По-русски

For All Times

The modular technology combined with the building material of glued wood allows the architectural company Rhizome to create quick-mount hotels (no less!) that are highly rated by the architectural community: last week, the new hotel “Vremena Goda. Igora” scored three awards. Below, we are examining the project in detail.

19 September 2023
send.project
mainImg
The hotel “Vremena Goda” (“The Four Seasons”) is the fourth implemented project by Rhizome. For Igora ski resort, “Vremena Goda” hotel is already the fourth completed project by Rhizome. The three “points on the map” that were opened earlier – the ones in Priozersk, Vidlitz, and Lodeinoe Pole – are nearly inscribed in Karelian landscapes, and, despite the above-average price per room, enjoy unfailing popularity. As for the first “point” in Priozersk, the way we see it, it set a new standard for the hotel infrastructure in the Leningrad region and Karelia: it was then, in the first COVID year, that every beautiful lake and every beautiful forest edge began to get built with laconic framework little houses that came to replace the traditional a-la Rus getaways.

"Tochka na Karte« (»Point on the Map") hotel in Priozersk
Copyright: © Rhizome


"Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


In all the above-mentioned projects, Rhizome honed and consistently developed the modular approach: all the hotel complexes are composed of standardized “cells” that can be assembled to form a bungalow, small blocks – or large and sophisticated sculptural volumes. Comparing “Vremena Goda” and “Tochka” in Lodeinoe Pole allows you to appreciate the flexibility and efficiency of the approach: the module works equally well the riverside and amidst the trees, responding both to the brief and the site specifics. In Lodeinoe Pole, the basic unit is slightly larger; the decoration of wooden slats and the structural solution of staircase units are somewhat more complex.

  • zooming
    "Tochka na Karte« (»Point on the Map") hotel in Lodeinoe Pole
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Tsyrenshchikov / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


  • zooming
    "Tochka na Karte« (»Point on the Map") hotel in Lodeinoe Pole
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Tsyrenshchikov / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Sergey Martynov / provided by Rhizome


In the case of “Igora”, the architects had a few “givens” to work with: a height restriction, a task to accommodate 200 people, and, last but not least, they were to make sure that all the rooms commanded beautiful views. Rhizome grouped the modules into four units, each of which bends in such a way as to make sure that the modules’ panoramic windows command beautiful forest views. The back side of the buildings faces the parking lots. In the center, there is a rectangular building with a reception and a lobby bar.

"Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
Copyright: Photograph © Sergey Martynov / provided by Rhizome


Each unit is composed of three blocks standing at an angle in respect to each other and consisting of 20 and 40-square meter modules. The family rooms, complemented by a living room and mini-kitchen, have two windows in them: the facade grid thus remains regular, from the outside the larger room can only be identified by the loggia post replacing the blank partition.

"Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
Copyright: © Rhizome


  • zooming
    1 / 4
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    2 / 4
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    3 / 4
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    4 / 4
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


The blocks are connected by a bypass gallery with glulam construction. On the second floor level, the gallery is decorated with a “curtain” made of thin wooden slats. It is this “back” side of the building that is responsible for the guest’s first impression: it is where they drive up to the hotel and where the entrances to the rooms are located. The rhythm of structural beams and decorative laths, emphasized by the lighting, is constantly changing as the viewer moves and due to the curves of the buildings. The main verticals are complemented by the lines of cladding planking, dark spots of rusticated doors, and staircase steps.

  • zooming
    1 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    2 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    3 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    4 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    5 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    6 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    7 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    8 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Sergey Martynov / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    9 / 9
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


In the places where there are gaps between the blocks, the architects placed staircase nodes, and the connecting fabric is once again openwork laths that provide beautiful-looking shadows. The white color of the staircases gives these spaces a parade-like appearance that brings to mind Soviet rest homes on maybe the “House of Creativity” in Moscow’s Peredelkino.

Using modern and sustainable solutions, we sought to enter into a dialog with the best Nordic examples of mid-20th century hospitality and health architecture, be it Finnish functionalism or Soviet modernism. Hence the choice of applied color and formal solutions.


  • zooming
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


  • zooming
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


The lobby designed in the spirit of Mies van der Rohe deserves a special mention. The laconic form is combined here with a very tactile structure of the finish – gabions, which from a distance can be mistaken for shingles, so much so that it blends in with the bark of the surrounding spruce trees. The administrative block, located a little to the side, “strives” to keep a low profile, and metal structures help to “read” its function and separate it from the guest facilities.

