“The flying ship”

The studio of A. Asadov is finishing the project of a new residential accommodation on Nakhimovsky prospect. The architectural solution is derived directly from the specific of the site. Struggling with underground difficulties the architects had to lift the two buildings, connected by the two sylobates, on 8 meters over the ground turning the giant complex into a kind of fairy-tale “flying ship” with the two towers-mast and glass sails

Written by:
Elena Petukhova

08 April 2008

Object

Architect:

Firm:

ASADOV architects

Object:

House «Versis» on Nakhimovsky avenue
Russia, Moscow, Nakhimovsky prospect, 69 A

Project Team:
Architects: A. Asadov, K. Saprichan, E. Vdovin (chief project architect ), D. Zrazhevski, A. Dmitriev, A. Astashov, A. Levashov. Engineer: A. Ionov (chief project engineer), ZAO “Promstroiproekt” Constructors: ZAO “Promstroiproekt”

2004 — 2010 / 2008 — 2015

Client: ZAO “Peresvet-Invest”

We are used to the idea that the context, especially in Moscow, often has the greatest influence on the architecture. The secret of “context” architecture includes adjacent of a new building to the heights of the neighboring houses and their decoration, common for the district architecture and many other things that have been already described and talked about. But less attention is paid to such “low” and unseen for most people factor as underground communications – they may influence the architectural image of a future building no less then context limitations.

And that is just about the house on Nakhimovsky prospect, designed by the studio of A. Asadov. Its site (about 1 ha) is pressed between the 1storey building of former research institute and the wayside occupied by garages. Somewhere in the middle of the site there is a pipe line.

The first few months the architects spent trying to find out whether it would be possible to transfer the pipe line round the site. The pipe line has won, showing remarkable results on all specifications, this means that the cost of changing its location would be nearly of the entire building’s cost. So instead of one single base the architects decided to put the two towers on the site, configuration and size of which have been considered from objective factors. Well, the architects were able to decide on the height of the buildings on their own, after that was decided by the landscape-visual analysis specialists.

Between the areas of influence of underground communications and ground visual links, the creative thought of the architects felt its freedom. To compensate the lost single volume the towers were joint by the sylobate, it is lifted over the ground on 8 meters. It looks like a bridge that connects the two neighbor houses. In addition to it there are another two bridges-passes between the towers.

The project was designed in 2005 and that time it was intended for the cultural centre of republic Adjara. In the end of 2006 the relations between Russia and Georgia went bad – formally, the republic changed their mind to build the cultural business centre in Moscow – and the site was put up for auction. The auction was won by ZAO “Peresvet-Invest”, they suggested 20,1 million rubles (the sum that was added to 679 900 000 rub, the base cost fixed by the city authorities). They were given the right to build there not a cultural-business centre, but a residential-business complex with a kindergarten and an underground parking. In comparison with the previous project the total flooring of the future building has been enlarged and the number of storeys has been reduces. The developer was not allowed to build a construction higher than 27 storeys and more than 48,9 thousand square meters, 7,3 thousand square meters of which (90 apartments of 1-and 2-room) are left for the city.

The architects from A. Asadov’s studio continued the work over the project, or rather have started it reconstruction.
The change of functions and the cultural belonging of the developer have not influenced the volume-space and compositional solution suggested by the specifics of the site, but it influenced considerably the exterior of the complex. There is less futurism now, but more thoroughness. Glass and stone on the walls and the extended blocks changed over. Instead of stone towers, from which there used to extend shining crystals, now there is the “glass knight” in “stone armor”. This is the impression that appears when one looks onto the volumes of smoky gray glass, wrapped into perforated cover.

The light bridge-passes have enlarged and turned into inhabited “hanging gardens”. There are 2-level apartments, exterior walls of which will be done in the technology of double facade, and on flat roofs there will be a real lane with grass as well as on the roof of stylobate.

The distance between the towers is about 35 meters. In the low part of the bridges there will be 3-meter height iron-concrete beams as the main support elements. In order to prevent deformation where the beams rest on the .. bearing walls of the towers, the designers of the institute “Promstroiproekt” and the architects of the studio A. Asadov have created a unique system due to which the two buildings connected in the levels of stylobate and bridges will be as reliable as a single construction. So, the architects had a revenge for the underground force-major and so they proved that difficulties can be overwhelmed even if they have to think of and construct a “flying ship”.

Architect:

Firm:

ASADOV architects

Object:

08 April 2008

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.

The Paradox of the Temporary

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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

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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

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Architecture and Leisure Park

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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

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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

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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

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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.