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.

Written by:
Julia Tarabarina
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

20 February 2024

send.project

We caught a glimpse of the office building project on Radio Street on sketch boards at the “Zodchestvo” exhibition in Moscow’s Gostiny Dvor, and at that time, I thought it was merely some sort of architectural fantasy. However, it turned out that the project was quite real and even meticulously developed, although it has not yet received the “architectural and urban planning solution” approval.

zooming — Office building on the Radio Street

Copyright: © Mikhail Dmitriev architectural studio

The building was designed in very strained conditions. The first part of the constraint is created by various immovable communication lines, allowing construction on barely half of the plot, a sanitary setback from the nearby tuberculosis clinic, a height restriction of 22 meters, and even the architect’s self-imposed prohibition to obstruct the transformer booth of the adjacent “Tupolev Plaza-2” center designed by Dmitry Barkhin.

This led to the creation of a cantilever with a projection of 8.5 meters, the execution of which the architect himself mentions with some doubt, yet he seems to be reasonably hopeful – along with an automated parking lot situated in the closed half of the building for its entire height. There are only 5 parking places underground.

Plan of the 1 floor. Office building on the Radio Street

Copyright: © Mikhail Dmitriev architectural studio
Plan of floors 2-5. Office building on the Radio Street

Copyright: © Mikhail Dmitriev architectural studio

Office building on the Radio Street

Copyright: © Mikhail Dmitriev architectural studio
Office building on the Radio Street

Copyright: © Mikhail Dmitriev architectural studio

The second part of the constraint is outlined in the urban development plan of the land plot – besides the height restriction, it dictates designing the building in the style of the surrounding historical houses. Meanwhile, the architects are expected to deliver Class A offices. The project’s author, Mikhail Dmitriev, disagreed with this formulation and, after extensive searches for form, he proposed the boldest contemporary solution among the possible options.

This solution is accompanied by a rationale appealing to the diversity of the surrounding texture of the “German Settlement” and even the innovation inherent to it during the Petrine era. The examination includes Van Der Hulst Chambers, also known as Anna Mons Chambers, a beloved legend of these places, hidden but still alive behind the buildings of the former NIITP plant. Here we can see the mosaic nature of Moscow at its finest, along with the neighboring Central Institute of Aerohydrodynamics and Central Construction Bureau-29, Lilienthal Glider and Zhukovsky Museum, the Church of the Ascension on Gorokhovy Polye (attributed to Matvey Kazakov), standing in the distance along the Radio Street, and the vast, relatively recently reconstructed Investigative Committee building at the beginning of the street.

I want to agree with Mikhail Dmitriev here – Moscow is mosaic, and the German Settlement is particularly so, and Peter I bequeathed us to be bolder.

However, the most accurate statement is that the future business center stands at the intersection of Radio and Bauman streets; this place is a small but important urban “pivot”, and another vague stylization here would be a “blemish”. The proposed solution is definitely not that.

Of course, especially if it does shine as depicted on 3D renders.

In general, it looks like this: slightly convex “bulges” of wooden ceilings almost levitate within the outline of a semi-transparent glass shell, hanging in the air, resembling some kind of exploded view drawing, together forming a simple but mysteriously flickering shape.

It will be very interesting to see how this project will be executed. However, the architect promises to test the coating on mock-ups, and the warm tone is supported by the color of the suspended ceiling made of curved veneered sheets. Moreover, the aquarium effect with subtle glass joints running not only vertically but also between floors is captivating. According to the architect, all the joints have already been calculated, and engineering solutions have been thought out.

We thought out every detail of the design of the office building on Radio Street, since after the approval of the “architectural and urban planning solution”, adjustments to nodes and technical and economic indicators often lead to revision of fundamental design solutions.

The unique historical significance of the site and the diversity of the surrounding architectural context dictated a striking architectural gesture made nonetheless on a modest scale – much like the First Movement of Vivaldi’s “Winter”.

