This year the competition collected 82 qualification applications (works), incl. for the first time 5 (five!) works from Russia at once. In connection with the latter circumstance, we decided to publish all Russian works, regardless of the result they achieved at the creative competition.
Among the finalists, today we are presenting the work of a team from Finland. There is always special attention to the architectural work of Finnish architects: from projects and buildings from the country of a thousand lakes, originality and courage are expected in advance, both in general and in nuances. By the way, the winner of the previous, 15th International Creative Competition "Copper in European Architecture" was the Finnish team Avanto Architects Ltd with their work "Chapel of St. Lawrence" in Vantaa.
Library in Seinajoki, JKMM, Finland
The Finnish town of Seinäjoki has become the world's largest urban development center designed by architect Alvar Aalto.
Co-founder of JKMM architecture firm, Asmo Jaaksi, has revealed plans for the design of the building, which is intended to be a worthy addition to the famous architectural complex - the Aalto Center.
Everything here reminds of Aalto's talent as an architect - from the concept of the project as an object of urban planning, to the smallest finishing elements. The center has become not only a valuable cultural object of the city, but also contributed to the formation of its unique appearance. The Center ensemble includes five buildings designed by Aalto: the City Hall, the State Office Building, the Theater, the Cross of the Plains Church and the Old Library building (the Old Library).
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
The library, erected in 1965, needed expansion and modernization in order to function fully. The project called "Clover", developed by the architectural bureau JKMM, won the design competition, as it proposed an architectural solution that became a kind of bridge between the past and the present. The new library does not violate the cultural space of the old building, but brings elements of modern architecture into it. The most difficult task facing the designers was to choose such an architectural and artistic image for the object under construction, which, on the one hand, would be an example of Alvar Aalto's style, and on the other, would not be his blind imitation.
SPECIFICITY AND VARIABILITY OF FORMS
The new library building is not an extension to the old building designed by Aalto, although the buildings are connected by underground corridors. The bold decision to divide the library complex into three monumental groups made it possible to successfully fit the objects into the urban landscape. The outlines of the complex change depending on the point from which to survey it, while creating unique, unique views of the ensemble.
The main emphasis in the interior, created from monolithic reinforced concrete structures, is placed on windows and glazed openings through which one can admire the panorama of the Center. The view through the glass wall in the main lobby of the library is dominated by local attractions - the bell tower of the Church of the Cross of the Plains and the fan-shaped façade of the historic building of the Aalto Center library. The central place in the composition of the building is occupied by a wide staircase, the functions of which are also in the fact that it is designed for various events and informal meetings. The staircase leads to the first floor - to the book depository and through a system of underground corridors - to the library building of the Aalto Center.
BRIGHT LIVING SURFACES, SHAPE DYNAMICS
Copper was preferred for the exterior of the new library building. The library building, decorated with medium to dark brown oxidized copper panels, stands out from the neighboring snow-white buildings. Copper is not a new concept in local urban planning, but the Aalto Center is distinguished by its beautiful green patinated copper roofs. During the erection of the building of the new library, copper elements were introduced everywhere in the decor of facades, plinths and roofs and, thus, uniformity in the appearance of the facades was achieved.
The original shape of the copper tiles was specially designed to create a bright, lively facade for the building. In some places, the tiles were laid in such a way as to form ventilation holes for efficient air circulation in the room. Copper structural elements are also used to create vertical grilles and door cladding to create a sense of style cohesion.
Deliberately sharp corners, which are present in abundance in the project, undoubtedly testify to the intention of the authors to give the object dynamism on the verge of aggressiveness, which is not at all surprising for a provincial Finnish town in our time.
House on Prechistenka, Moscow, reconstruction by architect. S. D. Poshivkin and KrovExpo - Russian participant of the Competition
This building was erected by the German architect Gustav Avgustvich Gerlich in 1911. At that time Prechistenka was the main road connecting the Kremlin and the Novodevichy Convent. The name of the street comes from the name of the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God. According to the Orthodox tradition, this is the name of the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of God. To emphasize spiritual purity, the term "pure" is used, ie. especially clean. The history of the street is associated with the names of such famous people as Pushkin, Tolstoy, Bulgakov.
The building belongs to the cultural heritage of the Russian Federation and is an inseparable element of the historical development of the area. In the 80s of the 20th century, the building was rebuilt with the addition of 2 floors and lost a significant part of the architectural harmony. The reconstruction aimed to return the building to its original harmony without removing these additional floors.
A significant role in the new building is played by the copper facade, which has become a separator between the past and the present, between 2 built-on floors, and 5 historical, original ones. The restoration helped to restore the building to its almost original appearance, the lost turret, the clock, after which it again organically blended into the Moscow landscape.
All project participants had a special interest in copper. According to the reconstruction architect S. D. Poshivkin, copper is a natural, living material that changes over time. Over time, copper becomes better and nobler. Copper has its own character, which is why it always works for a result together with an architect and a builder. However, due to the fact that the final result with copper is sometimes difficult to predict, especially if the architect did not take into account something, and the builders did not complete something, copper requires a special approach.
Popular vote
Everyone has the opportunity to choose their favorite project of the competition "Copper in European Architecture" within the framework of the "popular vote". Choose your favorite project from among the finalists. At the same time, you will get a chance to win an iPad mini: everyone who voted automatically becomes a participant in the drawing of this gadget.
Only registered users on the website https://www.copperconcept.org/ru will be able to vote. The popular vote "will end on October 31, 2013, and the building (project) the winner of such a vote will be announced at the award ceremony for the winners of the" Copper in European Architecture 2013 "competition on November 4, 2013 at the BATIMAT insert in Paris.
The iPad mini will be announced on the website, and the winner will be personally notified by e-mail.
The exhibition will be held 04.11.2013 - 08.11.2013 in the pavilions ParisNordVillepinte.
NP "National Center for Copper"
www.copperconcept.ru
Aviation Lane 5, Moscow, 125167
