The architects were tasked with significantly expanding the area of the educational institution, which, upon completion of the reconstruction, was supposed to accommodate 1,500 students; there are auditoriums, offices, three amphitheaters, a hall for 260 seats, a recording studio and cafe zones. For this, a modern part was added to the historic building in 1908, as a result of which a courtyard appeared between them.
In contrast to the brick walls of the old building, the new one has smooth and mobile (!) Facades. They consist of movable vertical slats made of colored glass with prints applied to it. The lamellas automatically adjust the lighting intensity in the interior. The color changes in gradation from red to yellow and vice versa, forming hundreds of shades that vary depending on the angle of incidence of light and the position of the blinds themselves. Throughout the year, depending on the seasonal lighting, the facade changes its gamut - from pastel to fluorescent. Choosing a color palette, the authors of the project proceeded from the context - the yellow shades of the 1908 case and the reds - located next to the museum of the sculptor Bourdelle.
The modern extension faces the corner of the intersection of Moisan and Bourdelle streets and stands out as a bright spot in the surrounding buildings. However, it fully complies with the urban planning rules in force here: the Ottoman "red lines" and the scale of neighboring buildings. The building also becomes contextual due to the reflection of the surrounding structures in the surface of the glass façade.
The historic part of the business school has been restored in accordance with its original interpretation of the early 20th century, including the shade of bricks, stylized windows, cornices and mosaics. The architects also restored the old interior design, removing the consequences of the 1954 rebuilding. The modern part skirts the historical one from the north, forming a courtyard open to Bourdelle street, which allows you to clearly see its rear, smoothly curved facade.
The inner space of the school is designed as a "forum", convenient for communication between students, teachers and entrepreneurs. The main auditoriums and offices are served by open aisles around the spacious atrium. It serves as a main foyer and an open public area connecting the old and modern buildings, but both remain autonomous within a single project.
N. K.
