По-русски

Faceted Grisaille

A new building on the Kulneva Street, next to "Mirax Plaza": the geometry of sharp shadows, glistening lights, and the shades of mature modernist techniques - all reminds about the fact that the new building occupies the place of a former seventies predecessor.

Julia Tarabarina

Written by:
Tatiana Pashintseva, Julia Tarabarina
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

28 April 2015
Object
mainImg

The new building of the multifunctional complex President Plaza of "A" class on the Kulneva Street was put into operation in December of 2014. Its large parallelepiped came in the stead of the production-and-administration building of Department of Presidential Affairs of the Russian Federation surrounded by the buildings of a large office center formerly known as "Mirax Plaza" and located across from the Moscow City between the river and the Kutuzovsky Avenue - although this particular building never was part of this complex, even if surrounded by it from three sides.

The construction of the two austere north towers of "Mirax" was started by Sergey Kiselev - President Plaza is located directly behind them and it is now perfectly viewable from the Third Transport Ring of Moscow. At some moment it might even seem that the new building has actually become the "finishing touch" of the "island" between the Kulneva Street and the TTR but this is not quite the case - when they build the elongated building of the former "Mirax" that, by the decision of the architectural council, is handled by Vladimir Plotkin, it will block the view of President Plaza with its volume. Ultimately, this place will get a complex designed by three different but still renowned Moscow architectural companies: Sergey Kiselev and Partners, SPEECH, and "Reserve". 

Multifunctional complex President Plaza © Aleksey Naroditsky
Multifunctional complex President Plaza © Aleksey Naroditsky


Location plan © SPEECH


The plans of reconstructing the building of the Department of Presidential Affairs first came about in 2006. Since that time, the 1,3-hectare land site changed hands a few times. The construction would be frozen and started anew depending on the financial powers of the owner and the consideration of the increasing load on the city's transport network. Over this time, the projects of this parallelepiped on the Kulneva Street were done by Nikolai Lyzlov, Vagan Vermishyan, and, probably, a lot of other authors. 

As for its rectangular shape, the building of President Plaza inherits it from its soviet predecessor - this way, it makes the most of the land site's potential. The rectangular volume 135x75 meters, seventeen stories high, with a total height of 68 meters, houses the maximum of useful space, the original plan being to fill the side parts with apartments. Later on, however, the architects gave up this idea and filled the whole building with offices. The broad construction blueprint requires a large inner courtyard - the soviet building actually had one, in the shape of a dull square around the empty core. The architects of SPEECH optimized the planning to a certain degree: their building has two identical yards, separated by a broad "lintel" with useful space in it which helped to significantly increase the overall amount of useful square footage. As for the yards, approximately 25x33 meters, with an area of a little over eight hundred meters - this is a little bit more than the average Saint Petersburg "well" yard - these yards are designed predominantly to achieve better insolation results. Because of that, the panoramic glazing of their smooth inner walls is only at times interrupted by the strips of intermediate floors, while in order to liven up these surfaces, the architects use two kinds of glass - the transparent and the colored type, mostly painted into warm tones: yellow, orange, and red, whose brightness is offset by the odd inclusion of the purple tone. 

The first floor is given away to the shops and cafés, and the second - to the conference halls and fitness centers - this part of the building belongs to the city; besides, its eastern facade, together with the long building of the former "Mirax Plaza", will form the pedestrian street that will run inside of the complex - there is still a long way to go before we actually see it but we hope that it will become a nice and busy one. The other floors, from third to sixteenth, are occupied by free space offices grouped around the communication nuclei with stairways and eight elevators. 

Plan of the first floor © SPEECH


The column spacing inside is 8.4 meters - this size, divided into six parts 1.4 meter each, became the module of the facade grid. This, however, is not the only thing that the inner structure of the building manifests itself with on the outside. The architects turn its only outside facade on the Kulneva Street and its adjacent south side wall into a moving mass of glass "televisions" of bay windows encased in silver frames of metal composite material. Some of the bay windows stand out from the wall 0.63, and some 1.3 meters - as a result, the large and the small ledges overlap, cross, and grow into one another forming a large, though somewhat irregular, asymmetric pattern. The facades look as if they were moving, like a chest of drawers with the drawers pulled at different lengths. This comparison is not arbitrary, by the way: besides their plastic expression, the bay windows add to the building's useful space and work to the customer's benefit. The square footage is increased yet a little bit more at the expense of the first floor standing out a little bit, supported by the slender triangular cantilevers. The cantilevers are only used on the "grand" facade on the Kulneva Street, and they add a twist of glamor to the building: the polished finishing metal glistens day and night, echoing the opaque glitter of the frames of the bay windows. 

