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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.

Alyona Kuznetsova

Written by:
Alyona Kuznetsova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

18 January 2023
Object
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The perfect world, so young and fair,
The perfect world without a care,
We’ll miss you so when you’re not there…
The “Artek” song

Artek began in 1925 as a small tent camp for children, and in 2016 it welcomed the 1.5Mth guest. After 2014, the camp was “reset”: its entire program changed, and now Artek is developed as a year-round “innovative venue for general and supplementary education, combined with fitness and recreation”; in accordance with the program, they also began renovating the buildings.

Over the years of its existence, Artek has grown to the size of five camps: Pribrezhny (“Seaside”), consisting of “Forest”, “Field”, “River”, and “Lake” divisions, Gorny (“Mountain”), consisting of “Diamond”, “Crystal”, “Amber”, “Sea”, “Cypress”, and “Azure” divisions. Quite soon, the new and the largest camp will appear, capable of housing up to a 1000 children per shift – “Solnechny”. It will become the first camp since 1995 to be built from scratch.



The author of the master plan of the entire Artek and most of its buildings was the Soviet architect Anatoly Polyansky. The construction of this “pioneer camp”, cascading down to the sea in terraces, was something that he conceived still in the 1960’s in the southern part of the Artek grounds. However, they were unable to implement the master plan in its entirety back then. In the post-Soviet time, the Artek territory shrank in its southern part, giving way to private construction, a park, and a beach. As for the seaside fragment between “Cypress” and “Azure”, right across from the Adalar rocks, it lay undeveloped for half a century because of complex terrain, risk of landslides, and the absence of access roads.

In the 2000s, developing the program for developing Artek for the next decades, the leadership of the camp turned to the idea of developing the vacant land site lying between “Cypress” and “Azure”, which, among other things, would make it possible to make the territory more coherent from the Ayu-Dag of mountain in the north to the settlement of Gurzuf in the south. To achieve these tasks, they invited the project institute ARENA, which already took a significant part in the development of the camp: the architects worked on reconstructing and designing new buildings for the “Seaside” camp, designed “Artek Arena” on the site of the former Bonfire Square, as well as the educational center for the future “Sunny”.

The configuration of “Sunny”, and the principles of volumetric organization, recreate Polyansky’s ideas in the new location.

In order to neutralize the impact of soils, a cascade of retaining walls made of drilled piles was installed before construction.



They definitely had a task of inscribing the building in the terrain, at the same time making it proportional to the surroundings and providing for the movement (sometimes Brownian) of pedestrian streams. One of the things that came in particularly handy for the institute was probably its experience in designing stadiums – no matter how you look at it, one thousand kids in one place is quite a figure.



The City of the Sun

The more you examine the building, the more you think of utopian towns: possibly, it is the name of “Sunny” that brings such associations, or maybe the idea of a camp regimen, or in the architectural solutions that ultimately create a contained space. As we all know, “summer is a small life”, which is just enough to house a small utopia.

“Sunny” consists of four separately standing units built in accordance with the same principle: three levels two floors in each are arranged in a terraced fashion in such a way that the roof of the lower tiers is the terrace of the upper ones. The result is 12 blocks, which corresponds to 12 companies; this same figure lent itself for using the names of months for identifying and designing each of the blocks – they differ in colors and facade design. The top tier of the side buildings is almost half the width of the central ones, and thanks to this the terrace-like character is seen when you view the complex from the sea.



Each room is a cell, a “little brick” in the overall volume of the building, which relates it to the specimens of Soviet architecture, and first of all to Yalta’s Druzhba resort. You can see here the same recognizable “scallops” of the rooms, which, on the other hand, are more of a plastique technique than a functional necessity: since the building is linear, and stands almost on the shoreline, the sea is already perfectly visible from each of its windows.