Our class “A” office building is located on a small plot of only 1100 m2, in the southern and eastern part of which the heating mains, electrical cables, water supply and sewerage systems run. The lighting requirements for the premises of the tuberculosis clinic and the need to reveal the classic facades of Dmitry Barkhin’s Tupolev Plaza further restrict the building spot.

Structural and engineering solutions compensate for the site limitations. Mechanized multistory parking with a roundabout allowed us to meet the requirements for parking space provision. The 8.5 m outreach cantilever with a beam height of 60 cm is within the allowable reinforcement consumption. Structural glazing is used with silicone adhesive fixing and filling the joints with silicone sealant; we also used single-glazed windows. The suspended ceilings are made of ply-curve panels manufactured in individual molds; the outer layer is made of fire retardant natural veneer (Wallhof, RMK-Style). The columns are clad with curvilinear aluminum honeycomb panels with carbon coating with unique resistance to wear, moisture and dirt (Aludecore).

Two things are unclear to me: firstly, why doesn’t Mikhail Dmitriev refer to the construction site nearby, 400 meters away, the campus building of the Moscow State Technical University, which aims for modern architectural solutions and has a glass courtyard that has already been extensively discussed and shown? After all, the “aquarium” oval office at some point may appear to be a fragment of the campus, conceived as a futuristic or, at the very least, a modern structure. Or it might resemble a piece of the University’s dormitory located here on the other side of the Yauza River. In the Bauman district, a noticeable statement has already been made in favor of modern architecture – it’s the perfect time to join in.

Secondly, it’s interesting to see how this “aquarium” – inside of which currently a few people are drawn, and thin columns are well visible in a single straight row along the axis – will look after being cluttered with office desks (or perhaps even small meeting rooms!) and more people, along with blinds on the windows.

You never know until you try, but, for all intents and purposes, the view from the glass office to the trams turning towards Bauman Street and constantly ringing, just like the wide, bright opening of the passage towards the Yauza, should be magnificent.

Nevertheless, returning to the history of the area, it’s worth noting that the new MGTU campus is 400 meters away, and Anna Mons’ house is 600 meters away, almost in a straight line, if you don’t think about the need to pass through the courtyards. In addition, Radio Street with its surroundings on both the right and left banks of the Yauza River is filled with palaces of Peter the Great’s associates. Although they may not all look good now, having been rebuilt and crowded with later houses, the inclusion of a glowing oval volume among them suggests thoughts of some dropped precious gem, like a stone from the ring of the famous Anna. It’s an interesting place here: you walk, and suddenly there’s a fragment of a polychrome mosaic or at least a shard from a decanter glinting in the ground.

It seems that Mikhail Dmitriev’s project aims to revive this impression – somewhat similar to how the glass “nose” of the Hermitage Plaza on the Garden Ring surprises the passersby. Either way, it’s interesting to see what will come out of this.

20 February 2024

Headlines now

News

Flexibility and Integration

Not long ago, we covered the project for the fourth phase of the ÁLIA residential complex, designed by APEX. Now, we’ve been shown different fence concepts they developed to enclose the complex’s private courtyards, incorporating a variety of public functions. We believe that the sheer fact that the complex’s architects were involved in such a detail as fencing speaks volumes.

Object

A Step Forward

The HIDE residential complex represents a major milestone for ADM architects and their leaders Andrey Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova in their quest for a fresh high-rise aesthetic – one that is flexible and layered, capable of bringing vibrancy to mass and silhouette while shaping form. Over recent years, this approach has become ADM’s “signature style”, with the golden HIDE tower playing a pivotal role in its evolution. Here, we delve into the project’s story, explore the details of the complex’s design, and uncover its core essence.

Object

Gold in the Sands

A new office for a transcontinental company specializing in resource extraction and processing has opened in Dubai. Designed by T+T Architects, masters of creating spaces that are contemporary, diverse, flexible, and original, this project exemplifies their expertise. On the executive floor, a massive brass-clad partition dominates, while layered textures of compressed earth create a contextually resonant backdrop.