  • zooming
    1 / 3
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    2 / 3
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    3 / 3
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


  • zooming
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome
  • zooming
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


It was vital for Igora – one of the most prestigious ski resorts of Leningrad region – to keep up its customer attractiveness during the construction. The modules were able to handle this task as well: much of the work is carried out at the factory, and assembly on site is characterized by neatness – no noise, no dust. The use of highly factory-ready components in the construction made it possible to produce and assemble the hotel in nine months.

"Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
Copyright: Photograph © Dmitry Chebanenko / provided by Rhizome


After cooperation with Igora, I would like to predict a rapid scaling of Rhizome development: domestic tourism is on the rise, new and old resorts lack spare rooms – so let them be like this: wooden and in tune with nature.
 
Last week, the project was recognized in the architectural community, taking three awards at once: the jury of ArchiWOOD, Architecton, and G8 Creative Awards recognized it as the best public or tourist building.

  • zooming
    1 / 8
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: © Rhizome
  • zooming
    2 / 8
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: © Rhizome
  • zooming
    3 / 8
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: © Rhizome
  • zooming
    4 / 8
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: © Rhizome
  • zooming
    5 / 8
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: © Rhizome
  • zooming
    6 / 8
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: © Rhizome
  • zooming
    7 / 8
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: © Rhizome
  • zooming
    8 / 8
    "Igora. Vremena Goda" hotel
    Copyright: © Rhizome