Still, the architects try to make as much sea as possible: the south wall of each room is 100% glass, and has an exit to a small balcony, protected from the sunlight by an awning of colored polycarbonate. You can also shut yourself off from noisy neighbors on the balcony with a thick curtain. The “prongs” alternate with “Finnish” little balconies – a technique that makes it possible to diversify the buildings even more. The fragile crystalline volumes of stained glass are augmented by natural stone that allows the building to naturally fit in with the rocky slope.





Asher-esque Landscaping

The four buildings are interconnected by “membranes” – a sophisticated system of staircases and overpasses that serves as both vertical and horizontal communication core, as well as a place for events and recreation. This solution turns the building into an “island of diverging paths”: you can get from any point to any other by numerous paths, and the intertwined staircases and overpasses look like a labyrinth.



In each of the “membranes”, the staircase takes you from the topmost tier to the seaside boulevard and the beach. At the level of the entrance groups, the staircases grow to the size of amphitheaters that are protected from the sunlight by “sails” resembling hovering birds. This way, each of the buildings gets its own venue for joint lineups, while the function of small yards is performed by green terraces.



The upper level of the roof offers rather large venues for mass events, and it also has an educational function: the technical blocks are covered by bright-colored cylinders with lamellas, through which the kids can take a sneak peek at the engineering communications. The cylinders on the roof are probably also a reference to the “Friendship” restaurant.



Thus, “Sunny” as a whole, as well as each of its blocks, turn out to be self-sufficient. The territory of this “little city” provides enough space for everything: bedrooms, indoor and outdoor event venues, quiet corners for individual work and practice, as well as the sea splashing literally outside your door. The building itself becomes the object of research and cognition: ascending and descending the staircases every day, and going out to the balconies and terraces, one cannot but delve into its sophisticated architectural and engineering organization.



The self-contained character of the building, however, does not limit the kids in getting diverse impressions because they have the whole enormous territory of Artek at their disposal. “Sunny” itself for example, will have a landmark of its own: the remains of the Christian basilica church of the VI century that were discovered and then buried again still in Soviet time. At the new stage of construction, these remains were cleared and conserved; they are planned to be integrated in the complex later on. The basilica will adorn the territory of the educational center that will complement “Sunny” and will be situated a little bit higher up the mountain. It will also include a cafeteria – once it is complete, the camp will be able to welcome new guests.
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
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    The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
    Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
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    The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
    Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
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    The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
    Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
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    The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
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    The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
    Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute
The international children′s center Artek. The Solnechny (Sunny) camp
Copyright: © ARENA Project Institute


18 January 2023

Alyona Kuznetsova

Written by:

Alyona Kuznetsova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov
Headlines now
​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.
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.
​The Slabs of Bagration
The construction of a new skyscraper designed by SPEECH within the complex of Moscow City has been announced. A keen observer may see in it: Moscow high-rises, Chicago architecture, Malevich architecton, and an attempt of deconstruction of the integral image of the Moscow skyscraper – a technique that has been actively employed by the architects in their recent works.
​Preserving the History of Clean Ponds
How do you make a comfortable high-end residential complex that meets the modern requirements for expensive downtown housing, and keep as much of the original 1915 building as possible? Ilia Utkin, together with Sminex, solved this charade for Potapovsky Lane, 5 – here is how.
​Living in a Forest
The apartment complex in Roshchino, designed by GAFA architects, looks very much like a glamping: the residents enjoy the untouched nature of the Karelian isthmus, while having urban amenities and opportunities for social life.
A Laboratory for Life
The building of the Laboratory of Oncomorphology and Molecular Genetics, designed by the author team headed by Ilya Mashkov (Mezonproject) uses the benefits of the natural context and offers space for cutting-edge research, both doctor- and patient-friendly.
The Logic of Life
The light installation, designed by Andrey Perlach in the atrium of Moscow's Federation Tower, balances on the edge between a mathematical order of construction and the diversity of perception when viewed from different angles.
An Architect in a Metaverse
In this interview, we talked to the participants of the festival of creative industries G8 about why metaverses are our tomorrow’s everyday routine, and how architects can already influence it today.