По-русски

Black-and-White Duo

Next to "Nagornaya" metro station, upon the project of "Sergey Kisselev and Partners", soon there will start the construction of two residential towers attracting one's attention with their dramatic checkered coating.

Anna Martovitskaya

Written by:
Anna Martovitskaya
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

16 May 2014
Object
mainImg
Object:
Architectural and planning solution of Buildings 5 and 6 of “Nagornaya” residential complex
Russia, Moscow, Elektrolinty Driveway, 16

Project Team:
Architects: A.Nikiforov, A.Breslavtsev, N.Anisimov.A. Busalov. Engineers: I. Schwartzman, K. Spiridonov

2013 — 2014

ZAO "Kotelsky Zavod"
Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"



This project has been in the making since January 2013, when the company "Vedis-Group" turned to "Sergey Kisselev and Partners" with a request to come up with an architectural solution for the two "flagship" towers of the new block in construction. Built next to "Nagornaya" metro station, in the place of the former "Kotelsky Factory", this block consists of six residential buildings, a kindergarten, and a multilevel parking. The four other buildings that stretch immediately from the metro station down the Elektrolitny Driveway, are in fact the typical 25-floor section houses, while the towers standing along the southern border of the site at the bend of the Krivorozhskaya Street, were slow to materialize and were present in the project but nominally. The developer realized that in this particular case typical solutions would not do - both because of their location and class of the housing the towers were asking to become high-profile objects capable of giving dime character not only to the new block but also to the whole neighborhood with its rather chaotically placed buildings. 


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"

"We found this task interesting from the very start. On the one side, it was the opportunity to create the "face" of the block, and on the other side - a possibility to work in an interesting environment. The neighborhood that is there now can hardly be called attractive - but it doubtlessly has a potential that we wanted to bring out in our project" - shares the main architect of the project Andrew Nikiforov. 

On the plan, both towers got a shape of equilateral trapezes. This was by far not the first option that the architects developed: they experimented with a square and a triangle but it was only with the trapezes that the high-rises took on the desired dramatic and self-sufficient look. It also took the architects a rather long time to try and find the optimum angle of turning the trapezes to the neighboring streets: they tried to tie the houses in to the winding Krivorozhskaya, and to the Elektrolitny Driveway, and to the residential houses located across - but, strictly speaking, none of these grids could be perceived as the prevailing one on the territory. Thus ultimately the architects opted for the solution that consisted in the the western facades of both towers being parallel to the already-in-construction long buildings of the block. 


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"

Concurrently to that, a thorough search for the facade design solution was on. "We generally believe that your facade must reflect your 3D solution and be its logical continuation, highlighting the shape and the structure of the building - and in the situation of such a loose urban environment as in the Nagornaya area, this is vitally important" - the chief architect of the project firmly believes. The authors of the project tried both various options of single design got the towers, and the contrast finish, playing on the difference of colors and textures of the materials. At the end of the day, the battle was won by the modular checkered pattern of black and white squares. On the side facades, they frame each of the windows, making up dramatic diagonals and enlarging the scale, while on the side walls, following the logic of the theme chosen by the authors, the "fields" stretch horizontally and lose some of their height.


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"

The color accents are only used in this project in the design of the entrance groups of the public zone. For coating the main volumes, the architects deliberately opted for the monochrome scale, looking to offset the garishness of the immediate environment of the high-rises - the typical residential buildings whose bright color solution is meant to make up for the monotony of their architectural solutions. The black-and-white facades, however, do not get lost against this background at all - both thanks to the dramatic shape of the towers, and thanks to the micro relief: the dark elements are pushed deeper inside, and the light ones, on the other hand, are "extruded" outward a bit. Such a technique gives volume to the checkered surfaces, and, as Andrew Nikiforov explains, saves them from of a "cardboard" feel that is the problem of so many contemporary facades. The architects had a hard time, however, implementing this solution: making the concave and convex squares from concrete was not practicable, and, with the usage of the traditional system of ventilated facades, the "frames" had to be split into four separate plaques - which automatically meant noticeable seams between them. There was also quite a challenge of finding a technological solution for executing the relief of concave and "extruded" elements. The most "justified" solution for the unit was the one where the black and white HPL-panels of the facade surface are framed with metallic profiles of the corresponding color.


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"

On the first floors of both towers, there are small lots, each one with an entrance of its own from the outside contour of the building. As for the apartments, the architects got a very wide range of them - because the residential premises are grouped along the side walls of trapezes and are divided into modules corresponding to sizes of the facades. The partitions can be moved around in any direction, thus changing the square footage of not only some rooms but also whole apartments. What is also important is the fact that the wet zones are grouped into separate lines that "embrace" the elevator nucleus - which will allow the people who will live here to rearrange even these parts of their apartments without having to "infringe" their neighbors' premises.


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"

The broad backside facade holds the technical stanza with the fire escape stairs. The stanza also includes the air conditioning blocks - thus protecting the facades of unwelcome "outlaw" intrusions. Andrew Nikiforov laments the fact that the architects were not fully able to forego the balconies: from the fire safety standpoint, the two staircases render them redundant but the promoters insisted on there being a few stanzas - knowing that this way the apartments would sell better. The "balcony" compromise, though, was reached in the planning of large side-end apartments - the stanzas appear in the spots where the square "fields" on the checkered facades stretch into rectangles. 


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"

A great deal of attention in this project the architects paid to landscaping the territory around the towers. Due to the fact that they are part of a larger housing block, fencing their yards would have been wrong - but the architects still wanted to propose some zoning of the territory, and in this case the existing relief drop came in very handy: the towers are built not only on the bend of the Krivorozhskaya Street but also on the slope that goes down in the direction of a picturesque ravine. Thus, the towers face the street with a rather austere yard whose high-profile function is enhanced by the geometrical paving pattern, while the entrance zone of the complex is a lot lower and it serves as a sort of a border between the rational urban tissue and the picturesque natural one: between the houses and the multilevel parking, the architects design a bit of a nice little garden (on the roof of the parking) that, when still further away from the road, turns into a fully-fledged park. Yet another strip of land - the islet of the Krivorozhskaya Street that is also the property of the developer - the architects separated with a screen of trees and used it for making a sports ground. 


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"

Besides the landscaping project, "Sergey Kisselev" developed for the towers the interior designs of the entrance areas and the public corridors. And, just like the facades are the logic continuation of the 3D solutions of the buildings, so their interiors harmoniously develop the artistic techniques of the architecture of the complex. Specifically, the authors borrow the black-and-white design from the facades: the dark-color material is used to finish the walls of the entrance lobbies and corridors, white is used to finish the ceilings and the bearing columns. The pristine geometry of the facade grid, though, gives way here to the smooth curves of the ceiling niches, and the black-and-white palette is "diluted" with the floors of light beige hue and the phitowall whose rich green color will be provided by the living plants.


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"


Architectural proposal for Buildings 5 and 6 of the residential complex "Nagorny" © "Sergey Kisselev and partners"
 


Object:
Architectural and planning solution of Buildings 5 and 6 of “Nagornaya” residential complex
Russia, Moscow, Elektrolinty Driveway, 16

Project Team:
Architects: A.Nikiforov, A.Breslavtsev, N.Anisimov.A. Busalov. Engineers: I. Schwartzman, K. Spiridonov

2013 — 2014

ZAO "Kotelsky Zavod"

16 May 2014

Anna Martovitskaya

Written by:

Anna Martovitskaya
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov
Headlines now
Julius Borisov: “The “Island” housing complex is a unique project – we took it on with...
One of the largest housing projects of today’s Moscow – the “Ostrov” (“Island”) housing complex built by Donstroy – is now being actively built in the Mnevniky Floodplain. They are planning to build about 1.5M square meters of housing on an area of almost 40 hectares. We are beginning to examine this project– first of all, we are talking to Julius Borisov, the head of the architectural company UNK, which works with most of the residential blocks in this grand-scale project, as well as with the landscaping part; the company even proposed a single design code for the entire territory.
A Balanced Solution
The residential complex “Balance” on Moscow’s Ryazansky Prospekt is one of the large-scale, and relatively economical (again, by Moscow standards) housing projects. Its first phase has already been built and landscaped; the work on the others is in progress. Nevertheless, it has an integral internal logic, which is based on the balance of functions, height, and even image and space composition. The proposed solutions are recognizable and laconic, so that each of them was reduced by the authors to a graphic “logo”. To see everything, you have to flip through the pages and look through to the end.
Horror Vacui
In the city of Omsk, ASADOV architects took on a very challenging task: they are developing a concept of a public and residential complex, which involves reconstructing the city’s first thermal power station standing right next to Omsk’s first fortress. This territory has already seen a lot of projects designed for it, and the residential function of this land site has been the subject of heated debate. In this article, we are examining the project in question, aimed at developing a mid-scale city fabric suited for the historical center. We also examine the above-mentioned debate. Seriously, will this project save this place or will it bring it to ruin?
A Multi-Faced Grotto
This building, seemingly small, unremarkable, semi-ruined, and not even very ancient – the Grotto in the Bauman Garden – was restored by the “People’s Architect” architectural company with all the care applicable to a heritage monument. They preserved the romantic appeal of the ruins, added multimedia content, and explored the cascading fountain, which, as it turned out, was completely preserved. Brace yourself for a long story!
First among Equals
The building of a kindergarten in the town of Beloyarsky is more than just another example of a modern educational space. Its design began a long time ago; it is located in Russia’s Far North; it is also a state-owned facility that is subject to regulations, and had to cut costs during construction (as usual). However, the design is contemporary, the layout is modern, and the building feels very fresh. The project is planned to be replicated.
Gustave Falconnier
In the “ruin” wing of Moscow’s Museum of Architecture, an exhibition of “glass bricks” by Gustave Falconnier is open. These “bricks” are essentially the predecessors of glass blocks, but more complex and beautiful. The exhibition shows genuine “bricks”, buildings composed of them, the history of the destruction of Falconnier windows in the building of the State Archives, and it also became one of the reasons to revive this unique production technology.
​Streamline for City Canyons
Stepan Liphart has designed two houses for two small land sites situated in the area surrounding the Varshavsky Railway Station, which is being intensively developed now. The sites are situated close but not next to each other, and they are different, yet similar: the theme is the same but it is interpreted in different ways. In this issue, we are examining and comparing both projects.
​The Eastern Frontier
“The Eastern Arc” is one of the main land resources of Kazan’s development, concentrated in the hands of a single owner. The Genplan Institute of Moscow has developed a concept for the integrated development of this territory based on an analytical transport model that will create a comfortable living environment, new centers of attraction, and new workplaces as well.
A School of Our Time
On the eve of the presentation of the new book by ATRIUM, dedicated to the design of schools and other educational facilities, based on the architects’ considerable experience, as well as expert judgments, we are examining the Quantum STEM school building, constructed according to their project in Astana. Furthermore, this building is planned to be the first one to start a new chain. The architects designed it in full accordance with modern standards but sometimes they did break away from them – only to confirm the general development rules. For example, there are two amphitheaters in the atrium, and there is an artificial hill in the yard that is meant to make the flat terrain of the Kazakhstan steppe more eventful.
The Fluffy Space
Designing the passenger terminal of the Orenburg airport, ASADOV architects continue to explore the space theme that they first introduced in Saratov and Kemerovo airports. At the same time, the architects again combine the global and the local, reflecting topics inspired by the local conceptual context. In this case, the building is “covered” by an Orenburg downy shawl – an analogy that is recognizable enough, yet not literal; some will see the reference and some won’t.
The White Fitness Center
The white health and fitness center, designed by Futura Architects at the entrance to St. Petersburg’s New Piter residential complex, provides the developing area not only with functional but also with sculptural diversity, livening up the rows of the brick city blocks with the whiteness of its seamless facades, cantilevered structures, and dynamic inclined lines.
The New Dawn
In their project of a technology park to be built on the grounds of “Integrated Home-Building Factory 500” in Tyumen Oblast – the biggest in Russia – the HADAA architects preserve not just the industrial function of the giant hangar built in the late 1980s and 90% of its structures, but also respond to its imagery. They also propose a “gradient” approach to developing the available areas: from open public ones to staff-only professional spaces. The goal of this approach is to turn the technology park into the driver for developing the business function between the industrial zones and the future residential area in accordance with the Integrated Land Development program.
​Tame Hills for New Residents
T+T Architects have reported that they have completed the landscaping project for the yard of the first stage of Alexandrovsky Garden housing complex in Ekaterinburg – the landscape complements the contextual architecture, tailored for the buyers’ preferences and downtown standards, with bold neo modernist master strokes and lush and diverse vegetation.
The Crystal of the City Block
