, it is the direct opposite - in order to break away from the architectural "build-as-you-please" feast of the early 2000's, we had to completely refrain from using color and intricate designs in favor of the simple and pristine volumes. This project is a manifesto to laconism and simplicity, opting out of using "fancy" forms and silhouettes, and tiny unnecessary details. Naturally, it was formed by contrast with the existing buildings".

zooming — "Slavutich" housing project. View from the Bazhan Avenue. Project, 2016 © Arkhimatika

The complex is situated literally across the road from the "Slavutich" metro station. The large-scale project with a total area of 122000 square meters will house more than 1200 apartments. It is situated in five towers from 12 to 26 stories high, united by a single stylobate that includes a large fitness center with an area slightly less than 3000 square meters, with gyms, studios, and swimming pools. On its roof, a pedestrian yard is created, with green zones, sports grounds and playgrounds, this yard only opened to the residents. This, seemingly obvious and logic, solution, nevertheless caused a lot of problems. "The future operator of the fitness center insisted on the swimming pool being located in the central part of the stylobate, while the light was to issue from the cheapest kind of a lateral lantern - Dmitry Vasilyev shares - in the consequence of which in the middle of the yard we would be getting a rectangle, raised about two meters above the ground, with sun tubes all along its perimeter. This "billiard table", as we called it, stopped the whole yard and was terrible in every way". The architects solved the situation by breaking the roof of the swimming pool into four strips of a trapeze-shaped plan and elevating each one of their edges in a staggered order. The side facets of the resulting triangular "teeth" will be equipped with sun tubes - which will let in the ambient light inside the swimming pool, while their upper part will be covered with soil. This technique not only allowed the architects to fulfill the client's requirements but also get an illusion of knolls upon the yard's surface.

Yet another interesting solution came about as a result of separating the pedestrian and automotive traffic into two independent levels. All the driveways are situated on the ground level but at some places they are still routed under the pedestrian roof of the stylobate that forms sort of a tunnel over them. In order to keep these tunnels from looking dark and strictly utilitarian, the architects provided in some places inserts of colored glass beams that look a bit like Venetian blinds. They will also function like sun tubes, and the sun rays, passing through them, will create live colored spots on the walls and the floor, will introduce into the tunnels a play of light and shade, thus turning the tunnels into a stage for a play of sunlight.

The unusual trapeze shape of the towers and their seeming "freehand" position are actually anything but accidental: they are in fact a result of careful calculations that helped the architects provide the required insolation, at the same time getting as much useful floor space as possible.

"The traditional standard of designing Kiev's riverside housing projects is aligning three to four typical sections at a same angle - we call them "firing squads" among ourselves - shares Alexander Popov, the founder of the company - and our project is in fact surrounded by several such monotonous alignments. The last such "firing squad" is located quite near (a ridge of towers that form something like a tail that stretches away from our project into the land), and it must be launched into operation pretty soon. As for our approach, we from the very start viewed our project as a single volume, and we would "cut away" the redundant pieces, ultimately getting a single composition of five towers and a stylobate. This went a long way to help us create that "natural" feel to our project and give an air of freedom to the entire composition that looks great when viewed both from the neighboring Bazhan Avenue and from the automotive South Bridge over the Dnipro".

The façades are designed in the form of a geometric grid "stretched" over the glass volumes. Its pattern is mainly conditioned by the architects' desire to increase the glazing area and clear the insides of the apartments from the bearing structures. The whole outside array of pylons is placed outside of the buildings' outer walls, forming a bearing casing. This way, the architects were not only able to create a pylon-free zone along the front of the outside wall, but also get a powerful and dramatic relief of the façade, enhancing it with protrusions of the intermediate floors every two stories. There are also extra pillars that perform a purely decorative function and give extra robustness to the pattern. This will be especially noticeable in the evening because the architects plan to backlight these "slit" recessions.

As for the facade decoration, its solution is rather simple - it the classic "wet" system. This has to do with the fact that in spite of the rather pristine appearance, the apartments in this complex are rather democratically priced. It is this particular fact, as well as the smart planning, saturated infrastructure, and the tasteful design which, according to the architects, yields a feeling of prestige - and secure the success of the project whose apartments enjoy a fair share of demand in spite of the difficult economic situation in the country.

