This time, the meeting of the Architectural Council was held in an unusual format and in a new place - within the walls of the Museum of Moscow. As the organizers of the event explain, the choice of the site is not accidental, because the issue submitted for consideration concerns both the past of the Russian capital and its future. In addition to the obvious connection with the history of the city, the large halls of the museum made it possible to combine the meeting of the council, which brought together an unusually large number of participants, invited experts and representatives of the press, with an exhibition of project proposals for the transformation of series of reusable residential buildings. As Sergey Kuznetsov explained in his opening remarks, "modernization of panel housing construction is one of the city's top priorities for the coming years." That is why the ICA, headed by the chief architect, tried to attract as much attention to this issue as possible.
In total, five architectural and urban planning concepts were presented, prepared by house-building factories together with designers. In all proposals, the authors tried to get as close as possible to the previously formulated criteria-requirements for new series of residential buildings.
Multi-section residential building on Varshavskoe highway
Customer: "PIK-Industry"
Designer: Buromoscow design bureau
Yulia Burdova and Olga Aleksakova were the first to present their project - a residential quarter, which is proposed to be built on the site of the GazStroyMash production complex. According to the planning solution, 6-section residential buildings of variable number of storeys (12-24 floors) will form rectangular quarters with a separate courtyard area, public institutions on the ground floors and through passages from the street to the courtyard. At the same time, the capabilities of this series are not limited only to the quarterly layout, but are easily built into the most complex, location-dictated forms.
As part of this project, the architects had to modernize the P-3M series, created in the mid-1970s. as housing with a very simple and clean plan. However, gradually this plan was overgrown with a mass of details and elements protruding on the facade, bay windows and large balconies, which, according to the designers, led to the appearance of numerous complex and "clumsy" nodes. The first thing that Julia and Olga suggested doing was to align the plan by setting an equal pitch of the bearing walls. This solution made it possible to obtain a limited number of facade panels, which at the same time can have a wide variety of finishes. This industrial and strict in form approach partially limited the variability of layouts, which, nevertheless, did not affect their quality: large halls and kitchens, dressing rooms, places for built-in appliances, etc.
Thus, something like a basic frame was created, the foundation of a typical residential building, which, depending on the place and conditions of construction, can change, acquiring individual plastic outlines of the facades. The main idea of the project is that an architect should work on each house, taking the model proposed by Buromoscow as the basis for the design. Only this approach will ultimately make it possible to obtain a diverse and comfortable environment for life.
Discussing the presented concept, most of the council members questioned the rationality of the proposed scheme with an equal step, the same for the whole house. Alexey Vorontsov expressed his conviction that it is wrong and rather difficult to build both a living room and a kitchen at one step. Andrei Gnezdilov agreed with him: "A single step of the sections is the same as one shoe size for all." Such a construction of space, in his opinion, leads to its irrational use: for example, an obvious overspending of space will occur when placing stairs. The facades with rigid panels and rather thin lintels also seemed to Gnezdilov unconvincing, albeit elegant looking.
Andrey Bokov called this project “a restyling of an old product”. In his opinion, the architects did not bring anything radically new to the project. The Moscow government periodically returns to the topic of modernizing panel housing, making minor changes. Slightly modernized houses appear, which people still don't like very much. “You have now ventured into a heroic deed. But if your project is implemented, - Andrey Bokov warned architects, - get ready that you will be scolded for the next 50 years.
Sergei Tchoban entered the discussion with Bokov, noting that nowhere in the world is housing being built in such quantity and so relatively cheaply as in Moscow. Another question is that in Moscow construction pays off in three years, and in Berlin in twenty. Choban stated with regret that in this regard, in the coming decades, our city will never abandon panel housing construction, and therefore it is simply necessary to look for solutions for its modernization and improvement. According to Tchoban, it is possible to avoid the "hatred" of the townspeople by inventing universal facades that "do not become familiar" too quickly. As a positive example, he cited apartment buildings in St. Petersburg of the mid-19th century - typical projects that everyone still likes, and no one has a desire to modernize them. In this sense, the discreet facade solutions of the project under consideration, devoid of excessive variegation, seemed to Tchoban quite appropriate. The only thing he asked to pay attention to was the insufficient variety of tools and artistic means for creating different images of the facades. And these tools must be created by one architect - the author of a typical project. If, in each case, different architects are involved, creating their own architecture, this will inevitably lead to a significant increase in the cost of construction.