Multifunctional complex President Plaza © Aleksey Naroditsky


Multifunctional complex President Plaza. Fragment of the facade © Aleksey Naroditsky


Multifunctional complex President Plaza. Fragment of the facade © Aleksey Naroditsky


The two other facades: the north one, turned to the towers of "Mirax Plaza" and the east one that opens up on the future pedestrian street develop this theme without reducing it. The skewed silver "frames" of the "televisions" bleed together turning into protruding ribs to form a large-textured 3D ornament, although here its spacing grows a bit smaller. The metallic surfaces catch the light at different angles, the sharp ribs enhancing the contrast between the dark and the light tones to look like a geometric Grisaille picture that is backlit and livened up by the glitter of the glass background. Mostly, the tilting angle of the frames in respect to the wall is about 60 degrees but at times it gives way to a more gently sloping one - this is how the broad verticals appear that divide the grid; because of them, the pattern of the east facade looks a little like sand dunes undulating under the wind from the river. One might think that the glass caesuras of the east facade formed due to the fact that some parts of the rigorous metallic grid were "blown away" from their places. Although generally the grid remains firm and regular, offsetting the "shifting" of the glass-and-metal surface of the southwest part of the building. 

Multifunctional complex President Plaza © Aleksey Naroditsky


Multifunctional complex President Plaza. Fragment of the facade © Aleksey Naroditsky


Multifunctional complex President Plaza. Fragment of the facade © Aleksey Naroditsky


In their explanatory note, the authors modestly write that "it was not so much about forming an original architectural image, as about developing a world-class complex meeting all the mandatory specifications, and the original facade design that would harmoniously fit "Mirax Plaza", at the same time highlighting the independence of the new object". Highlighting the independence is something that the authors did succeed in. But then again, as we have already noticed, in this case the architecture is very sensitive to its environment, the main theme being not the Kutuzovsky Avenue but the brutal futurist search of the mature modernism, even the "classical" tones being read through the prism of the seventies here. The silver geometric grid of metallic frames that also looks a bit like an enlarged fragment of a printed board, along the wires of which the light signals run; the "television" bay windows; the slender concrete cantilevers above the bottom floors - this building has a flavor of the first Soviet Sputnik or maybe the Soviet science fiction movies of the sixties and seventies, which makes perfect sense: President Plaza came instead of a seventies building, and the entire opposite side of the Kulneva Street consists of, though somewhat worn, the characteristic facades of those days, where the "ribbon" windows alternate with the slender vertical ribs. On the other hand, a twist of modern mobility and the "various facade" quality help it to fit in with the surrounding cityscape: examining the building from all sides, one cannot help but wonder how, with all the pragmatism that we see here, the architects were able to successfully catch the optimum balance between the diversity and the integrity. From a distance, the building fits in with the array of the avenue, and, from a close range, it stuns the viewer with the play of glittering surfaces, so different from the warm-shaded Stalin-era terra-cotta.
Plan of the typical floor © SPEECH
Plan of the second floor © SPEECH
Plan of the typical floor with a parking garage © SPEECH


28 April 2015

Julia Tarabarina

Written by:

