Cozy country life with the accessibility of the metropolis is the dream of many townspeople. Therefore, a new format of residential construction that combines these advantages is gaining more and more popularity. One of these projects is the V Lesu microtown.
Eight blocks, united by a common idea and architectural design, stand on the Sinichka River, surrounded by dense forests. The total area of the complex is about 100 hectares and is designed for 35 thousand people. Despite the fact that Microcity is literally located in a forest, residents have access to all the benefits of civilization. The first floors of residential buildings were originally planned for a variety of shops and household services. It is planned to build a cafe, an office center, a medical and veterinary clinic, two schools and three kindergartens on the territory.
The concept of the Microcity, as well as the design documentation for the first and second stages of residential development, as well as schools and kindergartens, was developed by the SPEECH architectural bureau (project authors: Sergey Choban, Sergey Kuznetsov, Alexey Ilyin). The extensive experience of the team, including the European one, made it possible to avoid the feeling of a typical development.
The coloristic and plastic variety of the facades was a successful technique, and international designers were also involved in the work on them. As a result, several subtypes have been developed, differing in color, rhythm of architectural elements and finishing materials.
The project is based on the idea of individual design of the facades and entrance groups of each section according to the principle of the traditional building of a European town, where houses of different decor are closely adjacent to each other, creating an ensemble.
Modern realities of the real estate market dictate new rules for project development, among which the architecture of the facades is far from the last place. According to surveys, 81% of potential buyers of an apartment in Microgorod consider the attractive appearance of a building to be an important characteristic when choosing a future home. And since the concept of Microcity from the very beginning was designed for young and active families with children, one of the examples of maximum focus on the needs of the target audience was the decision to use a wide palette of colors in the decoration of facades, because, as you know, bright, cheerful colors have a very beneficial effect on child's psyche.
A complete system was used for some of the buildings
KNAUF AQUAPANEL® Hinged facade system, the main component of which is AQUAPANEL cement board® Outdoor. This choice was made for several reasons.
First, the main element of the system, the cement slab, does not limit the design possibilities of buildings. Its perfectly flat surface minimizes preparation for finishing, which can be anything - from paint and plaster to natural and artificial stone, since the slabs can withstand loads of up to 50 kg / m2.
Secondly, the building system provides reliable protection of thermal insulation and load-bearing structures from atmospheric influences.
Thirdly, due to simple and quick installation, the facade system can significantly reduce the construction time and thereby increase the turnover of investors' funds.
So, according to the project, the external insulation and decoration of the walls of the school building were carried out according to the "hinged ventilated facade" system with terracotta tiles. Window portals, which make up 40% of the entire area of the facades, according to the idea of the authors of the project, were supposed to serve as an expressive detail and have a plastered surface without visible seams.
Knauf specialists, together with Hilti, have proposed a comprehensive solution for the construction of window portals. The cement board AQUAPANEL was proposed as a base for a thin decorative plaster layer.® Outdoor: it meets all the requirements for materials for facades of educational institutions: environmentally friendly, moisture resistant and durable. As a result, more than 5 thousand m were used.2 cement slabs. All partitions in the school are made of another popular building material - KNAUF-gypsum plaster (25 thousand m2).
For the residential sections, the same suspended ventilated facade system was used, cladding with AQUAPANEL cement slab® Outside, but with a plaster layer as a seamless decorative coating. In total, more than 7 thousand m were put into operation.2 material. The honeycomb structure and slight slope allowed the surfaces to liven up and make them more interesting.
For the originality of architecture, the Microcity "In the Forest" in 2015 was recognized as the best residential complex - in the category "Residential Development for Russia" as part of the European Property Awards 2015 in London and was awarded a Highly Commended diploma.) as one of the best projects in Europe.