Vladimir Plotkin actively supported the presented work, noting that the proposed solution to create a base for residential development on a single structural module is a step in the transition from standard housing construction to semi-typical. This opens up a lot more design possibilities. And if in the future the authors succeed in improving the layouts of the apartments, to achieve their greater variety, then the project can be considered successful.
Prefabricated panel-frame series of residential buildings TA-714-001
Customer: company "Glavmosstroy"
Developer: "Terra-Auri" company
The series, designed by the architects from Terra Auri, is represented by latitudinal and angular sections with a height of 9, 17 and 18 floors, erected on a prefabricated frame. The architects have envisaged a variety of planning solutions for the development, including the traditional block type. The entrances to the residential part are arranged from the courtyard, while the first floors of the street front are completely given over to public functions. The first floors with a significant glazing surface are open to the city.
In total, 12 options for finishing facades were developed with various types of breakdown into panels and proposals for the layout of balconies and loggias on the facade - recessed in the plane of the wall or, conversely, strongly protruding forward, achromatic or abundant in color inserts. To create a variety of buildings, the authors also propose to use a whole palette of finishing materials with the possibility of dyeing them in bulk. In addition, it is possible to apply drawings to the facades or use embossed surfaces. All this was demonstrated by the designers as a toolkit that can be used to create an almost unlimited number of options for solving the plastic of facades.
As for the layout, here the authors paid special attention to the staircase and elevator node, which made it possible to significantly save space and reduce the total cost of apartments.
The submitted project did not raise any special questions for the council members, although Sergey Kuznetsov asked all the designers to pay attention to the previously expressed comments, since all of them should equally be taken into account in the subsequent refinement of the concepts.
Mikhail Posokhin appreciated the variability of the facade solution, but lamented that the authors left the roofing of the buildings without attention. In his opinion, the relief of houses can be created not only due to the different number of storeys of sections, but also with the help of inclined surfaces of the roof, gables and any other architectural techniques that make it possible to enrich the architecture and silhouette. Sergei Tchoban advised the authors to consider a proposal to arrange the balconies one below the other, which, in his opinion, would lead to the appearance of chaotic superstructures. Comments were also expressed about the insufficiently thought-out parking system, which allows the emergence of spontaneous parking in the yard. Andrei Bokov did not at all like the presented layouts of the apartments, including those in the corner section, which did not meet modern requirements. He asked them to completely revise them. To this remark, the designers replied that the design scheme allows you to get a variety of apartment layouts - from economy to business class.
Architectural and urban planning solutions for a residential building in Beskudnikovo Customer: company "Glavmosstroy"
Designer: "Mosproekt", architectural and design workshop No. 3
The designers from Mosproekt presented to the council a ready-made project of prefabricated multi-section houses on the basis of a unified prefabricated monolithic bezel-less frame. This project, which, in the opinion of the developers, could form the basis of a new series, provides for the construction on the site of the old panel five-story buildings in the Beskudnikovo area of sections of new buildings with variable number of storeys from 8 to 25 floors. The complex includes four buildings located along the perimeter of the site, with a clear division into public and local areas. The landscaped area of the yard is crossed by a wide inner street. The parking lot is located outside the complex.
The construction is supposed to be carried out using elements and products of factory production, which will ensure the accuracy of the process and significantly reduce the implementation time. Ample opportunities were demonstrated in terms of the solution of facades using bricks, ventilation facades and curtain panels. In this case, it is proposed to use a system of hinged ventilated facades with hinged panels used for balcony railing. Diversity is also achieved through the ability to form a diverse silhouette of the building.
A universal system with a span of 3, 6, 12 and 18 m and a column spacing of 6 and 3 m made it possible to set a free layout of apartments in the project. The first floors, according to the design criteria for new standard houses, are designed as non-residential premises that will accommodate all the necessary public functions. Entrances to the entrances are organized from the side of the yard.
