City Block of High Culture

In this issue, we are showcasing the four projects which took part in the competition that was held in the beginning of 2017 and was dedicated to renovating the complex of buildings of the former Sytin printing house into a residential complex.

Written by:
Lilya Aronova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

11 December 2017

Contest Results

The construction territory is essentially a city block delineated by the Pyatnitskaya and Valovaya Streets, and the 2nd and 3rd Monetchikovsky alleys, for the exception of the building standing on the corner of the Pyatnitskaya Street and the Garden Ring and the Lighthouse business center. Currently, this is the property of the “First Exemplary Printing Works”, the heir of the once-famous Sytin’s printing company. This very part of the Zamoskvorechye district is one of Moscow’s most “prayed-in” spots: suffice it to say that long before the printing house was built here, this was the place where the playwright Alexander Ostrovsky lived; as for the buildings themselves, they witnessed many historic moments, including the bloody ones – it was here that the Moscow strike of 1905 started, during which the place was almost burned down to the ground. Its role as a cultural heritage site is just as important: this printing house printed nearly a quarter of all the Russian publications, and was visited at one time or another by all the key figures of the Silver Age of the Russian literature. The complex that was supposed to be renovated into a premium class residential city block consists of three buildings erected at the brink of XIX-XX centuries, one building that was built in the 1930’s, and a few minor ones of no historical value, in whose stead new construction was going to take place. The main building – 71, Pyatnitskaya Street, with a gothic entrance and figured attics, an acclaimed masterpiece of Moscow’s Art Nouveau style, built in 1903 – was originally designed by the architect Adolph Erichson and the engineer Vladimir Shukhov; in the soviet time, its fourth floor got a buildup that significantly distorted the authors’ original idea. These two people also designed the red-brick Building 3 which stands inside the yard – it appeared in 1912 and housed the apartments of the employees of the company; the building that stands along the Valovaya Street was built by the architects Rybinsky and Voskresensky a little bit earlier, in 1888, and originally functioned as a tenement house. All the historical buildings were to be renovated with full reconstruction of their inside space into residential premises; the construction of mansards and penthouses was also planned. The building of soviet origin was to be renovated; its framework to be kept intact. All the later structures were to be replaced by new buildings.

Four Moscow-based architectural firms took part in the competition: Kleinewelt, ABV, DNK, and Wall. The competition was won by Kleinewelt Architekten. Then the construction was canceled.

Kleinewelt

zooming — Competition project for renovating the Sytin Printworks into a premium-class apartment and housing complex. Sytin Printworks Museum © Kleinewelt Architekten

The concept of this literature-oriented project is built upon the combination of different imagery systems based on the creative works of five Russia’s greatest men of letters – Tolstoy, Gogol, Esenin, Mayakovsky, and Blok – within the framework of a single city block. According to the authors’ idea, such saturated cultural content must take the complex to a whole new level, as far as its premium quality is concerned, which proceeds from the interpretation of material and emotional comfort, and the possibility for each of the potential clients to choose the kind of atmosphere that appeals personally to him. Based on serious scientific research, the restoration of the historical façades is tactfully augmented by laconic buildups of penthouses; the authors design the plastique of the new buildings in broad strokes, putting together large cubes with sunken-in recessions, or hefty stone slabs that symbolize the new epoch and new artistic statement. As for the center of public life of this city block, it must become the yard space devoted to Diaghilev Russian Seasons.

More on the project by Kleinewelt Architekten

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ABV

Together with restoring the appearance of the historical buildings, the authors of the project laid stress on developing a diverse range of apartments. As for the difficult charade formed by the Shukhov columns, Erichson windows, vaulted ceilings, and modern requirements for residential property, the architects were only able to solve it by stepping away from the technical specifications. The architects brought the silhouette of the main building back to its original outline by shifting the mansard inwards; the façade was designed in gray and beige tones with intricate sculptured decor. The extended façade of the building standing on the 2nd Monetchikovsky Alley was divided into four parts that can be visually perceived as independent buildings; the new building on the corner of the block, quite new in its architecture, is decorated with colorful Art Nouveau ornaments which refer us to the epoch when the historic buildings of the complex were built.

