The results of three years of activity of the Arch Council in the new composition
The Architectural Council, chaired by the chief architect of Moscow, Sergei Kuznetsov, began its work in 2013. Much has been accomplished over the past three years, so it was decided to start the next meeting with summing up the results, albeit intermediate ones. Sergey Kuznetsov said that during this time the council had considered more than 70 projects, organized and successfully conducted 42 competitions, and 4 more competitions are now in preparation. The surge in competitive practice fell on the initial period of the Arch Council's work, since by the time its composition was renewed, a huge number of issues had accumulated that required the most professional and accurate solution. And in most cases, solutions have been found. Many projects have already been implemented (improvement of Triumfalnaya Square) or are under construction (Zaryadye Park). There were also cases when the competition had to be announced after the unsuccessful consideration of the project at the Archcouncil. This was the case, for example, with the territory of the Hammer and Sickle industrial zone. By now, according to Kuznetsov, the number of competitions has decreased, but this is due precisely to the fact that much has already been done. Among the latest high-profile events, the chief architect noted the competition for the design of the Sberbank technopark in Skolkovo, in which Zaha Hadid's bureau won.
An important part of the work of the Archcouncil and the ICA is related to the improvement of infrastructure facilities, including transport. If earlier garages, pedestrian crossings or public transport stations remained outside the scope of the architect's interests, now, largely thanks to the efforts of the committee, special attention has begun to be paid to them. The same goes for social facilities. Kindergartens, schools and clinics are increasingly presented at architectural exhibitions and festivals as examples of quality architecture. The Archcouncil also presented its awards for the best solutions for social infrastructure facilities.
Steps have been taken to improve the quality of residential development. New standards and criteria developed at ICA with the participation of members of the Architectural Council are being actively implemented in practice. Whole residential areas with public ground floors, landscaped courtyards and modern layouts are emerging. According to Sergei Kuznetsov, the committee plans to continue working in this direction, expanding standards and covering not only individual residential complexes, but entire neighborhoods and streets.
Great achievements have been achieved in the field of exhibition and publishing activities. The official website of the Archcouncil contains books that should be on the shelf of every architect. The committee also actively participates in exhibitions and forums. Thus, within the framework of the Arch of Moscow, ICA presents its own exposition “Aesthetics of Everyday Life”. And at the architectural biennale that opens next week in Venice, Sergei Kuznetsov acted as the curator of the Russian pavilion.
After listening to the report of Sergei Kuznetsov, Mikhail Posokhin noted that in just three years the city had changed a lot - and this is the result of tremendous work, including the Arch Council. Andrey Bokov also agreed with his colleague. He noted that today the powers of the chief architect differ from those of his predecessors, but they have been used to the maximum. Bokov also expressed confidence that the results achieved in three years and the search for ways of further work should be discussed not only within the framework of the Arch Council, but also with the city leadership.
Sports complex named after E. A. Streltsova
The project of the sports complex, which is proposed to be built on the site of the former stadium "Torpedo", was presented to the Arch Council by one of its authors Dmitry Bush, PI "Arena". The design site is located on the banks of the Moskva River along Vostochnaya Street, next to the Simonov Monastery and the ZIL Palace of Culture - a masterpiece of the avant-garde. The stadium has existed in this place since the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1959 the eastern stand was erected, and in 1978 the western one appeared. Dmitry Bush said that in its current state the stadium does not meet either Russian or international standards, so a serious reconstruction is needed. According to the terms of reference, the stadium had to be brought in line with modern standards, the capacity of the stands should be increased from 13 to 15 thousand people, and the entire list of sports, training and technical facilities should be provided.
Structurally, the site is divided into two parts. From the side of Vostochnaya Street, the main entrance group is provided, designed for the flow of visitors from the Dubrovka and Avtozavodskaya metro stations. Two more entrances are organized from the opposite side of the arena. A wide park alley, preserved in the new project, leads from the central gate to the stadium, on either side of it there is a low building of a new sports complex, because of the proximity to cultural monuments, it was very laconically decided, and a training field. Closer to the river there is a football stadium and two more training fields, one of which will be open to residents of the area.
Attempts to transform the complex have already been made, and more than once. In 2007, Mosproekt-4 offered its version of the stadium, in 2014 the Ostozhenka bureau worked on the project, but none of the proposals was implemented. Having studied all the previous experience, the architects from the Arena design institute also tried for a long time to find the optimal solution and, in the course of their searches, developed more than ten options. The best version was the version with the open space of the stadium with two covered stands, which will preserve the panorama of the river opening from the gate. Any other volume overlaps this panorama.
For the same purpose of maintaining the best view, the lightest longitudinal visors over the stands in the form of thin metal membranes are provided. Their thickness does not exceed 5 cm, and the total weight, according to preliminary calculations, is less than 50 kg / m². From above they are covered with a layer of waterproofing, from below they are sewn up with metal reflective cassettes with built-in lamps. The canopies are supported on sloped supports, which fix the membrane in the desired position.
At first, the members of the council had many questions for the authors of the project. We were interested in how the problem of noise protection is being solved, given that the training fields are located right under the windows of residential buildings. They asked about the possibility of a wind corridor between the stands. We were amazed at the organization of the drainage system from the sagging canopies over the stands. We were worried about the fate of the monument to Eduard Streltsov, which was not indicated in the project in any way.
The authors answered all the questions: the monument will certainly be preserved, wind loads have been calculated, noise protection in the form of special screens made of polycarbonate has been installed. As for drainage, for these purposes, special transverse ribs with a height of 50 cm and a heated drainage system are offered on the roof. So far, only the issue of the transport scheme remains unresolved, since the exit to the stadium in the project is supposed to be carried out along the projected Simonovskaya embankment backup, which does not correspond to the existing road network.
Among the main advantages of the project, Andrey Bokov named the complex's good interaction with the landscape. He also liked the membrane construction solution. “This is the most efficient type of large-span structures that is rarely used in practice,” Bokov said. As for questions about noise protection and close proximity to residential areas, here Bokov sided with the authors, explaining that we are talking about a stadium in the city as a separate typology. And in this case, the stadium, which has been located in this place for almost a hundred years, interacts well with the environment.
Nikolai Shumakov also supported the project, calling Dmitry Bush “a master of designing objects of this class”. He recalled that it was Bush who managed to find the optimal solution for the even more complex project of the CSKA stadium. Mikhail Posokhin also agreed with his colleagues. He stressed that earlier versions of the E. A. Streltsov can not compete with the last option, because it alone retains a view of the Simonov Monastery and the Moscow River. Andrey Gnezdilov especially liked the constructive solution, which he called “elegant and simple”. “Such membrane structures have no world analogues,” he stressed. - Alvaro Siza had something similar. But here there is an interaction of two membranes, in a pair they give an amazing effect, good proportions. Alexey Vorontsov mentioned that he personally saw Streltsov's game, and expressed his conviction that the presented project fully corresponds to the personality of the great football player.
The discussion was summed up by Sergey Kuznetsov, who noted that, perhaps, the council was never so unanimous. It was decided to support the project, recommending the authors to finalize the transport scheme.