Tatiana Pashintseva, Julia Tarabarina
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov
Headlines now
New “Flight”
Architects from “Mezonproject” have developed a project for the reconstruction of the regional youth center “Polyot”(“Flight”) in the city of Oryol. The summer youth center, built back in the late 1970s, will now become year-round and acquire many additional functions.
The Yauza Towers
In Moscow, there aren’t that many buildings or projects designed by Nikita Yavein and Studio 44. In this article, we present to you the concept of a large multifunctional complex on the Yauza River, located between two parks, featuring a promenade, a crossroads of two pedestrian streets, a highly developed public space, and an original architectural solution. This solution combines a sophisticated, asymmetric façade grid, reminiscent of a game of fifteen puzzle, and bold protrusions of the upper parts of the buildings, completely masking the technical floors and sculpting the complex’s silhouette.
Architecture and Leisure Park
For the suburban hotel complex, which envisages various formats of leisure, the architectural company T+T Architects proposed several types of accommodation, ranging from the classic “standard” in a common building to a “cave in the hill” and a “house in a tree”. An additional challenge consisted in integrating a few classic-style residences already existing on this territory into the “architectural forest park”.
The U-House
The Jois complex combines height with terraces, bringing the most expensive apartments from penthouses down to the bottom floors. The powerful iconic image of the U-shaped building is the result of the creative search for a new standard of living in high-rise buildings by the architects of “Genpro”.
Black and White
In this article, we specifically discuss the interiors of the ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh. Interior design is a crucial component of the overall concept in this case, and precision and meticulous execution were highly important for the architects. Julia Tryaskina, head of UNK interiors, shares some of the developments.
The “Snake” Mountain
The competition project for the seaside resort complex “Serpentine” combines several typologies: apartments of different classes, villas, and hotel rooms. For each of these typologies, the KPLN architects employ one of the images that are drawn from the natural environment – a serpentine road, a mountain stream, and rolling waves.
Opal from Anna Mons’ Ring
The project of a small business center located near Tupolev Plaza and Radio Street proclaims the necessity of modern architecture in a specific area of Moscow commonly known as “Nemetskaya Sloboda” or “German settlement”. It substantiates its thesis with the thoroughness of details, a multitude of proposed and rejected form variants, and even a detailed description of the surrounding area. The project is interesting indeed, and it is even more interesting to see what will come of it.
Feed ’Em All
A “House of Russian Cuisine” was designed and built by KROST Group at VDNKh for the “Rossiya” exhibition in record-breaking time. The pavilion is masterfully constructed in terms of the standards of modern public catering industry multiplied by the bustling cultural program of the exhibition, and it interprets the stylistically diverse character of VDNKh just as successfully. At the same time, much of its interior design can be traced back to the prototypes of the 1960s – so much so that even scenes from iconic Soviet movies of those years persistently come to mind.
The Ensemble at the Mosque
OSA prepared a master plan for a district in the southern part of Derbent. The main task of the master plan is to initiate the formation of a modern comfortable environment in this city. The organization of residential areas is subordinated to the city’s spiritual center: depending on the location relative to the cathedral mosque, the houses are distinguished by façade and plastique solutions. The program also includes a “hospitality center”, administrative buildings, an educational cluster, and even an air bridge.
Pargolovo Protestantism
A Protestant church is being built in St. Petersburg by the project of SLOI architects. One of the main features of the building is a wooden roof with 25-meter spans, which, among other things, forms the interior of the prayer hall. Also, there are other interesting details – we are telling you more about them.
The Shape of the Inconceivable
The ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh brings to mind a famous maxim of all architects and critics: “You’ve come up with it? Now build it!” You rarely see such a selfless immersion in implementation of the project, and the formidable structural and engineering tasks set by UNK architects to themselves are presented here as an integral and important part of the architectural idea. The challenge matches the obliging status of the place – after all, it is an “exhibition of achievements”, and the pavilion is dedicated to the nuclear energy industry. Let’s take a closer look: from the outside, from the inside, and from the underside too.
​Rays of the Desert
A school for 1750 students is going to be built in Dubai, designed by IND Architects. The architects took into account the local specifics, and proposed a radial layout and spaces, in which the children will be comfortable throughout the day.
The Dairy Theme
The concept of an office of a cheese-making company, designed for the enclosed area of a dairy factory, at least partially refers to industrial architecture. Perhaps that is why this concept is very simple, which seems the appropriate thing to do here. The building is enlivened by literally a couple of “master strokes”: the turning of the corner accentuates the entrance, and the shade of glass responds to the theme of “milk rivers” from Russian fairy tales.
The Road to the Temple
Under a grant from the Small Towns Competition, the main street and temple area of the village of Nikolo-Berezovka near Neftekamsk has been improved. A consortium of APRELarchitects and Novaya Zemlya is turning the village into an open-air museum and integrating ruined buildings into public life.
​Towers Leaning Towards the Sun
The three towers of the residential complex “Novodanilovskaya 8” are new and the tallest neighbors of the Danilovsky Manufactory, “Fort”, and “Plaza”, complementing a whole cluster of modern buildings designed by renowned masters. At the same time, the towers are unique for this setting – they are residential, they are the tallest ones here, and they are located on a challenging site. In this article, we explore how architects Andrey Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova tackled this far-from-trivial task.
In the spirit of ROSTA posters
The new Rostselmash tractor factory, conceptualized by ASADOV Architects, is currently being completed in Rostov-on-Don. References to the Soviet architecture of the 1920’s and 1960’s resonate with the mission and strategic importance of the enterprise, and are also in line with the client’s wish: to pay homage to Rostov’s constructivism.