The construction is already underway and is expected to be completed in 2018.

Architect:

Firm:

Archimatika https://www.archimatika.com

14 July 2016

Headlines now

Inverted Fortress

This year, there has been no shortage of intriguing architectural ideas around the Omsk airport. The project developed by the architectural company KPLN appeals to Omsk’s history as a wooden fortress that it was back in the day, but transforms the concept of a fortress beyond recognition: it “shaves off” the conical ends of “wooden logs”, then enlarges them, and then flips them over. The result is a hypostyle – a forest of conical columns on point supports, with skylights on top.

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Transformation of Annenkirche

For Annenkirche (St. Anna Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg), Sergey Kuznetsov and the Kamen bureau have prepared a project that relies on the principles of the Venice Charter: the building is not restored to a specific date, historical layers are preserved, and modern elements do not mimic the authentic ones. Let’s delve into the details of these solutions.

The Paradox of the Temporary

The concept of the Russian pavilion for EXPO 2025 in Osaka, proposed by the Wowhaus architects, is the last of the six projects we gathered from the 2022 competition. It is again worth noting that the results of this competition were not finalized due to the cancellation of Russia’s participation in World Expo 2025. It should be mentioned that Wowhaus created three versions for this competition, but only one is being presented, and it can’t be said that this version is thoroughly developed – rather, it is done in the spirit of a “student assignment”. Nevertheless, the project is interesting in its paradoxical nature: the architects emphasized the temporary character of the pavilion, and in its bubble-like forms sought to reflect the paradoxes of space and time.

The Forum of Time

The competition project for the Russian Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka designed by Aleksey Orlov and Arena Project Institute consists of cones and conical funnels connected into a non-trivial composition, where one can feel the hand of architects who have worked extensively with stadiums and other sports facilities. It’s very interesting to delve into its logic, structurally built on the theme of clocks, hourglasses and even sundials. Additionally, the architects have turned the exhibition pavilion into a series of interconnected amphitheaters, which is also highly relevant for world exhibitions. We are reminding you that the competition results were never announced.

Mirrors Everywhere

The project by Sergey Nebotov, Anastasia Gritskova, and the architectural company “Novoe” was created for the Russian pavilion at EXPO 2025, but within the framework of another competition, which, as we learned, took place even earlier, in 2021. At that time, the competition theme was “digital twins”, and there was minimal time for work, so the project, according to the architect himself, was more of a “student assignment”. Nevertheless, this project is interesting for its plan bordering on similarity with Baroque projects and the emblem of the exhibition, as well as its diverse and comprehensive reflectiveness.

Report

The Steppe Is Full of Beauty and Freedom

The goal of the exhibition “Dikoe Pole” (“Wild Field”) at the State Historical Museum was to move away from the archaeological listing of valuable items and to create an image of the steppe and nomads that was multidirectional and emotional – in other words, artistic. To achieve this goal, it was important to include works of contemporary art. One such work is the scenography of the exhibition space developed by CHART studio.

The Snowstorm Fish

The next project from the unfinished competition for the Russian Pavilion at EXPO 2025, which will be held in Osaka, Japan, is by Dashi Namdakov and Parsec Architects. The pavilion describes itself as an “architectural/sculptural” one, with its shape clearly reminiscent of abstract sculpture of the 1970s. It complements its program with a meditative hall named “Mendeleev’s Dreams”, and offers its visitors to slide from its roof at the end of the tour.

The Mirror of Your Soul

We continue to publish projects from the competition for the design of the Russian Pavilion at EXPO in Osaka 2025. We are reminding you that the results of the competition have not been announced, and hardly will ever be. The pavilion designed by ASADOV Architects combines a forest log cabin, the image of a hyper transition, and sculptures made of glowing threads – it focuses primarily on the scenography of the exhibition, which the pavilion builds sequentially like a string of impressions, dedicating it to the paradoxes of the Russian soul.

