Archi.ru:
Evgeny Lvovich, what are your impressions of your participation in the Tsarev's Garden competition?
Evgeny Gerasimov:
- We considered this competition as a potential opportunity to show ourselves in Moscow. We had a unique chance to participate in a rather significant project, to develop part of the facades for a large Moscow complex located in the historical part of the city, near the Kremlin. And we used this chance with pleasure. We were given the task of finding new and interesting urban planning and architectural solutions, since the existing proposal seemed to the circle of persons related to the development of Moscow to be insufficiently worked out.
How do you assess the results of the competition?
- The results of the competition seem to me quite objective. Three best projects, according to the jury, were selected, which are proposed to be taken into account and used in the further implementation of the complex. In my opinion, this is the right decision - to apply the skill and skill of three more architects to the existing project so that it becomes better, more diverse and expressive.
Tell us about your competition project. What is its essence?
- The essence of the project is to use all the strengths of the site - and this is, first of all, the close proximity to the Kremlin and the Moscow River. In this regard, it was assumed that the maximum disclosure and orientation of the new housing stock to the Kremlin ensemble, St. Basil's Cathedral and other significant objects. The client is planning to build an apartment-type hotel, so it was very important to provide for a wide variety of apartments and improve the views from their windows. We also proposed to lay out parterre gardens. The competition is called Tsarev's Garden, because historically this site was occupied by gardens, on the site proposed for design was the Tsar's Garden. We designed a walking esplanade and formed public spaces. In order to create a comfortable inner environment, the courtyard of the complex was decided to be closed, while there are also publicly accessible landscaped areas. Following the example «Arrows » overlooking the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, we made a public area where summer cafes and a view restaurant could be located, open to all residents of the city, and not only to residents of the complex under construction.
How would you define the main idea of the project?
- The main idea of the project is to split the building of the complex into several separate volumes and make them as diverse as possible, as if they were drawn not by one architect, but by several. The jury also followed this path, entrusting the design to four architectural bureaus at once. We initially proposed such a scenario for the development of the project and even wrote about it in our explanatory note. I am convinced that the buildings that make up the complex should be different in architecture and style, so their facades can be designed by different architects. And as an illustrative example, we presented our project and our proposals, which included, if I’m not mistaken, seven different facades. We did not want this quarter to be occupied by a single mega-complex; we tried to form a natural and diverse urban development characteristic of a historic city. On the one hand, the buildings are similar to each other in height and in architectural design, but still they are very different. This contributes to the formation of a diverse environment, gives a person food for contemplation, because the human eye quickly gets tired of one big and boring house.
What solutions did you offer for the building facades?
- Facade ideas are a modern interpretation of the pre-Petrine Moscow architecture. The history of this place is very rich and long. Frank copying of Western styles in architecture began with Peter I, it was during his reign that the architectural styles existing in the West, starting with the Baroque, began to be transferred to Russian soil. Therefore, the use of motives of pre-Petrine architecture seemed to us the most correct and interesting. For facades, we suggest using a natural stone - limestone. We believe it is the best material for residential buildings.
How was the composition of the building decided?
- The composition is very simple. The axis of the complex is directed to the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, we form a visual corridor from the temple through the projected complex to the church of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow". Accordingly, the whole composition is built around the courtier.
The dimensions and volumes of the complex were determined in the existing project of Vyacheslav Osipov and were retained without significant changes in our proposal. We decided that the eaves of the buildings should be no higher than the Kokorevsky courtyard.
How, in your opinion, will the project develop in the future and how will your workshop take part in this?
- How the project will develop further, I do not know yet. This is a question for the customer. In my understanding, this will be co-authored work, joint activities of Vyacheslav Osipov, Nikita Yavein, Ilya Utkin and mine. But how everything will turn out in reality is difficult to say now. Vyacheslav Osipov, who has been involved in this project for a long time, will most likely continue his work. As for the rest of the "accomplices", then we will probably be asked to focus on the elaboration of the facades. The complex is quite large, so it would be very nice if its facades were not drawn with one hand, but divided into four parts and entrusted to four different architects. I think this is a normal decision and I fully support it. Our workshop will gladly take part in the development of the project.