More on the project by ABV

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DNK ag

The imagery of the project is based on the theme of a printing house in its most direct meaning – a place where books are printed. The relief as the basis of book printing, the structure of a letter case, fragments of engraved plates and ornaments – all these attributes of book-printing business turned into architectural and decorative techniques that unite the historical and newly-built buildings of the complex into a single whole. The building which stands on the 2nd Monetchikovsky Alley embodies the link of time: the framework that the authors keep intact looks as though it “breaks through” the new façade that has been dressed upon it. In order to make sure that the building is not perceived as a monotonous one, the architects proposed three different versions of arranging the coffers on the façade, while on the mansard level the building’s silhouette is broken into three parts by the cutaways of the terraces. As for the building that stands inside the yard, the authors propose to build it up with a mansard of ostentatiously modern shape with a jagged line of the façade, which would thematically connect this city block to the neighboring buildings, while the yard landscaping is graced with elements of castle architecture.

More on the project by DNK ag

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Wall

The authors of the project propose to use such a new by Moscow standards technique as “semi-private space”. Leaving part of the yard in full power of the residents of the complex, they turn the rest of the territory into the so-called “black path”, marked by contrastive paving. Starting from the Garden Ring, it leads to a newly-built sculpture of a building that the architects treat as the cornerstone of this city block defining its identity. This is a trapeze-plan glass volume with a slanting roof, dissected into slender verticals by black pylons. The same kind of plastique is applied to the façades of the renovated “soviet” building on the 2nd Monetchikovsky Alley. As far as the historical buildings are concerned, the architects are planning to restrict themselves to maximum preservation and restoration of the aesthetics of the existing construction.

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11 December 2017

Written by:

Lilya Aronova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

Headlines now

The Paradox of the Temporary

The concept of the Russian pavilion for EXPO 2025 in Osaka, proposed by the Wowhaus architects, is the last of the six projects we gathered from the 2022 competition. It is again worth noting that the results of this competition were not finalized due to the cancellation of Russia’s participation in World Expo 2025. It should be mentioned that Wowhaus created three versions for this competition, but only one is being presented, and it can’t be said that this version is thoroughly developed – rather, it is done in the spirit of a “student assignment”. Nevertheless, the project is interesting in its paradoxical nature: the architects emphasized the temporary character of the pavilion, and in its bubble-like forms sought to reflect the paradoxes of space and time.

The Forum of Time

The competition project for the Russian Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka designed by Aleksey Orlov and Arena Project Institute consists of cones and conical funnels connected into a non-trivial composition, where one can feel the hand of architects who have worked extensively with stadiums and other sports facilities. It’s very interesting to delve into its logic, structurally built on the theme of clocks, hourglasses and even sundials. Additionally, the architects have turned the exhibition pavilion into a series of interconnected amphitheaters, which is also highly relevant for world exhibitions. We are reminding you that the competition results were never announced.

Mirrors Everywhere

The project by Sergey Nebotov, Anastasia Gritskova, and the architectural company “Novoe” was created for the Russian pavilion at EXPO 2025, but within the framework of another competition, which, as we learned, took place even earlier, in 2021. At that time, the competition theme was “digital twins”, and there was minimal time for work, so the project, according to the architect himself, was more of a “student assignment”. Nevertheless, this project is interesting for its plan bordering on similarity with Baroque projects and the emblem of the exhibition, as well as its diverse and comprehensive reflectiveness.

Report

The Steppe Is Full of Beauty and Freedom

The goal of the exhibition “Dikoe Pole” (“Wild Field”) at the State Historical Museum was to move away from the archaeological listing of valuable items and to create an image of the steppe and nomads that was multidirectional and emotional – in other words, artistic. To achieve this goal, it was important to include works of contemporary art. One such work is the scenography of the exhibition space developed by CHART studio.

The Snowstorm Fish

The next project from the unfinished competition for the Russian Pavilion at EXPO 2025, which will be held in Osaka, Japan, is by Dashi Namdakov and Parsec Architects. The pavilion describes itself as an “architectural/sculptural” one, with its shape clearly reminiscent of abstract sculpture of the 1970s. It complements its program with a meditative hall named “Mendeleev’s Dreams”, and offers its visitors to slide from its roof at the end of the tour.

The Mirror of Your Soul

We continue to publish projects from the competition for the design of the Russian Pavilion at EXPO in Osaka 2025. We are reminding you that the results of the competition have not been announced, and hardly will ever be. The pavilion designed by ASADOV Architects combines a forest log cabin, the image of a hyper transition, and sculptures made of glowing threads – it focuses primarily on the scenography of the exhibition, which the pavilion builds sequentially like a string of impressions, dedicating it to the paradoxes of the Russian soul.

