The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

Remodeling the building of the former Sytin printing house on the Pyatnitskaya Street into a modern housing complex, Nikita Biryukov and his team fought a losing battle against the technical specifications – and, instead of the red-brick industrial character of the building, they accentuated the bourgeois nature of the building’s original Art Nouveau style.

Written by:
Lilya Aronova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

11 December 2017

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About the competition and the venue of the “First Exemplary Printing Works”

The starting point for the authors of the project that was submitted to the competition by the architectural firm ABV was the epoch when the historical buildings of the printing house were erected – at the brink of the XIX-XX centuries. The forming of the bourgeoisie as a class and new artistic trends closely connected to this process, chief among them being the birth of the Art Nouveau style, these processes, abruptly stopped by the well-known historical events, became the basis of Nikita Biryukov’s concept. It is the bourgeois character (in the best sense of the term) of this heritage site that Nikita Biryukov proposed to make the “visiting card” of the complex. “This is a complex for confident people” – in this nutshell the authors define the target group for their project.

zooming — Contest project of renovating the First Exemplary Printing Works. Building 1 © ABV Group

The architects saw their mission first of all in restoring the historical silhouette of the main building of the printing house. The main “evil” came in the form of the soviet-time fifth-floor buildup that leveled out the line of the façade, thus ruining the architect’s original idea – according to the ABV project, this fifth floor will be dismantled, and in its stead the building will get a mansard which, being recessed deeper into the building, will not violate its characteristic silhouette. Instead of one “soviet” floor, the authors were able to get a yield of two full-fledged ones, while, sinking the buildup of the top-floor apartments, they got an entrance to the terraces. The façade itself is designed in exquisite beige-and-gray tones, decorated with delicately sculptured elements, while the windows of the first floor are lowered virtually down to the ground in order to place their the showcases of the stores – naturally, the expensive and prestigious ones, the kind that should be there in a respectable bourgeois complex.

As far as developing the range of apartment configurations was concerned, it turned out to be a challenging brain teaser for the authors of the project. Trying to plan out the apartments in accordance with the technical specifications, they were confronted with the fact that these specifications were in conflict with the existing structure of the building: the space between the bearing columns, the ceiling vaults, and the arrangement of the windows – which, basically, came as no surprise, because what Erichson and Shukhov originally designed was not a housing complex but a production facility. In the course of the design work it turned out that the partitions would bump into the window sashes, the windows would “stick” to the walls, the vaults would break at most unexpected points, and, generally, the proportions of the rooms left much to be desired. Since the building itself is a heritage site, and making any changes to its walls was out of the question, it left only one way out – meaning, sacrificing the specifications. The authors of the project offered the client their own version of planning – with rooms of correct proportions, efficient arrangement of windows, plus, as a bonus, the attic level that the architects were able to “cut out” on the second floor – and, luckily, the client agreed with their reasoning. “What we did was turn the print house into a residential complex – summarized one of the authors of the project Valentin Ostroumov – Without downgrading their quality or damaging the heritage site”.

In all the other building units the architects did not have to step away from the technical specifications, although in each case the task was different and challenging. Unit 2, stretching along the 2nd Monetchikovsky Alley, is distinct not only for its considerable length but also for an unbelievable depth by housing construction standards – over twenty meters – which, again, poses a formidable challenge for planning apartments which, if the standard approach is used, end up being of a huge square footage. The architects were able to solve both problems simultaneously at the expense of the façade design solutions – we shall remind you at this point that, according to the specifications, only the basic framework was to be kept intact, while all the other structures were to be erected anew. Sunken into the depth of the façade, the elevator shafts divided the volume of the building into four parts, so unlike one another that a casual observer could easily mistake them for four independent compact buildings standing in a row. The difference lies in both the materials used – coating stone, ceramic tiles, then stone again – and in the colors, as well as in the very plastique of the buildings: squares of the recessed windows with French balconies alternate with the “bellows” of the triangular bay windows. Getting back to the diversity of the apartments issue: such “active” façades, biting deep into the flesh of the building, allowed the architects to bring the apartments to more or less reasonable square footage.

Yet another building unit of the printing house that faces the Garden Ring never tried to compete with the main building in terms of splendor but is nonetheless elegant and harmonious in its reserved appearance. The authors of the project stress its “discreet charm” by clearing the gray mother-of-pearl façade with an odd inclusion of beige, accentuating the decorative elements, characteristic for Art-Nouveau and again pushing the mansard inwards in order to avoid spoiling the exquisite silhouette of the attics.

The only red-brick building in the ABV project is the former hostel for the workers of the Sytin printing house that stands inside the yard. In this instance, the architects restore the decorative brickwork, and as for the top level, where the number of floors varies today from three to four, the architects level it out by using that same brick mansard with terraces. Due to the fact that, even with its buildup, this unit is the lowest in the complex, the authors of the project proposed to landscape the roof with plants, thus making it a part of the yard, adding extra beauty to the views commanded by the windows of the upper, most prestigious, floors of the surrounding houses. As for the yard, the architects are planning to put a lot of greenery into it; the intricate arabesques of flowerbeds and trails seem to be meant to soften some certain brutality of the industrial architecture of the former printing house.

Incidentally, as for the last building, the one that is in construction at the crossing of the Monetchikovsky alleys, the authors of the project also decided to design it based on some certain stylistic opposition. “I would say that it is more ladylike – Valentin Ostroumov comments – All the other buildings around it are prominently masculine, and we decided to make this specific building more on the feminine side”. Squeezed from all sides by the vice of insolation regulations, in this particular instance the authors of the project could only express themselves in the façade design: the building got a coating of light-colored bricks, vertically crossed by a dark strip of French windows grouped in threes – any woman knows that a vertical stripe makes you look thinner! – and, quite unexpectedly, colorful decorative inserts just below the mansard’s roof which refer us to the luxurious ornamentalism of the Moscow Art-Nouveau, this closing a “stylistic loop” of the architecture of the former Sytin printing house.

11 December 2017

Written by:

Lilya Aronova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

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.

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

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

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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.

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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.

​The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie