This project was one of several designed by Hadid for Moscow in the mid-2000s: they also included a residential tower on Zhivopisnaya Street and an exhibition complex next to the Expocentre on Krasnopresnenskaya embankment. As a result, its first implementation in Russia was in 2011 the Capital Hill villa in Barvikha, and these projects, it seemed, were supposed to replenish the long Russian row of unrealized designs of Western "stars". In the same 2011, the Russian architect of Dominion Tower Nikolay Lyutomsky (JSB "Alice") explained in a commentary to "Moscow News" that this project, which began in 2004, faced a serious obstacle: due to its complexity, it turned out to be more expensive than expected by the customer. Then, on the site on Sharikopodshipnikovskaya Street, one could see only a foundation pit.
But then the construction began, and, according to the new schedule, the business center will be fully ready by January 2015. As representatives of the investor, the Dominion M company, explain, the building was built for themselves: the upper, 7th floor will be occupied by their office … Third-party tenants will also be there: for them, the mark-up for the Zaha Hadid brand will be about 20%. At the same time, the cost of the project, obviously, remained a stumbling block in all aspects: despite the declared premium class of offices, there will not be a fitness center and similar infrastructure usual for an object of this level due to savings. Apparently, these inconveniences for people working in the building should be compensated for by the beauty of the architecture: according to the project by Zaha Hadid Architects, the interiors were also made - the lobby and the atrium with a zigzag of stairs.
According to the description, everything seems very exciting: an office building designed by one of the most famous architects in the world was built, if not in the very center of Moscow, but in an area that is quite accessible for visiting, and the investors plan to turn the adjacent territory into a city park with an area of 2 hectares, that is, there will be it is possible to view the building up close. Of course it is not
Heydar Aliyev Center, but also quite good. But in reality - as is often the case with foreign projects being implemented in Russia - everything turned out differently. Of course, from the very beginning, the project did not impress with its boldness: it was more reminiscent of the David Chipperfield pavilion in Valencia than the "classic" Hadid of the parametric period (in 2004 she was already designing fluid forms with might and main). But as it developed, it became quite modest: much more interesting office complexes are being built in Moscow without any participation of invited "stars". This concerns the external appearance, but inside, one should not expect miracles. Of course, while the interior is not completely ready, but now the atrium clearly seems to be cluttered, and the feeling of flowing space, which is usual for Zaha Hadid's buildings, is unlikely to be achieved (although we will leave the final judgment until the object is delivered).
Why did it happen? First of all, one should not expect the same "attraction" from the office building as from museums, concert halls and even secondary schools, which Hadid is so successful. Its administrative building of the BMW plant in Leipzig cannot be called a "classic" office, rather, it is an image move of the automaker: one conveyor line running along the desks of the clerks, which is worth it. But the CMA CGM tower in Marseille is a more real example, it received only a lobby designed by Hadid, and that is quite restrained: no one wants to lose space - neither the French nor the Russians.
Therefore, the design of the atrium can be brought to the Moscow customer as a plus - at least as an attempt to create a complete piece of architecture, where the external appearance matches the interior, and both were made by the same design team. But whether the high cost of the project by Moscow standards, which Nikolai Lyutomsky spoke about in Moskovskiye Novosti three years ago, influenced the final result - one can only guess … Of course, abroad they are also very good at saving money and are indiscriminate in their means. Special firms work there that can fit almost any project to the desired budget: materials change, cantilever overhangs are reduced, original parts are replaced with standard ones, and the authors can only wipe away their tears. It's another matter that such problems are rarely faced by large architects: after all, they are invited precisely for the sake of original projects and bright solutions, and here it is simply stupid to cut corners - after all, a more modest (but quite high-quality) building can be designed by an architect without Pritzker, and for lower fee. And if you still need a big name, then you have to pay for it - and often very expensive. But whether the customer is ready for such expenses and for such an attentive attitude to the architect's ideas (albeit conditioned by pragmatic, "advertising" motives) that work with the masters of the international "top ten" requires is another question.
