По-русски

Multicolored Barcode

Late last year, yet another medical institution in the southeast of Moscow got positively-looking multicolored facades that inspire confidence in the art of healing and the triumph of life. The project of reconstruction of Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Kulakov, situated on Akademika Oparina Street, was developed by the author team led by Alexander Asadov.

Anna Martovitskaya

Written by:
Anna Martovitskaya
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

06 February 2013
Object
mainImg

The architects got this order thanks to the successful implementation of their project of Federal Scientific and Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology whose dazzling facades beautified the crossing of Leninsky Avenue and Miklukho-Maklaya Street. The reconstruction and remodeling of its interior premises had been carried out in the center a few years back - now it is not only Moscow's but the whole Russia's most advanced clinic in its class - but from the outside it still looks like a rather ordinary gray volume. Its image is in fact a nutshell of the basic principles of Soviet modernism - simplicity and harshness of composition, laconism of decoration, minimal plastics - and it is probably the length of its main building alone that makes it stand out against its surrounding background. After the Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology was built nearby, the management of the center got a vivid example of how bright and unconventional the architecture of a medical institution could be. The decision to commission the development of the project of facade reconstruction to the same team of architects made perfect sense, even though the immediate vicinity of the already implemented "prototype" created a few extra challenges.

 

The thing is that Akademika Oparina Street runs parallel to Leninsky Avenue and stops dead crossing that same Miklukho-Maklaya Street. In fact, it is the same block that the Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology has already been built in. The crucial difference in the location of the two medical centers consists in the fact that the Daedalus Prize winning children clinic building stands with its main facade turned to the multilane carriage way, while the Obstetrics Center is flesh and blood of the tensely populated residential area. It is specifically because of the density of the housing that the two medical buildings do not interact with one another - but once you exit the maternity home and walk just a few meters away, you start seeing time and again, in the clearances between the houses, the bright colors of the pediatric center. This is why the architects got the task of coming up with a fundamentally different "color code" - the renewed facades of the Maternity Center were to be different from those of Pediatric Center but be as optimistic-looking.

 

Working on the new image of the facades, the architects looked not only to refresh them but also to develop the building's intrinsic principles of modernist architecture and highlight the strong points of the latter. This is why as the starting point of the reconstruction project was chosen the layout of the complex built back in 1979. On the plan it looks like a hair comb and consists of the main longitudinal building and five transverse ones, the length of them varying and the height being twice as little (three floors versus six in the main building. The longest "tooth" that is turned to the crossing of Akademika Oparina and Ostrovityanova Streets, plays the part of the main facade of the entire complex - it is here that the main entrance is situated, manifested by brutal triangular pillars and rectangular bay windows. So it was this fracturing into separate bulky segments that became the main theme of the new "color code".

 

Totally, there are five bay windows, each of which the architect painted into a distinct color of its own - red, yellow, blue, dark green, and bright green. The latter becomes the leitmotif of the decoration of the entrance group - it bleeds onto the long horizontal beam above the main entrance porch and the pillars flanking it from the opposite side. The niche itself, in turn, is painted yellow. Highlighting the main plastic elements with color and coating them with Kraspan panels fundamentally changes the image of the facade: what used to look like a mono-texture light-gray mass, now has become a canvas with bright strokes that not only make the building look more dramatic but also help the visitors find their bearings a lot easier.

The five basic colors that are brought to the surface of the entrance facade form the color palette off the complex. One could compare them to a set of magic markers or maybe to a barcode that bears the encrypted information about this building, or, rather, about the changes that the obstetrics center underwent in the course of the reconstruction. And while the facades of the pediatrics center are surfaces painted with bright optimistic colors, this building, on the other hand, is dominated by white color - possibly, the most appropriate metaphor for the birth of a new life and the aseptic conditions in which it must take place. Apart from the already-mentioned bay windows, only the side walls of the transverse buildings are executed in full color - all the other facades present snow-white surfaces, over which the colorful strokes (or "splashes", as the architects themselves call them) are thrown. What is interesting is the fact that their length varies from floor to floor which helps avoid the trivial "striped pattern" and make each part of the facade look individual. This technique looks particularly striking on the facades of the longitudinal building - the multicolored barcode visually fractures the elongated volume, at the same time keeping its linear character.

