For the reconstruction of the Central House of the Architect, the authors of the project chose KNAUF building finishing materials, including innovative acoustic boards KNAUF-Acoustics and Knauf-Flex glue with increased elasticity and adhesion. All materials were provided by the KNAUF CIS group free of charge.
The Moscow House of Architects, located in Granatny Lane, is a complex of buildings, the oldest part of which is a mansion of the late 19th century, built in a pseudo-Gothic style by the architect Erichson. The central part of the complex is a building with a concert hall for 450 seats and a restaurant, which was added to the mansion in 1938-1941 by the architects Burov, Vlasov, Merzhanov with the participation of the artist Favorsky. The last part of the construction was created in the mid-1970s according to the project of architects Tkhor, Semerdzhiev, Schepetelnikova and designer Lyakhovsky. This building includes a large lobby with a wardrobe and buffet, a 150-seat conference room, an exhibition hall and various administrative offices. Here are the offices of the staff of the Union of Moscow Architects and the leadership of other public organizations. It is in this part of the building that the hall and the main staircase are being reconstructed using KNAUF materials.
Since 1932, the Central House of Architects (CDA) has been the headquarters of the Union of Moscow Architects and a platform for various cultural and educational events. The CDA hosts conferences and meetings of professionals in various formats, seminars on architecture, design, construction, urbanism. In addition to this, events related to other areas of art are held here: concerts of classical and modern music, art exhibitions.
Nikolai Shumakov, President of the Union of Moscow Architects, noted that he sees the Central House of Architects as a status city-wide platform that combines a place for professional meetings of the architectural community, a club for architects and a cultural center.
Architect Denis Khokhlov, who manages the reconstruction project, said that the decision to reconstruct the staircase hall was made due to the depressing state he had come to since the time of construction, and taking into account the plans for the further development of the CDA as one of the cultural and educational centers. The architects tried to preserve the general style.
This staircase is constantly used by a large number of people, visitors to the Union of Moscow Architects and guests of various events. The sound of footsteps on the marble-tiled steps used to echo with a booming echo that visitors will no longer hear. Innovative sound-absorbing plates KNAUF-Acoustics were used for the arrangement of ceilings and on the staircases of the hall. An increase in the sound-absorbing capacity of the surface, that is, the elimination of the so-called "echo effect" is achieved here by reducing the intensity of the reflected sound waves from perforated surfaces. Among several options for perforation of slabs for the CDA, large square holes were chosen, folding in straight paths into a rectangle, which best suits the style of the building.created by Soviet architects in the 70s.
The choice of materials was determined not only by aesthetics, ideas about the quality and convenience of working with them, but also by the need to solve special problems. On the basement floor, the walls are faced with AQUAPANEL cement slabs® Internal, which are designed to protect the finish from freezing and moisture generated due to the temperature difference and the communications passing behind them.
Knauf gypsum plasterboards are used in wall cladding as a load-bearing base for unique large-format ceramic slabs, which emulate the texture of marble on the floor and stair treads.
In total, according to the project's architect Denis Khokhlov, about 700 square meters of walls are faced with Knauf gypsum plasterboards and about 300 square meters of ceilings on four floors - with KNAUF-Acoustics slabs. For fixing ceramic plates, a special glue - Knauf-Flex was used, which has increased elasticity and adhesion.
The choice in favor of Knauf technologies was also made because the reconstruction is planned to be completed in a short time. The KNAUF company, in turn, held a master class on the use of materials directly at the construction site for workers engaged in finishing, which in fact is not something exclusive.