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Layers and Levels of Flight

This project goes way back – Reserve Union won this architectural competition at the end of 2011, and the building was completed in 2018, so it’s practically “archival”. However, despite being relatively unknown, the building can hardly be considered “dated” and remains a prime example of architectural expression, particularly in the headquarters genre. And it’s especially fitting for an aviation company office. In some ways, it resembles the Aeroflot headquarters at Sheremetyevo but with its own unique identity, following the signature style of Vladimir Plotkin. In this article, we take an in-depth look at the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) headquarters in the Moscow agglomeration town of Zhukovsky, supplemented by recent photographs from Alexey Naroditsky – a shoot that became only recently possible due to the fact that improvements were finally made in the surrounding area.

Object

Light and Shadow

In this article, we delve into the architectural design of the “Chaika” house by DNK ag architects, which was recently completed in 2023 as part of the collection of signature designs at ZILArt. As is well-known, all the buildings in this complex follow a design code, yet each one is distinct. This particular building stands out not only for its whiteness and minimalism but also for the refined use of a limited number of techniques that, together, create what can confidently be called synergy.

View

Casus Novae

A master plan was developed for a large residential area with a name of “DNS City”, but now that its implementation began, the plan has been arbitrarily reformatted and replaced with something that, while similar on the surface, is actually quite different. This is not the first time such a thing happens, but it’s always frustrating. With permission from the author, we are sharing Maria Elkina’s post.

Report

Treasure Hunting

The GAFA bureau, in collaboration with Tegola and Arkhitail, organized an expedition to the island of Kilpola in Karelia as part of Moskomarkhitektura’s “Open City” festival. There, amidst moss and rocks, the students sought answers to questions like: what is the sacred, where does it dwell, and what sustains it? Assisting the participants in this quest were landscape engineer Evgeny Levin, artist Nicholas Roerich, a moose, and the lack of cellular connection. Here’s how the story unfolded.

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Depths of the Earth, Streams of Water

In the Malaya Okhta district, the Akzent building, designed by Stepan Liphart, was constructed. It follows a classic tripartite structure, yet it’s what you might call “hand-drawn”: each façade is unique in its form and details, some of which aren’t immediately noticeable. In this article, we explore the context and, together with the architect, delve into how the form was developed.

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Fir Tree Dynamics

The “Airports of Region” holding is planning to build an airport in Karachay-Cherkessia, aiming to make the Arkhyz and Dombay resorts more accessible to travelers. The project that won in an invitation-only competition, submitted by Sergey Nikeshkin’s KPLN, blends natural imagery inspired by the shape of a conifer seed, open-air waiting spaces, majestic large trees, and a green roof elevated on needle-like columns. The result is both nature-inspired and WOW.

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A Brick Shell

In the process of designing a clubhouse situated among pine trees in a prestigious suburban area near Moscow, the architectural firm “A.Len” did the façade design part. The combination of different types of brick and masonry correlates with the volumetric and plastique solutions, further enhanced by the inclusion of wood-painted fragments and metal “glazing”.

Report

Word Forms

ATRIUM architects love ambitious challenges, and for the firm’s thirtieth anniversary, they boldly play a game of words with an exhibition that dives deep into a self-created vocabulary. They immerse their projects – especially art installations – into this glossary, as if plunging into a current of their own. You feel as if you’re flowing through the veins of pure art, immersed in a universe of vertical cities, educational spaces – of which the architects are true masters – and the cultural codes of various locations. But what truly captivates is the bold statement that Vera Butko and Anton Nadtochy make, both through their work and this exhibition: architecture, above all, is art – the art of working with form and space.