The typology and plastique of large housing complexes move with the times, and you can sometimes find new subtleties in the scope of seemingly familiar solutions. The Sky Garden complex combines two well-known themes, forming a giant residential area consisting of tall slender towers, placed at the perimeter of a large yard, in which a crossroads of two pedestrian promenades is “dissolved”.
Sunshine, Air, and Water
The construction of the “Solnechny” (“Sunny”) summer camp, designed by ARENA project institute, has been completed, the largest summer camp within the legendary Artek seaside resort for children. It was conceived still in Soviet time, but it was not implemented. The modern version surprises you with sophisticated engineering solutions that are combined with a clear-cut structure: together, they generate Asher-esque spaces.
​Art Deco at the Edge of Space
The competition project by Stepan Liphart – a high-end residential complex executed in a reserved classicist style in close proximity to the Kaluga Space Museum – responds equally well to the context and to the client’s brief. It is moderately respectable, moderately mobile and transparent, and it even digs a little into the ground to comply with strict height restrictions, without losing proportions and scale.
​A Hill behind the Wall
The master plan of a new residential area in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, developed by the Genplan Institute of Moscow with the participation of Kengo Kuma & Associates, is based on the complexities and advantages of the relief of the foothills: the houses are arranged in cascades, and multi-level improvement penetrates all the blocks, continuing in forest trails.
Going, Going, Gone!
The housing complex “Composers’ Residences” has been built in accordance with the project by Sergey Skuratov, who won the international competition back in 2011. It all began from the image search and “cutting off all spare”, and then implementing the recognizable Skuratov architecture. It all ended, however, in tearing down the buildings of the Schlichterman factory, whose conservation was stipulated by all the appropriate agencies prior to approving Skuratov’s project. This story seems to be educational and important for understanding the history of all the eleven years, during which the complex was designed and built.
The Life of Iron
The building of the Vyksa Metallurgy Museum, designed by Nikita Yavein and Sergey Padalko, provides for the natural aging of metal – it is planned that the iron will gradually rust – at the same time utilizing the advanced type of construction, based on metal’s ability to stretch. The building will be constructed from pipes and rolled steel supplied by OMK company, as well as from recycled bricks.
​And the Brook is Flowing
ASADOV Architects have designed a master plan for developing a residential area at the outskirts of Kaliningrad: a regular grid of housing blocks is enriched by large-scale public facilities, the main “artery” of the new area being the fortification channel that regains its original function.
Off We Go!
The new terminal of the Tomsk airport is being designed by ASADOV bureau. The architects keep on developing its identity, building the imagery upon the inventions of Nikolai Kamov, whose name the airport bears. The result is laconic, light, and, as always, levitating.
Maximum Flexibility
The Multispace Dinamo, which recently opened within the Arena business center, is an example of a project that is entirely based upon cutting-edge approaches and technologies. It is managed via a mobile application, special software was created for it, and the spaces are not just multifunctional but carefully mixed up, like some kind of jigsaw puzzle that allows the office workers to mix their working routine for better efficiency.
A Factory’s Path
Last week, the new center for constructivist studies “Zotov” hosted its first exhibition named “1922. Constructivism. The Inception”. The idea of creating this center belongs to Sergey Tchoban, while the project of the nearest houses and adjusting the building of the bread factory for the new museum function was done by the architect in collaboration with his colleagues from SPEECH. We decided that such a complex project should be examined in its entirety – and this is how we came up with this long-read about constructivism on Presnya, conservation, innovation, multilayered approach, and hope.
The Savelovsky Axis
The business center, situated right in the middle of a large city junction next to the Savelovsky Railway Station takes on the role of a spatial axis, upon which the entire place hinges: it spins like a spiral, alternating perfect glass of the tiers and deep recessions of inter-tier floors that conceal little windows invented by the architects. It is sculptural, and it claims the role of a new city landmark, in spite of its relatively small height of nine floors.
Parametric Waves
In the housing complex Sydney City, which FSK Group is building in the area of Shelepikhinskaya Embankment, Genpro designed the central city block, combining parametric facades and modular technology within its architecture.
The Multitone
The new interior of the Action Development headquarters can be regarded as an attempt to design the perfect “home” for the company – not just comfortable but broadcasting the values of modern development. It responds to the context, yet it is built on contrast, it is fresh but cozy, it is dynamic, yet it invites you to relax – everything of this coexists here quite harmoniously, probably because the architects found an appropriate place for each of the themes.
Refinement No Longer Relevant
A few days ago journalists were shown the building of Bread Factory #5, renovated upon the project by Sergey Tchoban. In this issue, we are publishing Grigory Revzin’s thoughts about this project.
The Comb of Strelna
In this issue, we are taking a close look at the project that won the “Crystal Daedalus” award – the “Veren Village” housing complex in Strelna, designed by Ostozhenka. Its low-rise format became a trigger for typological and morphological experiments – seemingly, we are seeing recognizable trends, yet at the same time there are a multitude of subtleties that are a pleasure to go into. Having studied this project in detail, we think that the award is well-deserved.
A Tectonic Shift
For several years now, Futura Architects have been working with the “New Peter” residential area in the south of St. Petersburg. In this article, we are covering their most recent project – a house, in which the architects’ architectural ideas peacefully coexist with the limitations of comfort-class housing, producing a “multilayered” effect that looks very attractive for this typology.
Three “Green” Stories
In this issue, we are examining three environmental urban projects showcased by the Genplan Institute of Moscow at the Zodchestvo festival. The scale of the projects is really diverse: from gathering information and suggestions from the residents on a city scale to growing meadow grass between houses to paintings, which, as it turned out, possess power to cure trees, healing their wounded bark. + a list of kinds of plants natural for Moscow to help the developer.