Following the architects of residential clusters, other participants in the largest Russian project in recent years are trying to “play Tetris,” using the territory of an experimental scientific and technical center as a field. Creating a research center for one of the largest pipe manufacturers, ABD architects faced a difficult task: it was necessary to place both office and industrial volumes on a rather narrow and extended area. As a result, the low and elongated rectangular workshop, in which the products are tested, is "embraced" by a seven-story, L-shaped working area - two very recognizable figures from the famous game, which was innovative for its time.
The building plot with an area of just over 1 ha is located in zone D4. It is sandwiched between the two main transport arteries of the future innovation city: the so-called Parkway and Skolkovsky Boulevard. It is on the last, central one that the building "opens". On the third side, a guest parking in the form of a giant "puck" is planned, there is no more accurate information about it yet. An office center is being designed in front of another extended facade, but its visual and planning characteristics have not yet been determined. The environment did little to "help" the architects, they could only be guided by the general, rather rigidly formulated standards for construction on the territory of Skolkovo and the technological needs of the customer.
According to the chief architect of the project, Ilya Levyant, it was the typology that became the biggest challenge for all participants. “We designed the building for a specific customer, and it had to meet his technological requirements,” explains the architect. “Here we were helped by the experience of TMK, which already has two such centers. In any case, we had no shortage of information."
“The narrow and long section did not allow the creation of two separate buildings, unambiguously separating the office part from the production part,” continues Ilya Levyant, “and a certain compromise arose: each part has its own foundation, each is designed according to its own standards, but compositionally they are combined and connected by a long communication corridor. And so that the vibrations of the four pipe specimen testing machines (each also on its own foundation) did not interfere with the work of the employees, a special expansion joint had to be made."
But the research laboratories were still located in the office part. In general, it is arranged like an ordinary class A office. The full-height glazed atrium is located in the center: it gathers all the premises around it and connects them to the lobby. This solution also made it possible to deliver natural light inside, thereby providing the ability to maximize flexibility in zoning the workspace. The function-related internal arrangement is reflected in the composition of the facades: the rounded main corner on the ground floor logically occupies the showroom; a noticeable protrusion at the level of the second floor marks the presence of a spacious two-story conference hall, and finally, the seventh, upper floor, also with a protruding glazed part, is reserved for the VIP area with the most advantageous panoramic views in all directions. There is also planned access to a landscaped, green roof with a wooden deck, equipped for informal negotiations at the highest level.
The functional differences between the two parts of the building are precisely reflected in the exterior decoration. The unified scope of the test center is decided rather rigidly. It has a two-layer facade, where expanded aluminum sheets are used as external panels. There are no window openings in this continuous "lattice", and natural light comes in only through special, round and flat lanterns in the roof - a curious and rather unexpected "nod" of architects towards the library of Alvar Aalto in Vyborg. The administrative block also has a two-layer ventilated facade, but the top shell is usually glass, with built-in LED lighting elements and special UV protection on the south and west sides of the building.
In accordance with the requirements of the management of the innovation city, the building will receive a LEED environmental certificate: in addition to serviced ventilated facades and sun protection, a rainwater collection system is provided, energy efficiency is increased, and a special coating is used on the roof that protects against heating. The architects also had to separately develop and agree on options for the delivery of pipe samples for testing, since the movement of any vehicles is prohibited on the territory of Skolkovo, because you can only move here by bicycles and electric vehicles.
The construction of the TMK research center is planned to be completed by the beginning of 2017.