The council immediately drew attention to the difference between a standard prefabricated house building and the presented project with a mixed structural scheme. The complex looks much more advantageous, however, the cost of such construction is much higher. “We are now comparing incomparable things,” Sergei Tchoban was indignant. And Sergei Kuznetsov asked the authors to calculate how much the cost of such a house is more expensive than a panel one. In fact, according to Kuznetsov's remarks, a kind of hybrid with "unmotivated complex facades" has now been created, which belongs to a different category of housing. And, despite the fact that it largely meets the developed criteria, now it cannot be considered on a par with other concepts. Hans Stimmann did not approve of the decision to isolate the residential part from the public, which will inevitably happen when the entrances to the residential part are arranged exclusively from the courtyard. Alexey Vorontsov noted that the solutions proposed by the authors in terms of layouts look rather optimistic, but the facades seemed to him, like Kuznetsov, overly aggressive.
Prefabricated panel-frame series of residential buildings
Customer: "House-building plant No. 1"
Designer: MNIITEP together with Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura
DSK-1 and MNIITEP presented two concepts of modernized standard housing at once. The bureau of the Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill was involved in the design of one of the series, which was engaged in the development of not only the volumetric-spatial composition and facades of residential buildings with a height of 3 to 17 floors, but also proposed its own principles for organizing the development. Planning solutions assume a different configuration of buildings on the site: quarter, circular, meridian streets, etc. Such urban planning opportunities are provided by a variety of sections, including straight latitudinal, meridian, corner and turning.
The image of the facades is formed by several types of window openings used in different parts of the building, as well as the color gradation that sets the vertical and horizontal rhythm. In addition, there are options for locking different sections. As for the first floors, two options for organizing the space were developed here, involving the placement of both public functions and apartments for wheelchair users.
Residential building in Nekrasovka
Customer: "House-building plant No. 1"
Designer: MNIITEP, workshop No. 1
The second concept, developed by the tandem of MNIITEP and DSK-1, is a pilot project for a residential complex in Nekrasovka. The house is supposed to be built on the basis of sections of the P44T-1/17 series, similar to that projected in terms of apartment design and general planning principles. This series is distinguished by a variety of facades planes. It is supposed to use facade panels with facing of cement-sand tiles, painted in the factory in the required colors.
Discussing the concepts presented by DSK-1, the members of the council asked themselves the question: what, in fact, did Ricardo Bofill contribute to the project of value? The facades created with his participation seemed boring and monotonous to the audience. Andrei Gnezdilov noted that the authors suggest using a painfully familiar and long-boring combination of colors and materials. And even if we assume that the architect was limited by rigid frameworks when designing, then it is not clear why there are no explicit, verified proportions and clarity of the architectural style.
Hans Stimmann did not agree with this judgment, who saw in the project signs of approaching architecture, traced in such positive elements as the attic floor and the competent design of the first floors. Alexander Kudryavtsev suggested that Ricardo Bofill tried to glorify one of the most powerful architectural images of the Soviet era - a five-story panel house. To implement Bofill's project, according to Kudryavtsev, it would be possible in a single copy. In the case of mass development, a completely faceless environment will be obtained.
Summing up the discussion, Sergey Kuznetsov asked the authors to think about how it would be possible to diversify the appearance of buildings in both presented concepts, and not only with the help of a combination of colors, but with architectural and plastic means.
At the end of the meeting of the Arch Council, the Krost concern and the Finnish company Arkkitehtisuunnittelu Jukka Tikkanen shared their experience in the implementation of panel-frame residential development projects.
The representative of the Krost concern showed several projects implemented in Moscow, which clearly demonstrate that even in the current conditions and within the framework of the current legislation, it is possible to improve industrial construction and achieve a high-quality result with modest means. Such simple techniques as the arrangement of balconies and windows in a checkerboard pattern, the use of various materials, including architectural concrete on facades and interiors, a careful study of layouts - all this and much more makes it possible to achieve a variety and comfort of the environment without increasing the cost of construction.
Finnish architect Jukka Tikkanen highlighted the aspect of the cost of panel construction in his final report in detail, but with humor. Extensive experience in panel construction in Finland made it possible to understand how to reduce the cost of any project, abandoning only the technical floor and abundant glazing of windows and balconies.
Recall that the final proposals for the modernization of panel housing will be presented by the developers in December. During 2015, new series will be gradually introduced into production, and, in accordance with the order of Sergei Sobyanin, in 2016 the construction of panel houses of the old series will be completely stopped, instead of them standard houses of the modernized series will be erected.