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Flexibility and Acuteness of Modernity

Luxurious, fluid, large “kokoshniks” and spiral barrel columns, as if made from colorful chewing gum: there seem to be no other mansion like this in Moscow, designed in the “Neo-Russian-Modern” style. And the “Teremok” on Malaya Kaluzhskaya, previously somewhat obscure, has “come alive with new colors” and gained visibility after its restoration for the office of the “architectural ecosystem” as the architects love to call themselves. It’s evident that Julius Borisov and the architects at UNK put their hearts into finding this new office and bringing it up to date. Let’s delve into the paradoxes of this mansion’s history and its plasticity. Spoiler: two versions of modernity meet here, both balancing on the razor’s edge of “what’s current”.

Interview

Yuri Vissarionov: “A modular house does not belong to the land”

It belongs to space, or to the air... It turns out that 3D printing is more effective when combined with a modular approach: the house is built in a workshop and then adapted to the site, including on uneven terrain. Yuri Vissarionov shares his latest experience in designing tourist complexes, both in central Russia and in the south. These include houseboats, homes printed from lightweight concrete using a 3D printer, and, of course, frame houses.

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Moscow’s First

“The quality of education largely depends on the quality of the educational environment”. This principle of the last decade has been realized by Sergey Skuratov in the project for the First Moscow Gymnasium on Rostovskaya Embankment in the Khamovniki district. The building seamlessly integrates into the complex urban landscape, responding both to the pedestrian flow of the city and the quiet alleyways. It skillfully takes advantage of the height differences and aligns with modern trends in educational space design. Let’s take a closer look.

Object

Looking at the Water

The site of Villa Sonata stretches from the road to the water’s edge, offering its own shoreline, pier, and a picturesque river panorama. To reveal these sweeping views, Roman Leonidov “cut” the façade diagonally parallel to the river, thus getting two main axes for the house and, consequently, “two heads”. The internal core – two double-height spaces, a living room and a conservatory, with a “bridge” above them – makes the house both “transparent” and filled with light.

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The White Wing

Well, it’s not exactly white. It’s more of a beige, white-stone structure that plays with the color of limestone – smoother surfaces are lighter, while rougher ones are darker. This wing unites various elements: it absorbs and interprets the surrounding themes. It responds to everything, yet maintains a cohesive expression – a challenging task! – while also incorporating recognizable features of its own, such as the dynamic cuts at the bottom, top, and middle.

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Urban Dunes

The XSA Ramps team designed and built a three-part sports hub for a park in Rostov-on-Don, welcoming people of all ages and fitness levels. The skate plaza, pump track, and playground are all meticulously crafted with details that attract a diverse range of visitors. The technical execution of the shapes and slopes transforms this space into a kind of sculptural composition.

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Proportional Growth

The project for the fourth phase of the ÁLIA residential area has been announced. The buildings are situated on an elongated plot – almost a “ray” that shoots out from the center of the area towards the river. Their layout reflects both a response to Moscow’s architectural preferences over the past 15 years, shifting “from blocks to towers”, and an interpretation of the neighboring business park designed by SOM. Additionally, the best apartments here are not located at the very top but closer to the middle, forming a glowing “waistline”.

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The “Staircase” Building

In designing the “Details” residential complex in New Moscow, Rais Baishev spiced up the now-popular Moscow theme of a “courtyard” building with an idea drawn from the surrealist drawings by Maurits Escher. He envisioned the stepped silhouettes and descending slopes as a metaphysical mega-staircase, creating a key void within the courtyard that gave the project an internal “spine”. This concept is felt both in the building’s silhouette and on its façades.

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Projection of the Quarter

No one doubted that the building that Vladimir Plotkin designed as part of the “Garden Quarters” would be the most modernist of all. And it turned out just that way: while adhering to the common design code, the building successfully combines brick and white stone, rhythmically responding to the neighboring building designed by Ostozhenka, yet tactfully and persistently making a few statements of its own. This includes the projection of the ideal urban development composition “14–9–6”, which can be found right next door, mathematical calculations, including those for various types of terraces (and perhaps the only reminder of the Soviet past of the Kauchuk rubber factory!), and the white “cross-stitch” pattern of the façade grid.