19 September 2023

Headlines now
Centipede Town
The new school campus designed by ATRIUM Architects, located on the shores of a protected lake in the Imeretian Lowland Ornithological Reserve, represents an important and ambitious undertaking for the team: this is not just a school, but a Presidential Lyceum for the comprehensive development of gifted children – 2,500 students from age 3 through high school. At the same time, it is also envisioned as a new civic hub for the entire Sirius territory. In this article, we unpack the structure and architecture of this “lyceum town”.
Warm Black and White
The second phase of “Quarter 31”, designed by KPLN and built in the Moscow suburb town of Pushkino, reveals a multifaceted character. At first glance, the complex appears to be defined by geometry and a monochrome palette. But a closer look reveals a number of “irregular” details: a gradient of glazing and flared window frames, a hierarchy of façades, volumetric brickwork, and even architectural references to natural phenomena. We explore all the rules – and exceptions – that we were able to discover here.
​Skylights and Staircase
Photos from March show the nearly completed headquarters of FSK Group on Shenogina Street. The building’s exterior is calm and minimalist; the interior is engaging and multi-layered. The conical skylights of the executive office, cast in raw concrete, and the sweeping spiral staircase leading to it, are particularly striking. In fact, there’s more than one spiral staircase here, and the first two floors effectively form a small shopping center. More below.
The Whale of Future Identity
Or is it a veil? Or a snow-covered plain? Vera Butko, Anton Nadtochy, and the architects of ATRIUM faced a complex and momentous task: to propose a design for the “Russia” National Center. It had to be contemporary, yet firmly rooted in cultural codes. Unique, and yet subtly reminiscent of many things at once. It must be said – the task found the right authors. Let’s explore in detail the image they envisioned.
Greater Altai: A Systemic Development Plan
The master plan for tourism development in Greater Altai encompasses three regions: Kuzbass, the Altai Republic, and Altai Krai. It is one of twelve projects developed as part of the large-scale state program bearing the simple name of “Tourism Development”. The project’s slogan reads: “Greater Altai – a place of strength, health, and spirit in the very heart of Siberia”. What are the proposed growth points, and how will the plan help increase the flow of both domestic and international tourists? Read on to find out.
The Colorful City
While working on a large-scale project in Moscow’s Kuntsevo district – one that has yet to be given a name – Kleinewelt Architekten proposed not only a diverse array of tower silhouettes in “Empire-style” hues and a thoughtful mix of building heights, creating a six-story “neo-urbanist” city with a block-based layout at ground level, but also rooted their design in historical and contextual reasoning. The project includes the reconstruction of several Stalin-era residential buildings that remain from the postwar town of Kuntsevo, as well as the reconstruction of a 1953 railway station that was demolished in 2017.
In Orbit of Moscow City
The Orbital business center is both simple and complex. Simple in its minimalist form and optimal office layout solution: a central core, a light-filled façade, plenty of glass; and from the unusual side – a technical floor cleverly placed at the building’s side ends. Complex – well, if only because it resembles a celestial body hovering on metallic legs near Magistralnaya Street. Why this specific shape, what it consists of, and what makes this “boutique” office building (purchased immediately after its completion) so unique – all of this and more is covered in our story.
The Altai Ornament
The architectural company Empate has developed the concept for an eco-settlement located on a remote site in Altai. The master plan, which resembles a traditional ornament or even a utopian city, forms a clear system of public and private spaces. The architects also designed six types of houses for the settlement, drawing inspiration from the region’s culture, folklore, and vernacular building practices.
Pro Forma
Photos have emerged of the newly completed whisky distillery in Chernyakhovsk, designed by TOTEMENT / PAPER – a continuation of their earlier work on the nearby Cognac Museum. From what is, in essence, a merely technical and utilitarian volume and space, the architects have created a fully-fledged theatre of impressions. Let’s take a closer look. We highly recommend a visit to what may look like a factory, but is in fact an experiment in theatricalizing the process of strong spirit production – and not only that, but also of “pure art”, capable of evolving anywhere.
The Arch and the Triangle
The new Stone Mnevniki business center by Kleinewelt Architekten – designed for the same client as their projects in Khodynka – bears certain similarities to those earlier developments, but not entirely. In Mnevniki, there are more angular elements, and the architects themselves describe the project as being built on contrast. Indeed, while the first phase contains subtle references to classical architecture – light touches like arches, both upright and inverted, evoking the spirit of the 1980s – the second phase draws more distantly on the modernism of the 1970s. What unites them is a boldly expressive public space design, a kaleidoscope of rays and triangles.
Health Factory
While working on a wellness and tourist complex on the banks of the Yenisei River, the architects at Vissarionov Studio set out to create healing spaces that would amplify the benefits of nature and medical treatments for both body and soul. The spatial solutions are designed to encourage interaction between the guests and the landscape, as well as each other.
The Blooming Mechanics of a Glass Forest
The Savvinskaya 27 apartment complex built by Level Group, currently nearing completion on an elongated riverfront site next to the Novodevichy Convent, boasts a form that’s daring even by modern Moscow standards. Visually, it resembles the collaborative creation of a glassblower and a sculptor: a kind of glass-and-concrete jungle, rhythmically structured yet growing energetically and vividly. Bringing such an idea to life was by no means an easy task. In this article, we discuss the concept by ODA and the methods used by APEX architects to implement it, along with a look at the building’s main units and detailing.
Grace and Unity
Villa “Grace”, designed by Roman Leonidov’s studio and built in the Moscow suburbs, strikes a balance between elegant minimalism and the expansive gestures of the Russian soul. The main house is conceived as a sequence of four self-contained volumes – each could exist independently, yet it chooses to be part of a whole. Unity is achieved through color and a system of shared spaces, while the rich plasticity of the forms – refined throughout the construction process – compensates for the near-total absence of decorative elements.
Daring Brilliance
In this article, we are exploring “New Vision”, the first school built in the past 25 years in Moscow’s Khamovniki. The building has three main features: it is designed in accordance with the universal principles of modern education, fostering learning through interaction and more; second, the façades combine structural molded glass and metallic glazed ceramics – expensive and technologically advanced materials. Third, this is the school of Garden Quarters, the latest addition to Moscow’s iconic Khamovniki district. Both a costly and, in its way, audacious acquisition, it carries a youthful boldness in its statement. Let’s explore how the school is designed and where the contrasts lie.
