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Zaha in Skolkovo: Sberbank's Technopark

A review of the results of the contest for the best project of Sberbank Technopark in Skolkovo: the winning project by Zaha Hadid and four others. The Chief Architect of Moscow, Sergey Kuznetsov, named this competition the most important event of the year.

22 April 2016
Contest Results
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The results of the closed international competition were announced in the Sberbank HQ immediately after the judging panel came up with their decision. Choosing the best of the five submitted proposals that over the last three months were developed by the world's top architectural companies from Great Britain, Russia, USA, and Italy was a tough call - it took the judging panel almost a whole day to arrive at a decision. At the end of the day, the project by Zaha Hadid Architects, the last project that the now-late Zaha ever worked upon, got the first place in the rating, slightly outweighing the others. 

According to the President and the C.E.O of Sberbank, German Gref, who personally announced the winner, the judging panel had to choose from the "great architects and great projects". Besides the standard evaluation criteria, such as technical parameters, implementability, and the future contents of the building, the judging panel also considered the opinion of the future employees of the new Technopark: there are more than ten thousands of them, and they evaluated the proposed projects and voted for them online for weeks. As for German Gref himself, he admitted that he had been "mentally" inclined toward the project submitted by Norman Foster - the architect with whom the leaders of Sberbank have already worked on the building of a five-star hotel in the city of Yalta. Ultimately, however, most of the to-be employees opted for the concept developed by Zaha Hadid - which to a large extent determined the outcome of the competition. The future users liked the wide sunlit spaces convenient for organizing coworking sessions and large events. 

"To us, this is not just a building - German Gref explained - this is the place where the future of Russia's largest international bank will be created. We wanted to highlight with this building the necessity of constant improvement and our commitment to excellence. The new Technopark must form an environment that constantly pushes one forward, always raising the bar still higher". 

The chairman of the judging panel, Sergey Kuznetsov, in turn, stressed that the contest for the best Technopark project became "the most noticeable and important event of this year, in the result of which Moscow will get a top-class building". Sergey Kuznetsov also went on to say that the top officials of the bank announced their intentions to organize this competition still back in 2014 after which the customer, together with Moscow City Architecture Committee selected the top five participants. "We invited world-class masters whose outlooks on modern architecture were known in advance to be vastly different, so as they could encompass all the possible options in search for the best solution - Sergey Kuznetsov added - And we truly achieved this goal. The judging panel was absolutely amazed by the works that were submitted. This was a real feast of taste and professionalism, and I can say that about each and every participant of the contest".

Below, we are featuring the winning project, as well as the projects submitted by the other contestants: 

Zaha Hadid Architects / winner 

The building of the Technopark is situated along the south border of the land site and it traces its smoothly flowing outline. A large glass volume is pierced by a tunnel of a broad atrium/promenade that makes it look like an airport terminal. The two-part "central hub" functions as the connecting module that serves as a communication, exhibition, and event-hall unit, all rolled into one. 

The architecture here is glass-glowing but laconic as well. At the same time, it is based on the most advanced technologies, including the heat and power-efficient ones. Inside, there is a sci-fi interior with giant columns looking like trees or maybe even sinews or tendons. The author also thought out the vertical and horizontal permeability and connection between all the functional zones. Special attention has been given to the premises' mobility and ability to transform. In addition to the open plans of the working areas, the author provided for an array of cozy private spaces: recreation areas, meeting halls, and telephone rooms.

Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Zaha Hadid Architects
Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Zaha Hadid Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Zaha Hadid Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Zaha Hadid Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Zaha Hadid Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Zaha Hadid Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo. Functional model © Zaha Hadid Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo. Plan of the first floor © Zaha Hadid Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo. Plan of the third floor © Zaha Hadid Architects
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Foster + Partners

In the project by Norman Foster, the Technopark is divided into three functional units: "SberTech", "Sberbank", and "Central Hub". They are united by a courtyard and covered with a dome from a monolithic translucent material that looks like glass bubbles stretched on top of the agile contour of the building's plan. The dome is pierced with sun tubes that let inside the ambient light, and also, thanks to the innovative engineering systems, maintain and fine-tune the microclimate inside the Technopark. 

The office part of the Technopark provides for flexible reconfiguration of the office spaces, as well as using modular elements. The densely packed workspaces rhythmically alternate with recreation zones forming some semblance of a chain that binds the building along its perimeter and opens up views of promenades and little green yards on the inside.

Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Foster + Partners


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Foster + Partners


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Foster + Partners


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Foster + Partners


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Foster + Partners


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Foster + Partners
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Massimiliano Fuksas architetto

The building supports the main planning axis of the boulevard by inscribing itself into the existing structure of Skolkovo's master plan and taking on the role of the centerpiece. The concept is based on simple juxtaposition of ringlet-like elements that overlap between one another, sometimes with a dramatic off-axis shift. The use of interactive LED façades goes a long way to embellish the project concept. 

In the Fuksas project, the heart of the new Technopark is the "Central Hub" that includes the representative, R&D, and educational functions. The hub occupies the entire ground floor of the building functioning as the crossing point and a venue for exhibitions and conferences. Each of Sberbank subdivisions occupies several "ringlet" volumes comprising from one to three floors. In the offices, the workplaces and the infrastructure objects alternate with recreation spaces, as well as with winter gardens lightened up by special lights.

Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Fuksas


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Fuksas


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Fuksas


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Fuksas


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Fuksas
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SPEECH

In the SPEECH project, the complex consists of three buildings connected with covered galleries or overpasses. On the plan, the two lateral buildings have a form of trapeze-shaped "horseshoes", while the middle one is in fact a zigzag. The central nucleus of the building contains a multifunctional communication hub that connects the individual office units. The inside space is enriched by lots of zones for recreation and communication, with open-air double-height public spaces. On the usable roof, the authors placed sports and recreation venues.

The possibilities of flexible reconfiguration of the office spaces coupled with the modularity of the building blocks make them really convenient to work with. The office layouts comprise several functional modules each, and can be transformed in accordance with the needs of the current projects. 

Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © SPEECH


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © SPEECH


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © SPEECH


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © SPEECH


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © SPEECH
***

Eric Owen Moss Architects

The volume is spread over the territory in the shape of a gigantic semi-ring that sprouts interconnected blocks of slanting deformed stone towers. The multilayered structural glazing of the separately standing media towers is meant to demonstrate the latest achievements and developments of the Technopark. The panoramic glazing along the perimeter provides natural insolation of the workplaces. The semi-ring contains the "Central Hub". Along it, like they would be along a promenade, the office modules are organized and distributed. The workplaces alternate with conference halls, premises for public events and key presentations, with rest zones. The top floors are occupied by meeting rooms and recreation areas. 

Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Eric Owen Moss Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Eric Owen Moss Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Eric Owen Moss Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Eric Owen Moss Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Eric Owen Moss Architects


Sberbank's Technopark in Skolkovo © Eric Owen Moss Architects
***


22 April 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
​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.
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
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.