Part of the Ideal

In 2025, another World Expo will take place in Osaka, Japan, in which Russia will not participate. However, a competition for the Russian pavilion was indeed held, with six projects participating. The results were never announced as Russia’s participation was canceled; the competition has no winners. Nevertheless, Expo pavilion projects are typically designed for a bold and interesting architectural statement, so we’ve gathered all the six projects and will be publishing articles about them in random order. The first one is the project by Vladimir Plotkin and Reserve Union, which is distinguished by the clarity of its stereometric shape, the boldness of its structure, and the multiplicity of possible interpretations.

Object

The Fortress by the River

ASADOV Architects have developed a concept for a new residential district in the center of Kemerovo. To combat the harsh climate and monotonous everyday life, the architects proposed a block type of development with dominant towers, good insolation, facades detailed at eye level, and event programming.

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In the Rhombus Grid

Construction has begun on the building of the OMK (United Metallurgical Company) Corporate University in Nizhny Novgorod’s town of Vyksa, designed by Ostozhenka Architects. The most interesting aspect of the project is how the architects immersed it in the context: “extracting” a diagonal motif from the planning grid of Vyksa, they aligned the building, the square, and the park to match it. A truly masterful work with urban planning context on several different levels of perception has long since become the signature technique of Ostozhenka.

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Generational Connection

Another modern estate, designed by Roman Leonidov, is located in the Moscow region and brings together three generations of one family under one roof. To fit on a narrow plot without depriving anyone of personal space, the architects opted for a zigzag plan. The main volume in the house structure is accentuated by mezzanines with a reverse-sloped roof and ceilings featuring exposed beams.

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Three Dimensions of the City

We began to delve into the project by Sergey Skuratov, the residential complex “Depo” in Minsk, located at Victory Square, and it fascinated us completely. The project has at least several dimensions to it: historical – at some point, the developer decided to discontinue further collaboration with Sergey Skuratov Architects, but the concept was approved, and its implementation continues, mostly in accordance with the proposed ideas. The spatial and urban planning dimension – the architects both argue with the city and play along with it, deciphering nuances, and finding axes. And, finally, the tactile dimension – the constructed buildings also have their own intriguing features. Thus, this article also has two parts: it dwells on what has been built and what was conceived

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New “Flight”

Architects from “Mezonproject” have developed a project for the reconstruction of the regional youth center “Polyot”(“Flight”) in the city of Oryol. The summer youth center, built back in the late 1970s, will now become year-round and acquire many additional functions.

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The Yauza Towers

In Moscow, there aren’t that many buildings or projects designed by Nikita Yavein and Studio 44. In this article, we present to you the concept of a large multifunctional complex on the Yauza River, located between two parks, featuring a promenade, a crossroads of two pedestrian streets, a highly developed public space, and an original architectural solution. This solution combines a sophisticated, asymmetric façade grid, reminiscent of a game of fifteen puzzle, and bold protrusions of the upper parts of the buildings, completely masking the technical floors and sculpting the complex’s silhouette.

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Architecture and Leisure Park

For the suburban hotel complex, which envisages various formats of leisure, the architectural company T+T Architects proposed several types of accommodation, ranging from the classic “standard” in a common building to a “cave in the hill” and a “house in a tree”. An additional challenge consisted in integrating a few classic-style residences already existing on this territory into the “architectural forest park”.

Overview

The U-House

The Jois complex combines height with terraces, bringing the most expensive apartments from penthouses down to the bottom floors. The powerful iconic image of the U-shaped building is the result of the creative search for a new standard of living in high-rise buildings by the architects of “Genpro”.

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Black and White

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.

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The “Snake” Mountain

The competition project for the seaside resort complex “Serpentine” combines several typologies: apartments of different classes, villas, and hotel rooms. For each of these typologies, the KPLN architects employ one of the images that are drawn from the natural environment – a serpentine road, a mountain stream, and rolling waves.

