The fact that the construction of the well-known congress center could begin in the first half of 2011 was announced yesterday by the RIAN Real Estate portal, citing the press secretary of the presidential administration Viktor Khrekov. Recall that following the results of a closed international competition with the participation of world architecture stars - Mario Botta, Eric van Egeraat, Maximiliano Fuksas, Jean Nouvel, Coop Himmelb (l) ay bureau, held by the Office of the President of the Russian Federation in the fall of 2007 (Archi.ru wrote about him previously), the design of the Star Trek congress center in Strelna was entrusted to the famous Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. The construction of the facility was planned back in 2008, and by 2011 it was already thought to be opened, but the implementation of the project worth 350 million euros was delayed. From the message of Viktor Khrekov, quoted by RIAN Real Estate, it became known that at the moment the technical and design documentation are ready, the construction will take about two to three years.
For a congress center with a total area of more than 90 thousand square meters. m allocated 20 hectares as part of the residence of the President of the Russian Federation, the center of which was the Konstantinovsky Palace, restored in 2003. According to Bofill's project, a square volume of a transforming hall for 2.5 thousand people will be placed in the middle of this site, designed for congresses, exhibitions, sports events, etc. Judging by the new visualizations on the website of Bofill's workshop (architects have not yet published the project materials in more detail permits the customer), the appearance of the future building has not changed in comparison with 2007. The building - a flattened cube - is absolutely transparent, but at the same time it is decorated with a giant order and looks like pediments facing the bay and the "upper park". Between them is a rectangular attic floor. The "resemblance" to the classic suburban ensembles of St. Petersburg is emphasized by the symmetrical layout of the park: the hall is set clearly along the central axis, which on one side continues with a straight alley that descends, as in Peterhof, directly to the Gulf of Finland. On the side of the "upper park" on its axis there is a peripter deepened into the ground with "Doric galleries" and a rectangular reservoir in the center.
In addition to the main hall, the complex also includes a small hall with 700 seats, exhibition spaces, meeting rooms and a business center, according to the website of Bofill's workshop.
N. K.