The Northern Thebaid
The central part of Ferapontovo village, adjacent to the famous monastery with frescoes by Dionisy, has been improved according to the project by APRELarchitects. Now the place offers basic services for tourists, as well as a place for the villagers’ leisure.
Brilliant Production
The architects from London-based MOST Architecture have designed the space for the high-tech production of Charge Cars, a high-performance production facility for high-speed electric cars that are assembled in the shell of legendary Ford Mustangs. The founders of both the company and the car assembly startup are Russians who were educated in their home country.
Three-Part Task: St. Petersburg’s Mytny Dvor
The so-called “Mytny Dvor” area lying just behind Moscow Railway Station – the market rows with a complex history – will be transformed into a premium residential complex by Studio 44. The project consists of three parts: the restoration of historical buildings, the reconstruction of the lost part of the historical contour, and new houses. All of them are harmonized with each other and with the city; axes and “beams of light” were found, cozy corners and scenic viewpoints were carefully thought out. We had a chat with the authors of the historical buildings’ restoration project, and we are telling you about all the different tasks that have been solved here.
The Color of the City, or Reflections on the Slope of an Urban Settlement
In 2022, Ostozhenka Architects won a competition, and in 2023, they developed and received all the necessary approvals for a master plan for the development of Chernigovskaya Street for the developer GloraX. The project takes into account a 10-year history of previous developments; it was done in collaboration with architects from Nizhny Novgorod, and it continues to evolve now. We carefully examined it, talked to everyone, and learned a lot of interesting things.
A Single-Industry Town
Kola MMC and Nornickel are building a residential neighborhood in Monchegorsk for their future employees. It is based on a project by an international team that won the 2021 competition. The project offers a number of solutions meant to combat the main “demons” of any northern city: wind, grayness and boredom.
A New Age Portico
At the beginning of the year, Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport opened Terminal C. The large-scale and transparent entrance hall with luminous columns inside successfully combines laconism with a bright and photogenic WOW-effect. The terminal is both the new façade of the whole complex and the starting point of the planned reconstruction, upon completion of which Tolmachevo will become the largest regional airport in Russia. In this article, we are examining the building in the context of modernist prototypes of both Novosibirsk and Leningrad: like puzzle pieces, they come together to form their individual history, not devoid of curious nuances and details.
A New Starting Point
We’ve been wanting to examine the RuArts Foundation space, designed by ATRIUM for quite a long time, and we finally got round to it. This building looks appropriate and impressive; it amazingly combines tradition – represented in our case by galleries – and innovation. In this article, we delve into details and study the building’s historical background as well.
Molding Perspectives
Stepan Liphart introduces “schematic Art Deco” on the outskirts of Kazan – his houses are executed in green color, with a glassy “iced” finish on the facades. The main merits of the project lie in his meticulous arrangement of viewing angles – the architect is striving to create in a challenging environment the embryo of a city not only in terms of pedestrian accessibility but also in a sculptural sense. He works with silhouettes, proposing intriguing triangular terraces. The entire project is structured like a crystal, following two grids, orthogonal and diagonal. In this article, we are examining what worked, and what eventually didn’t.
An Educational Experiment for the North
City-Arch continues to work on the projects that can be termed as “experimental public preschools”: private kindergartens and schools can envy such facilities in many respects. This time around, the project is done for the city of Gubkinsky, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. A diverse educational and play environment, including a winter garden, awaits future students, while the teachers will have abundant opportunities to implement new practices.
Alexandra Kuzmina: “Working is easy when the rules are the same for everyone”
The subject matter of Moscow Region’s booth and presentations at Zodchestvo Festival was the concept of “Integrated Land Development”, and for a good reason: this task is very challenging, very relevant, and Moscow Region has already accumulated quite a formidable experience in this regard. In this article, we are speaking to the main architect of the region: about master plans and who makes them, about where you obtain resources for creating a comfortable environment, about her favorite projects, about why there are so few good architects, and what we should do with the bad ones.
The Cemetery: Inside and Outside
The workshop organized by the Genplan Institute of Moscow scored one of the two first places at the “Open City” festival. Its subject is reorganization of municipal cemeteries. Two action plans were proposed, diametrically opposite: one for the downtown and one for the suburbs.
Our Everything
Who is Alexey Shchusev? In the last couple of weeks, since the architect’s 150th birthday, different individuals have answered this question differently. The most detailed, illustrated, and elegantly presented response is an exhibition held in two buildings of the Museum of Architecture on Vozdvizhenka. Four curators, a year and a half of work performed by the entire museum, and exhibition design by Sergey Tchoban and Alexandra Sheiner – in this article, we take you on a tour of the exhibition and show what’s what in it.
For Mental Reboot
At the architectural competition held in 2023 in Novosibirsk, the project by GORA Architects – a pedestrian bridge leading to the town of Bor – was awarded the “Golden Capital” prize. In this country, more than a hundred pedestrian bridges are constructed each year. What makes the Bor bridge different?
Gold Embroidery
A five-story housing complex designed by Stepan Liphart in Kazan, responds to the stylistically diverse context with its form, both integral and agile, and as for the vicinity of the “Ekiyat” movie theater, the complex responds to it with a semblance of theater curtain folds, and active plastique of its balconies, that bear some resemblance to theater boxes. Even if excessively pompous a little bit, the complex does look fresh and modern. One will have a hard time finding Art Deco elements in it, even though the spirit of the 1930s, run through the filter of neo-modernism, is still clearly felt, just as a twist of the Occident.