The history of designing the interiors of control rooms and control centers began for the architects of the Arch group bureau more than ten years ago, and began with the modernization of the control centers of the System Operator of the Unified Energy System. The civilized world at that time already used a variety of new technologies, for example, video cubes, which give a large and seamless image with good resolution. In Russia, at the beginning of the 2000s, outdated devices were in use, in particular, walls with flashing red and green lights. The desire to modernize the control centers of large enterprises in our country coincided with the automation of the main production processes. Moreover, the owners understood that they needed not only high-tech, but also an image space. So Alexey Goryainov and Mikhail Krymov discovered a completely new field of activity - as it turned out, extremely exciting.
The first implemented project of this kind was the control room in St. Petersburg - the room is simple, bright and mesmerizing with its futurism. The architects immediately began experimenting with the most daring and innovative solutions. For example, instead of a video cube, which requires a separate room, they developed a video wall in the form of a giant 9x4 meter TV, unique sound-absorbing structures were also used, thus solving the problem of sound insulation and maintaining a stable temperature. The control room has been successfully operated for about ten years. After the first successful implementation, the demand for such projects increased sharply - orders literally fell on the Arch group. A whole series of technologically complex projects was developed. More than fifteen of them have already been implemented by now.
Alexey Goryainov recalls that having mastered a new direction, having gained sufficient experience, they wanted to create a kind of perfect model of a universal dispatch center, where, at the same time, everything would be arranged as simply, functional and practical as possible. It was then that the idea arose to take as a basis the already existing hall of the Ministry of Emergencies with a huge semicircular wall and come up with something absolutely new, unique and unparalleled in the world, but at the same time quite realizable. The idea was voiced to the employees of the ministry and it was immediately approved. “They were ready to implement all the latest, interesting solutions, since at that time their technological base was being modernized,” explains Goryainov.
The main component that forms the space, and at the same time the main technical discovery of the project, is the video dome, which covers the entire hall. The idea of such a dome grew out of the need to present the image of the world map on a large scale and without distortion, since strong distortions are inevitable for a flat map, and a video wall, even a large semicircular one, is not equally visible to all employees and also has distortions. The image in the dome opposite, like the starry sky overhead, is available to everyone and with a full view. It looks like a planetarium - among themselves the authors call such a space "planetary type control room." As an alternative to a projector, which remains relevant, the authors suggest using LED matrices or other technologies of this kind to create a high-quality image. The height of the dome is chosen in accordance with the scale of the maps that are used most often. For individual groups of employees in the selected part of the dome, you can display additional, smaller images.
The next innovation of the project was the concept of an autonomous and mobile workplace. Instead of a table and a chair, the authors proposed a hemispherical glass module on a flat round base that contains everything necessary for a dispatcher to work. A spherical transparent shell, if necessary, isolates the employee from external noise, allowing them to concentrate on the task. When fully closed, special equipment maintains a comfortable temperature inside. Inside the sphere there is a transformable chair, like a car one, capable of changing its position from strictly vertical to completely horizontal. Leaning back in a prone position, you can comfortably examine the map above your head. In the sitting position, in front of the user's eyes, there is a large panoramic screen, which partly replaces the dome, allowing you to work in stand-alone mode. When the screen is not needed, it is easy to hide it behind the back of the chair - the screen moves in all directions along the circumference of the module.
A small module designed for one person is literally stuffed with electronics. All modules are mobile, can rotate around their axis and move around the hall, according to a given scenario. This is how the problem of most dispatch centers is solved, where it is necessary to arrange separate meeting or conference rooms. Upon a signal, glass capsules can line up around the perimeter of the hall, break into groups, switch to the mode of a meeting, press conference, presentation or round table. In a normal situation, employees will be able to communicate with each other via video communication.
The project has not yet been implemented: the proposed idea has delighted the customer, now the project is being analyzed, the next step has not yet been decided. For all the seemingly futuristic concept - and the presented interior is more reminiscent of a picture from films about the future than speaks about the realities of the present day - the authors insist on its realism. According to Alexey Goryainov, the most difficult element is the module. However, today the authors have managed to find a potential manufacturer who is ready to create a prototype of such a technically complex and unusual product. It even turned out to calculate its approximate cost, to think about options for alternative use - there can be as many modifications as you like, the module is very variable. So the concept has prospects. And the authors have no doubt that they managed to create an ideal and universal control room. The architects are confident that this concept can become the new standard for various control rooms around the world and solve problems in all areas.
