In honour of the sixtieth

The small house combines simplicity of the architectural decision, called up by a modernism of 60th, and the technologies peculiar to inhabited skyscrapers. It will allow, having entered a building in a tiny site to keep almost untouched existing square, it is good to shine apartments and to give to tenants especial opportunities in connection with a free lay-out. Correspondent of ААН has set some questions to the authors.

Written by:
Julia Tarabarina

26 January 2007

Object

Architect:

Firm:

Alexandrov and partners

Object:

Apartment house on Komsomol prospectus, possession 3
Russia, Moscow, Komsomolsky prospectus, pos.3

Project Team:
D.V.Alexander, A.A.Ivanov

2006

Tell, what problem faced to you at designing this house? A.Ivanov: To make qualitative, but simple house. The difficulty was to place inhabited volume of class Delux on the very small site between existing 9 and 12-storeyed houses. We searched for a very long time the plan of a building in which requirements of insolation would be considered, a space from the next houses, accommodation of communications. So there was a ten-storied volume which facade consists of two volumes-books leaving forward. The slopes on facades appeared as the answer to the next standing volume - up to the slop the surface of a building repeats a rhythm of windows of a building standing on the right, and after on an inclined plane go gallery balconies. The house has two main facades - aside square and in courtyards. The second is solved more homogeneously - by a uniform stroke of simple linear elements with protections from the tempered glass with application of metal and tape glassing. The house is very laconic. Is it a tribute to constructivism? D.Aleksandrov: Recently we have been called neo constructivists. Undoubtedly, constructivism is most recognized in domestic architecture. However, in my opinion, there was not less worthy period which has begun during Kchrushcev’s "thawing weather" and which 60th have transformed into architecture of Soviet neo modernism. It is presented this quarter - the area of building between quay Moscow-river and the Komsomol prospectus is generated by two types buildings – it is Stalin’s post-war construction and simple geometric architecture of 60th-beginning of 70th There are two known examples of such architecture - they are L.N.Pavlova's works and A.Meersona's early projects - the house on Begovoi and "Swan". Other interesting constructions - a hotel complex at "Airport" recently got thr new facade from modern materials, but absolutely repeats geometry of the building constructed in 60th years - architecture absolutely modernist though it directly follows from international style which has been adapted on our ground in 60th years. A similar example - so-called "Book" of senior Posohina on Arbat which without change of architectural shape is improved by a new ventilated facade - as a whole very dry modern house. We tried to find the certain compromise in our case between this architectural geometry. It is possible to tell this is our sight through a shoulder for one more worthy period of domestic architecture - the sixtieth. And how it was reflected in architecture? D.Aleksandrov: The plan of a building is executed in the form of the letter «Т» where an average sheaf is the staircase, and two volumes - bigger and smaller, remind a pair, the man and the woman. That is, one partner, a little bit larger, acts forward to a red line and slightly embraces by the ladder block his girlfriend thin and graceful, standing «on high heels». So the movement aside the park is created. Leaving by the last by four floors back about which Andrey has told, is caused by two reasons: on the one hand, we show a line of restriction of existing building and we leave back in depth of quarter and the second - the best apartments here are located, the most interesting view there from reveal. Practice of operation of modern apartment houses shows, that at the organization of balconies and any acting elements we should struggle that all this get into glass - sometimes under projects discussed with us, but more often, unfortunately, on their own. As a result the house turns out not absolutely such what was designed. Therefore face facades, that is the buildings turned aside, vanish under the French balconies or loggias with hollows inside which get in glass absolutely painless. Gallery balconies unite basically kitchens and drawing rooms, that is large public zones and are focused aside the most interesting points. Accordingly two structures of a material - a light stone under a brick and more dark which fastens certain correspondence with more chromatic white lady. Are legs on high heels on which the house leans only the nod aside coryphaeuses of 60th, or there is a practical substantiation to this decision? A.Ivanov: The site is not too big so we had problems with gardening around the house- there is no place enough, so such decision appeared: the bottom part of the house from a court yard is compressed as much as possible, leaving place only for lobby. We have lifted all rest on "legs" of a-column, that, having increased possible gardening almost twice, existing public garden will be kept, gardening will be even under columns. Under the ground the underground two-level parking which almost completely borrows a spot of building is located. Is the lay-out free as it usual nowadays? D.Aleksandrov: Free. The matter is that flexibility of a lay-out is incorporated in the design of the house. For a building in ten floors height stylobate, an intercepting technical floor - a thing uncharacteristic, not following the natural engineering image. But it, first of all, in many respects has defined architecture of a building: it entirely stands on a platform, and this platform is lifted upwards. Secondly, in this part of a building all engineering communications which then leave further to the central trunk and then under the ground are shown. It has provided flexibility of the plan. All "wet" zones, bathrooms and lavatories, are placed in a core of the house, and rooms are located as much as possible on perimeter of a building. Other moment which distinguishes this building from the similar houses of a high class of average amount of floors: here we have applied large enough grid of columns. Proceeding from that we here have « an intercepting table », on what the customer has agreed, though usually it is used at construction of high-altitude complexes, for example, our towers in « Amber city » where 100-meter buildings stand on a "table". In small volume of the 10-storeyed house on Komsomol "table" is combined with a technical floor, forming « a double shell » inside of which pass all communications. Owing to it we could apply a large grid of support with step « eight hundred ». Usually for habitation "steps" it is no more, than seven and a half. It has led to reduction of quantity of bearing elements, and the lay-out became enough flexible for possible transformations already after construction by proprietors of apartments. Same has allowed to transfer all premises on an external contour and to improve illumination. On face facades to the next houses we leave not apartments, but balconies and evacuation ladders. That is, public zones we focus all on free spaces and the most interesting specific points - Moscow-river, Park of culture and downwards under the Komsomol prospectus, and with the next houses, on the contrary, we avoid effect « a window in a window ». And how many apartments are there on a floor? Five apartments. On the average. There are variants - 6 apartments if the small apartment is added, studio. In the top floors if it is required, it is possible to make one greater apartment - a penthouse. The house has turned out on the size on one and a half section. The wide case dimensions 36 on 30 meters (the standard case - is no more 18). It and not a tower with one entrance, and at the same time not the section house. The narrow site has caused similar decisions. On the top floors five apartments can freely turn to three.