Part of the Ideal

In 2025, another World Expo will take place in Osaka, Japan, in which Russia will not participate. However, a competition for the Russian pavilion was indeed held, with six projects participating. The results were never announced as Russia’s participation was canceled; the competition has no winners. Nevertheless, Expo pavilion projects are typically designed for a bold and interesting architectural statement, so we’ve gathered all the six projects and will be publishing articles about them in random order. The first one is the project by Vladimir Plotkin and Reserve Union, which is distinguished by the clarity of its stereometric shape, the boldness of its structure, and the multiplicity of possible interpretations.

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The Fortress by the River

ASADOV Architects have developed a concept for a new residential district in the center of Kemerovo. To combat the harsh climate and monotonous everyday life, the architects proposed a block type of development with dominant towers, good insolation, facades detailed at eye level, and event programming.

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In the Rhombus Grid

Construction has begun on the building of the OMK (United Metallurgical Company) Corporate University in Nizhny Novgorod’s town of Vyksa, designed by Ostozhenka Architects. The most interesting aspect of the project is how the architects immersed it in the context: “extracting” a diagonal motif from the planning grid of Vyksa, they aligned the building, the square, and the park to match it. A truly masterful work with urban planning context on several different levels of perception has long since become the signature technique of Ostozhenka.

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Generational Connection

Another modern estate, designed by Roman Leonidov, is located in the Moscow region and brings together three generations of one family under one roof. To fit on a narrow plot without depriving anyone of personal space, the architects opted for a zigzag plan. The main volume in the house structure is accentuated by mezzanines with a reverse-sloped roof and ceilings featuring exposed beams.

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Three Dimensions of the City

We began to delve into the project by Sergey Skuratov, the residential complex “Depo” in Minsk, located at Victory Square, and it fascinated us completely. The project has at least several dimensions to it: historical – at some point, the developer decided to discontinue further collaboration with Sergey Skuratov Architects, but the concept was approved, and its implementation continues, mostly in accordance with the proposed ideas. The spatial and urban planning dimension – the architects both argue with the city and play along with it, deciphering nuances, and finding axes. And, finally, the tactile dimension – the constructed buildings also have their own intriguing features. Thus, this article also has two parts: it dwells on what has been built and what was conceived

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New “Flight”

Architects from “Mezonproject” have developed a project for the reconstruction of the regional youth center “Polyot”(“Flight”) in the city of Oryol. The summer youth center, built back in the late 1970s, will now become year-round and acquire many additional functions.

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The Yauza Towers

In Moscow, there aren’t that many buildings or projects designed by Nikita Yavein and Studio 44. In this article, we present to you the concept of a large multifunctional complex on the Yauza River, located between two parks, featuring a promenade, a crossroads of two pedestrian streets, a highly developed public space, and an original architectural solution. This solution combines a sophisticated, asymmetric façade grid, reminiscent of a game of fifteen puzzle, and bold protrusions of the upper parts of the buildings, completely masking the technical floors and sculpting the complex’s silhouette.

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Architecture and Leisure Park

For the suburban hotel complex, which envisages various formats of leisure, the architectural company T+T Architects proposed several types of accommodation, ranging from the classic “standard” in a common building to a “cave in the hill” and a “house in a tree”. An additional challenge consisted in integrating a few classic-style residences already existing on this territory into the “architectural forest park”.

Overview

The U-House

The Jois complex combines height with terraces, bringing the most expensive apartments from penthouses down to the bottom floors. The powerful iconic image of the U-shaped building is the result of the creative search for a new standard of living in high-rise buildings by the architects of “Genpro”.

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Black and White

In this article, we specifically discuss the interiors of the ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh. Interior design is a crucial component of the overall concept in this case, and precision and meticulous execution were highly important for the architects. Julia Tryaskina, head of UNK interiors, shares some of the developments.

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The “Snake” Mountain

The competition project for the seaside resort complex “Serpentine” combines several typologies: apartments of different classes, villas, and hotel rooms. For each of these typologies, the KPLN architects employ one of the images that are drawn from the natural environment – a serpentine road, a mountain stream, and rolling waves.