A Twist of the Core
A clever and concise sculptural solution – rotating each floor by N degrees – has created an ensemble of “dancing” towers: similar yet different, simple yet complex. The designers meticulously refined a single structural node and spent considerable effort on the column construction – after that, “everything else was easy”. The architects also rotated the core walls on each floor to maximize the efficiency of the office spaces.
The Sculpting of Spring Forest Matter
We’ve been observing this building for a couple of years now: seemingly simple, perhaps even unassuming, it fits in remarkably well with the micro-district context shaped by the Moscow MCD road junctions. This building sticks in the memory of everyone who drives along the highway, even occasionally. In our opinion, Sergey Nikeshkin, by blending popular architectural techniques and approaches of the 2010s, managed to turn a seemingly simple structure into a statement “on the theme of a house as such”. Let’s figure out how this happened.
Water and Wind Whet the Stone
The Arisha Terraces residential complex, designed by Asadov Architects, will be built in a district of Dubai dedicated to film and television production. To create shaded spaces and an intriguing silhouette, the architects opted for a funnel-shaped composition and nature-inspired forms of erosion and weathering. The roofs, podium, and underground spaces extend leisure opportunities within the boundaries of a man-made “oasis”.
Elevation 5642
The Genplan Institute of Moscow has developed a comprehensive development project for three ski resorts in the Caucasus, which have been designated as special economic zones of the tourism and recreation type. The first of these zones is Elbrus. The project includes the construction of new ski runs, cable cars, and hotels, as well as the modernization of stations and improvements to the Azau tourist meadow. To expand the audience and enhance year-round appeal, a network of eco-trails is also being developed. In this article, we provide a detailed breakdown of each stage.
The IT Town
Taking the example of the first completed phase of the “U” district, we examine how the new neighborhood in Innopolis will be organized. T+T Architects and HADAA formed a well-balanced and ingenious master plan with different types of housing, a green artery, a system of squares, and a park in the town’s central part.
The Heart Lies Within
The second-phase building of the Evgeny Primakov School already won multiple awards while still in the design stage. Now that it’s completed, some unfinished nuances remain – most notably, the exposed ceiling structures, which ideally should have been concealed. However, given the priority placed on the building’s volumetric composition, this does not seem critical. What matters more is the “Wow!” effect created by the space itself.
Magnetic Forces
“Krylatskaya 33” is the first large-scale residential complex to appear amidst the 1980s “micro-districts” that harmoniously coexist with the forests, the river, the slopes, and the sports infrastructure. Despite its imposing scale, the architects of Ostozhenka managed to turn the complex into something that can be best described as a “graceful dominant”. First, they designed the complex with consideration for the style and height of the surrounding micro-districts. Second, by introducing a pause in its tallest section, they created compositional tension – right along the urban planning axis of the area.
Orion’s Belt
The Stone Khodynka 2 office complex, designed by Kleinewelt Architekten for the company Stone, is built with an ergonomic layout following “healthy building” principles: natural light, ventilation, and all the necessary features for an efficient office environment. On the outside, it resembles – like many contemporary buildings – an iPhone: sleek, glowing, glass-and-metal, edges elegantly rounded. Yet, it responds sensitively to the Khodynka context, where the main theme is the contrast between vertical and horizontal lines. The key intrigue lies in the design of the “stylobate” as a suspended passage, leaving the space beneath it open for free pedestrian movement.
Grigory Revzin: “It Was a Bold Statement Made on the Sly. Something Won”
In this article, we discuss the debates surrounding the circus competition and the demolition of the CMEA building with the most renowned architectural critic of our time. A paradox emerges in the process: while nostalgia for the Brezhnev era seems to be in vogue in Russia, a landmark building – the “axis” of the Warsaw Pact – has been sentenced to demolition. Isn’t that strange? We also find out that wow-architecture has made a comeback as a post-COVID trend. However, to make a truly powerful statement, professionals still remain indispensable.
Exposed Concrete
One of the stages of improving a small square in the town of Lermontov was the construction of a skatepark. Entrusting this part of the project to the XSA team, the city gained a 250-meter trick track whose features resemble those of land art objects – unparalleled in Russia in both scale and design. Here’s a look at how the experimental snake run in the foothills of the Caucasus was built.
One Step Closer To the Dream
The challenges of getting all the mandatory approvals, an insufficient budget, and construction site difficulties did not prevent ASADOV Bureau from achieving its main goal in the realization of the school project in the town of Troitsk – taking another step away from outdated notions of educational spaces toward creating a fundamentally new academic environment.
Chalet on the Rock
An Accor hotel in Arkhyz, designed by A.Len, will be situated at the gateway to the resort’s main tourist hubs. The architects reinterpreted the widely popular chalet style while adding an unexpected twist – an unfinished structure preserved on the site. The design team transformed this remnant into an exciting space featuring an open-air pool and a restaurant with panoramic views of the region’s highest mountain ridges.
Sergey Skuratov: “By and large, the project has been realized in line with the original ideas”
In this issue, we talk to the chief architect of Garden Quarters, looking back at the history and key moments of a project that took 18 years to develop and has now finally been completed. What interests us most are the transformations that the project underwent during construction, and the way the “necessary void” of public space was formed, which turned this remarkable complex into a fragment of a whole new type of urban fabric – not just at the horizontal “street” level but in its vertical structure as well.
A Unique Representative
The recently concluded year 2024 can be considered the year of completion for the “Garden Quarters” residential complex in Moscow’s Khamovniki. This project is well-known and, in many ways, iconic. Rarely does one manage to preserve such a number of original ideas, achieving in the end a kind of urban planning Gesamtkunstwerk. Here is a subjective view from an architecture journalist, with an interview with Sergey Skuratov soon to follow.
Field of Life
The new project by the architectural company PNKB (an acronym for “Design, Research, and Advisory Bureau”), led by Sergey Gnedovsky and Anton Lyubimkin, for the Kulikovo Field Museum is dedicated to the field as a concept in its own right. The field has long been a focus of the museum’s thorough and successful research. Accordingly, the exterior of the new museum building is gentler than that of its predecessor, which was also designed by PNKB and dedicated specifically to the historic battle. Inside, however, the building confidently guides the visitor from a luminous atrium along a spiral path to the field – interpreted here as a field of life.