Architect:

Firm:

Alexandrov and partners

Object:

Apartment house on Komsomol prospectus, possession 3
Russia, Moscow, Komsomolsky prospectus, pos.3

Project Team:
D.V.Alexander, A.A.Ivanov

2006

26 January 2007

Headlines now

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.

Object

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.

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Brilliant Production

The architects from London-based MOST Architecture have designed the space for the high-tech production of Charge Cars, a high-performance production facility for high-speed electric cars that are assembled in the shell of legendary Ford Mustangs. The founders of both the company and the car assembly startup are Russians who were educated in their home country.

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Three-Part Task: St. Petersburg’s Mytny Dvor

The so-called “Mytny Dvor” area lying just behind Moscow Railway Station – the market rows with a complex history – will be transformed into a premium residential complex by Studio 44. The project consists of three parts: the restoration of historical buildings, the reconstruction of the lost part of the historical contour, and new houses. All of them are harmonized with each other and with the city; axes and “beams of light” were found, cozy corners and scenic viewpoints were carefully thought out. We had a chat with the authors of the historical buildings’ restoration project, and we are telling you about all the different tasks that have been solved here.

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The Color of the City, or Reflections on the Slope of an Urban Settlement

In 2022, Ostozhenka Architects won a competition, and in 2023, they developed and received all the necessary approvals for a master plan for the development of Chernigovskaya Street for the developer GloraX. The project takes into account a 10-year history of previous developments; it was done in collaboration with architects from Nizhny Novgorod, and it continues to evolve now. We carefully examined it, talked to everyone, and learned a lot of interesting things.

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A Single-Industry Town

Kola MMC and Nornickel are building a residential neighborhood in Monchegorsk for their future employees. It is based on a project by an international team that won the 2021 competition. The project offers a number of solutions meant to combat the main “demons” of any northern city: wind, grayness and boredom.

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A New Age Portico

At the beginning of the year, Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport opened Terminal C. The large-scale and transparent entrance hall with luminous columns inside successfully combines laconism with a bright and photogenic WOW-effect. The terminal is both the new façade of the whole complex and the starting point of the planned reconstruction, upon completion of which Tolmachevo will become the largest regional airport in Russia. In this article, we are examining the building in the context of modernist prototypes of both Novosibirsk and Leningrad: like puzzle pieces, they come together to form their individual history, not devoid of curious nuances and details.

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A New Starting Point

We’ve been wanting to examine the RuArts Foundation space, designed by ATRIUM for quite a long time, and we finally got round to it. This building looks appropriate and impressive; it amazingly combines tradition – represented in our case by galleries – and innovation. In this article, we delve into details and study the building’s historical background as well.

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Molding Perspectives

Stepan Liphart introduces “schematic Art Deco” on the outskirts of Kazan – his houses are executed in green color, with a glassy “iced” finish on the facades. The main merits of the project lie in his meticulous arrangement of viewing angles – the architect is striving to create in a challenging environment the embryo of a city not only in terms of pedestrian accessibility but also in a sculptural sense. He works with silhouettes, proposing intriguing triangular terraces. The entire project is structured like a crystal, following two grids, orthogonal and diagonal. In this article, we are examining what worked, and what eventually didn’t.

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An Educational Experiment for the North

City-Arch continues to work on the projects that can be termed as “experimental public preschools”: private kindergartens and schools can envy such facilities in many respects. This time around, the project is done for the city of Gubkinsky, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. A diverse educational and play environment, including a winter garden, awaits future students, while the teachers will have abundant opportunities to implement new practices.