The final meeting of the jury of the competition for the development of the concept of public spaces on the territory of the Kristall plant was held last week in Moscow. The competition, which started at the end of January 2015 and was held in two stages, was organized by the Center for Strategic Development. Initially, it was planned to choose a winner in each of the three categories: entrance square and city streets, fountain zone and pavilion “Gardens-gardens, green square and railway zone. However, the jury came to the conclusion that the Kristall space needs to be developed in a unified manner, so instead of the first three places it was decided to award one. Experts awarded two more teams honorary second and third places. In total, nine teams took part in the competition, the projects of which are presented below.
Competition winners
First place
Nowadays / Arenas Basabe Palacios arquitectos (Moscow - Madrid)
The project is built on the idea of maximum use of the resources of a given space. The authors have created a catalog of objects for improvement. Mobile flowerpots, lanterns, benches can be made from wooden and metal structures, used tanks and other materials found here, on the territory of the plant. The design uses simple and at the same time effective solutions: a balloon, a curtain that separates the zones of different types of activity from each other. The main color in the design is still red.
*** Second place
Rozhdestvenka (Moscow)
The project was based on the pipe system that today runs through the territory of the plant. Since “Kristall” was the largest Russian distillery enterprise, its history was reflected in the image of the “moonshine still”. The pipes in this concept are used to navigate the territory and at the same time become art objects. In addition, a market square, an apple orchard and an event site called "19:01" appeared in the "City of Crystal".
*** Third place
AM. PROEKTUS & LAP Landscape & Urban Design (Moscow - Rotterdam)
The authors propose to revive the territory of the "City of Crystal" with a green frame. Public and private spaces are also delimited by a green zone that follows the contour of residential buildings. Breaks in this area serve as an invitation to enter a building, such as a cafe or shop. Thus, it becomes possible not only to increase the aesthetic appeal of the territory and make it comfortable and well-maintained, but also to form paths of movement, directing visitors to the desired sites.
Finalists of the competition
AI-STUDIO (Moscow)
The main idea of the project is to connect the territory of the plant with the surrounding spaces, in particular, with the Yauza embankment. The concept combines respect for the historical environment and the introduction of modern design elements there. In the central part of the historical building, this project is adjacent to a noisy city playground (cafes, shops, leisure areas) and a cultural business square. The architects propose to turn the railway into a kind of "urban river", on the banks of which a beach, a fountain and a playground should appear.
*** Bureau "KONTORA" and "CabinetZvukozapisi" (Moscow)
The key image of the concept, the "snake", is dictated by the geometry of space. The authors have developed a project-interior, which presents free-standing objects and an equipped promenade. The concept seeks not to change the image of the plant, but to emphasize the advantages of its territory. All new structures are proposed to be made in the style of existing buildings.
*** Alphabet City (Moscow)
In this project, the "City of Kristal" becomes a place for family recreation, where adults and children can spend their time in an interesting and useful way. It is proposed to set up a garden throughout the territory of the former factory. The courtyard with a fountain, one of the coziest places in the Kristall space, turns into a green oasis thanks to the abundance of flower beds and shrubs. Locals can relax in hammocks in the courtyard or gather there together at a large table.
*** Practice / MDM-Light (Moscow)
The architects chose a strategy of point transformations that can significantly affect the perception of the territory as a whole. In order to connect private and public spaces, a system of connector objects has been developed that allow residents of the second and third floors to participate in street activities. An interesting element of the concept was the mobile square, where factory chimneys turned into clocks. And in one of the residential courtyards, Alice's living room from the works of Lewis Carroll appeared.
*** AdjoubeiScott-Whitby (London - Moscow)
The authors tried to emphasize the advantages of the Kristall architecture and the geometry of the space layout. In order to create a unified image of the territory, it is proposed to “cover” it with a classic Scottish blanket. The cage is a key design element. It is used in landscaping, paving, lighting systems.
*** WALL (Moscow)
The emphasis in this project is on brickwork. It sets the direction of movement, unites all space into a single "organism". In the evening, navigation is carried out at the expense of lamps that prompt visitors and local residents in the right direction, as well as highlight areas of activity. The architects divided the territory into the "Seven Wonders of the Crystal": a green theater, a crater, a lake, a hill, a garden, a museum and a courtyard.
*** Jury of the competition:
- Sergey Kuznetsov, Chief Architect of Moscow, Chairman of the Competition Jury
- Yakov Litvinov, General Director of KRICE Development
- Elena Gonzalez, architecture critic, curator of the ARCH Moscow exhibition
- Marina Khrustaleva, art critic, co-founder of the non-profit organization "Center for Heritage Capitalization", member of the coordinating council of the Public Movement "Arhnadzor"
- Daria Shadrina, director of festivals Seasons project
- Katerina Korobkova, CEO of ZOLOTOgroup
- Yulia Pankratyeva, Head of the Design Workshop for Urban Development of the Territories of the Moscow Region and New Territories of Moscow, State Unitary Enterprise "Research and Development Institute of the General Plan of Moscow"
- Ilya Mukosey, architect, co-owner of the PlanAR architectural studio, teacher at MARSH
- Olga Aleksakova, architect, partner at BuroMoscow
- Erken Kagarov, art director of the Art. Lebedev Studio, vice-president of the Academy of Graphic Design, teacher of the Higher School of Public Administration
- Yaroslav Kovalchuk, Head of the Architectural and Planning Workshop as part of NPO-38 "Historical Zones", State Unitary Enterprise NIiPI of the General Plan of Moscow
- Ekaterina Dementieva, editor-in-chief of Afisha-Gorod
- Ekaterina Ozhegova, Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture, Moscow Architectural Institute
- Yulia Zinkevich, General Director of the PR-agency "Rules of Communication"
- Egor Korobeinikov, managing partner of the UrbanUrban bureau, candidate of economic sciences
- Maxim Lyubavin, marketer, partner of the consulting bureau "KB23"
- Anna Bichevskaya, creator of the Stay Hungry street party