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Opal from Anna Mons’ Ring

The project of a small business center located near Tupolev Plaza and Radio Street proclaims the necessity of modern architecture in a specific area of Moscow commonly known as “Nemetskaya Sloboda” or “German settlement”. It substantiates its thesis with the thoroughness of details, a multitude of proposed and rejected form variants, and even a detailed description of the surrounding area. The project is interesting indeed, and it is even more interesting to see what will come of it.

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Feed ’Em All

A “House of Russian Cuisine” was designed and built by KROST Group at VDNKh for the “Rossiya” exhibition in record-breaking time. The pavilion is masterfully constructed in terms of the standards of modern public catering industry multiplied by the bustling cultural program of the exhibition, and it interprets the stylistically diverse character of VDNKh just as successfully. At the same time, much of its interior design can be traced back to the prototypes of the 1960s – so much so that even scenes from iconic Soviet movies of those years persistently come to mind.

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The Ensemble at the Mosque

OSA prepared a master plan for a district in the southern part of Derbent. The main task of the master plan is to initiate the formation of a modern comfortable environment in this city. The organization of residential areas is subordinated to the city’s spiritual center: depending on the location relative to the cathedral mosque, the houses are distinguished by façade and plastique solutions. The program also includes a “hospitality center”, administrative buildings, an educational cluster, and even an air bridge.

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Pargolovo Protestantism

A Protestant church is being built in St. Petersburg by the project of SLOI architects. One of the main features of the building is a wooden roof with 25-meter spans, which, among other things, forms the interior of the prayer hall. Also, there are other interesting details – we are telling you more about them.

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The Shape of the Inconceivable

The ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh brings to mind a famous maxim of all architects and critics: “You’ve come up with it? Now build it!” You rarely see such a selfless immersion in implementation of the project, and the formidable structural and engineering tasks set by UNK architects to themselves are presented here as an integral and important part of the architectural idea. The challenge matches the obliging status of the place – after all, it is an “exhibition of achievements”, and the pavilion is dedicated to the nuclear energy industry. Let’s take a closer look: from the outside, from the inside, and from the underside too.

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Rays of the Desert

A school for 1750 students is going to be built in Dubai, designed by IND Architects. The architects took into account the local specifics, and proposed a radial layout and spaces, in which the children will be comfortable throughout the day.

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The Dairy Theme

The concept of an office of a cheese-making company, designed for the enclosed area of a dairy factory, at least partially refers to industrial architecture. Perhaps that is why this concept is very simple, which seems the appropriate thing to do here. The building is enlivened by literally a couple of “master strokes”: the turning of the corner accentuates the entrance, and the shade of glass responds to the theme of “milk rivers” from Russian fairy tales.

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The Road to the Temple

Under a grant from the Small Towns Competition, the main street and temple area of the village of Nikolo-Berezovka near Neftekamsk has been improved. A consortium of APRELarchitects and Novaya Zemlya is turning the village into an open-air museum and integrating ruined buildings into public life.

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Towers Leaning Towards the Sun

The three towers of the residential complex “Novodanilovskaya 8” are new and the tallest neighbors of the Danilovsky Manufactory, “Fort”, and “Plaza”, complementing a whole cluster of modern buildings designed by renowned masters. At the same time, the towers are unique for this setting – they are residential, they are the tallest ones here, and they are located on a challenging site. In this article, we explore how architects Andrey Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova tackled this far-from-trivial task.

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In the spirit of ROSTA posters

The new Rostselmash tractor factory, conceptualized by ASADOV Architects, is currently being completed in Rostov-on-Don. References to the Soviet architecture of the 1920’s and 1960’s resonate with the mission and strategic importance of the enterprise, and are also in line with the client’s wish: to pay homage to Rostov’s constructivism.

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The Northern Thebaid

The central part of Ferapontovo village, adjacent to the famous monastery with frescoes by Dionisy, has been improved according to the project by APRELarchitects. Now the place offers basic services for tourists, as well as a place for the villagers’ leisure.