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Opal from Anna Mons’ Ring

The project of a small business center located near Tupolev Plaza and Radio Street proclaims the necessity of modern architecture in a specific area of Moscow commonly known as “Nemetskaya Sloboda” or “German settlement”. It substantiates its thesis with the thoroughness of details, a multitude of proposed and rejected form variants, and even a detailed description of the surrounding area. The project is interesting indeed, and it is even more interesting to see what will come of it.

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Feed ’Em All

A “House of Russian Cuisine” was designed and built by KROST Group at VDNKh for the “Rossiya” exhibition in record-breaking time. The pavilion is masterfully constructed in terms of the standards of modern public catering industry multiplied by the bustling cultural program of the exhibition, and it interprets the stylistically diverse character of VDNKh just as successfully. At the same time, much of its interior design can be traced back to the prototypes of the 1960s – so much so that even scenes from iconic Soviet movies of those years persistently come to mind.

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The Ensemble at the Mosque

OSA prepared a master plan for a district in the southern part of Derbent. The main task of the master plan is to initiate the formation of a modern comfortable environment in this city. The organization of residential areas is subordinated to the city’s spiritual center: depending on the location relative to the cathedral mosque, the houses are distinguished by façade and plastique solutions. The program also includes a “hospitality center”, administrative buildings, an educational cluster, and even an air bridge.

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Pargolovo Protestantism

A Protestant church is being built in St. Petersburg by the project of SLOI architects. One of the main features of the building is a wooden roof with 25-meter spans, which, among other things, forms the interior of the prayer hall. Also, there are other interesting details – we are telling you more about them.

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The Shape of the Inconceivable

The ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh brings to mind a famous maxim of all architects and critics: “You’ve come up with it? Now build it!” You rarely see such a selfless immersion in implementation of the project, and the formidable structural and engineering tasks set by UNK architects to themselves are presented here as an integral and important part of the architectural idea. The challenge matches the obliging status of the place – after all, it is an “exhibition of achievements”, and the pavilion is dedicated to the nuclear energy industry. Let’s take a closer look: from the outside, from the inside, and from the underside too.

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Rays of the Desert

A school for 1750 students is going to be built in Dubai, designed by IND Architects. The architects took into account the local specifics, and proposed a radial layout and spaces, in which the children will be comfortable throughout the day.

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The Dairy Theme

The concept of an office of a cheese-making company, designed for the enclosed area of a dairy factory, at least partially refers to industrial architecture. Perhaps that is why this concept is very simple, which seems the appropriate thing to do here. The building is enlivened by literally a couple of “master strokes”: the turning of the corner accentuates the entrance, and the shade of glass responds to the theme of “milk rivers” from Russian fairy tales.

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The Road to the Temple

Under a grant from the Small Towns Competition, the main street and temple area of the village of Nikolo-Berezovka near Neftekamsk has been improved. A consortium of APRELarchitects and Novaya Zemlya is turning the village into an open-air museum and integrating ruined buildings into public life.

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Towers Leaning Towards the Sun

The three towers of the residential complex “Novodanilovskaya 8” are new and the tallest neighbors of the Danilovsky Manufactory, “Fort”, and “Plaza”, complementing a whole cluster of modern buildings designed by renowned masters. At the same time, the towers are unique for this setting – they are residential, they are the tallest ones here, and they are located on a challenging site. In this article, we explore how architects Andrey Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova tackled this far-from-trivial task.

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In the spirit of ROSTA posters

The new Rostselmash tractor factory, conceptualized by ASADOV Architects, is currently being completed in Rostov-on-Don. References to the Soviet architecture of the 1920’s and 1960’s resonate with the mission and strategic importance of the enterprise, and are also in line with the client’s wish: to pay homage to Rostov’s constructivism.

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The Northern Thebaid

The central part of Ferapontovo village, adjacent to the famous monastery with frescoes by Dionisy, has been improved according to the project by APRELarchitects. Now the place offers basic services for tourists, as well as a place for the villagers’ leisure.

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Brilliant Production

The architects from London-based MOST Architecture have designed the space for the high-tech production of Charge Cars, a high-performance production facility for high-speed electric cars that are assembled in the shell of legendary Ford Mustangs. The founders of both the company and the car assembly startup are Russians who were educated in their home country.

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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.

​City Block of High Culture

In this issue, we are showcasing the four projects which took part in the competition that was held in the beginning of 2017 and was dedicated to renovating the complex of buildings of the former Sytin printing house into a residential complex.

City Block of High Culture