Object

Domus Aurea

In this issue, we examine the “Tessinsky-1” house, designed by Sergey Skuratov and completed in 2023. Located in the middle of the Serebryanicheskaya Embankment district, at the intersection of its main streets, this house assumes a sort of “nodal” role: it not only responds to everything around it and preserves many memories of the former EMA factory within itself, but it weaves all this into a newly directed pattern, reconciling bright “gold” and dark-colored brick, largely with the help of the new, modern-yet-archaic Columba brick, which, come to think about it, is the most precious element here.

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The Chimney of Nikola-Lenivets

In this issue, we are examining the “Obelisk House” designed by KATARSIS and built for the Arkhstoyanie 2023 festival. However, it was only finished later on, and this is why we are examining it now. It seems to us that after the “Obelisk House” appeared in Nikola-Lenivets, a dialogue and a few inner connections appeared between the temporary structures built here. These houses no longer look like “accidental neighbors”, more of which below.

Periscope by the Bay

The jury awarded the second place in the competition for a public and cultural center in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the companies GORA (“Mountain”) and M4. In the consortium’s proposal, the building resembles a sperm whale with a calf swimming next to it or a periscope, whose lenses capture the most spectacular views from the surrounding landscape.

Contest Results

From Arcs to Dolmens

While working on the competition project for Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, ASADOV Architects prioritized the value of the natural and urban environment, aiming to preserve the balance of the location while minimizing the resemblance of the volume that they designed to a “traditional building”. The task was challenging, and the architects created three versions, one of which having been developed after the competition, where their main proposal took third place. However, the point of interest here is not the competition result but the continuity of creative thinking.

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Hide and Seek

The ID Moskovskiy house, designed by Stepan Liphart in St. Petersburg, in the courtyards near Moskovskiy Avenue beyond the Obvodny Canal and recently completed, is notable for several reasons. Firstly, it has been realized with considerable accuracy, which is particularly significant as this is the first building where the architect was responsible not only for the facades but also for the layouts, allowing for better integration between the two. On the other hand, this building is interesting as an example of the “germination” of new architecture in the city: it draws on the best examples from the neighborhood and becomes an improved and developed sum of ideas found by the architect in the surrounding context.

The Big Twelve

Yesterday, the winners of the Moscow Mayor’s Architecture Award were announced and honored. Let’s take a look at what was awarded and, in some cases, even critique this esteemed award. After all, there is always room for improvement, right?

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Above the Golden Horn

The residential complex “Philosophy” designed by T+T architects in Vladivostok, is one of the new projects in the “Golubinaya Pad” area, changing its development philosophy (pun intended) from single houses to a comprehensive approach. The buildings are organized along public streets, varying in height and format, with one house even executed in gallery typology, featuring a cantilever leaning on an art object.

Report

Nuanced Alternative

How can you rhyme a square and space? Easily! But to do so, you need to rhyme everything you can possibly think of: weave everything together, like in a tensegrity structure, and find your own optics too. The new exhibition at GES-2 does just that, offering its visitor a new perspective on the history of art spanning 150 years, infused with the hope for endless multiplicity of worlds and art histories. Read on to see how this is achieved and how the exhibition design by Evgeny Ace contributes to it.

Object

Blinds for Ice

An ice arena has been constructed in Domodedovo based on a project by Yuri Vissarionov Architects. To prevent the long façade, a technical requirement for winter sports facilities, from appearing monotonous, the architects proposed the use of suspended structures with multidirectional slats. This design protects the ice from direct sunlight while giving the wall texture and detail.

Contest Results

Frozen Magma

A competition for the creation of a public and cultural center was held in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Three architectural companies made it to the final, and we consider it important to share about the work of each. Let’s start with the winner – the consortium led by Wowhaus.