Apart from "sanitation" of the existing facades, the reconstruction project developed by Asadov team and "Transumed" company provides for the construction of a whole new building on the territory of the complex - the contemporary perinatal center. The architects plan to position it in the yard in such a way that three transverse buildings out of five became the overpasses from the old building into the new one - the connecting galleries are going to be built on the roofs of the three-storey volumes. And, since it makes little sense to start a reconstruction just because of but one overpass, the authors propose to use its space for the conservatories, meeting rooms and recreation areas for the patients. On the plan, the new volume has the shape of a tick mark - one wing of the building is located parallel to the main building of the center, and the other one is turned at a 45-degree angle to it. "Such positioning lends us the opportunity to make the most of the land site allotted to us and maximally expand the area before the main entrance to the future perinatal center", - the designers explain. The architectural solution of the new building develops the theme given by the following volume: the terminal laconism of the parallelepipeds is softened by the multi-corner side walls, and the color barcode is added by a frieze with stained-glass pieces with colorful inserts between them.

And, while the the construction project of the perinatal center has entered the concluding stage of obtaining the final permissions, the reconstruction of the facades of the center is already complete - the snow-white 290 meter long building, dissected with multicolored vertical stripes, has really made a difference in the outlook of Akademika Oparina Street, bringing into the rather faceless and aggressive visual environment a bright and dramatic centerpiece that symbolizes the purity and joy of a new life being born.




06 February 2013

Anna Martovitskaya

Written by:

Anna Martovitskaya
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov
Headlines now
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.
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.
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”.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
​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.
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.
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.
​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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alexandra Kuzmina: “Working is easy when the rules are the same for everyone”
The subject matter of Moscow Region’s booth and presentations at Zodchestvo Festival was the concept of “Integrated Land Development”, and for a good reason: this task is very challenging, very relevant, and Moscow Region has already accumulated quite a formidable experience in this regard. In this article, we are speaking to the main architect of the region: about master plans and who makes them, about where you obtain resources for creating a comfortable environment, about her favorite projects, about why there are so few good architects, and what we should do with the bad ones.
The Cemetery: Inside and Outside
The workshop organized by the Genplan Institute of Moscow scored one of the two first places at the “Open City” festival. Its subject is reorganization of municipal cemeteries. Two action plans were proposed, diametrically opposite: one for the downtown and one for the suburbs.
Our Everything
Who is Alexey Shchusev? In the last couple of weeks, since the architect’s 150th birthday, different individuals have answered this question differently. The most detailed, illustrated, and elegantly presented response is an exhibition held in two buildings of the Museum of Architecture on Vozdvizhenka. Four curators, a year and a half of work performed by the entire museum, and exhibition design by Sergey Tchoban and Alexandra Sheiner – in this article, we take you on a tour of the exhibition and show what’s what in it.
For Mental Reboot
At the architectural competition held in 2023 in Novosibirsk, the project by GORA Architects – a pedestrian bridge leading to the town of Bor – was awarded the “Golden Capital” prize. In this country, more than a hundred pedestrian bridges are constructed each year. What makes the Bor bridge different?
Gold Embroidery
A five-story housing complex designed by Stepan Liphart in Kazan, responds to the stylistically diverse context with its form, both integral and agile, and as for the vicinity of the “Ekiyat” movie theater, the complex responds to it with a semblance of theater curtain folds, and active plastique of its balconies, that bear some resemblance to theater boxes. Even if excessively pompous a little bit, the complex does look fresh and modern. One will have a hard time finding Art Deco elements in it, even though the spirit of the 1930s, run through the filter of neo-modernism, is still clearly felt, just as a twist of the Occident.