Archi.ru:
Who suggested the topic "Skyscrapers"?
Yulia Shishalova:
- Life prompted. For example, for the third year now I have been following with interest the forum of high-rise construction 100+ in Yekaterinburg. This time, unfortunately, it coincides with Zodchestvo - it will not be possible to get there. So the forum, pardon the pun, is growing before our eyes: more and more unique projects from all over Russia and from abroad are presented there, architects from the bureau of Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Renzo Piano come. How many plans did Moscow have together with Foster - and ironically, its first implementation will be in the capital of the Urals, where the headquarters of the Ural Copper Company will be completed in less than two years. Although only 87 meters high: by the standards of Yekaterinburg, it is not a skyscraper at all. After Moscow, he is almost the only one of all Russian cities to launch a program for the construction of high-rise dominants under the general name "Yekaterinburg-City": there are already five completed buildings over 120 meters. And in the next 3-4 years, following the Urals, the Far East and Siberia will receive their first skyscrapers. I'm not even talking about such sensational and familiar projects as Moscow City, Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg and Akhmat Tower in Grozny.
How relevant is this topic in relation to our country?
- As we can see, it is very applicable. But that's not the only reason why we chose her. I wanted to figure out for myself - what is happening in this industry in Russia compared to the rest of the world? What are the prospects? What are architects and developers now guided by? After all, it is customary for us to speak on this topic mainly in relation to a specific project. And speak critically, without really delving into it. And you start to delve into - and modern skyscrapers seem not at all such "monsters". There are enough controversial moments, but there are also a lot of positive ones, showing that the total benefit in their case can still outweigh the total “tension”. We chose such projects - both for the new issue of PROJECT RUSSIA, dedicated to skyscrapers (its premiere will also take place on October 5), and for our exposition at Zodchestvo. In addition, we will also be happy to share all the most interesting conversations that we had in the preparation process with the visitors of our stand.
From what height do you think the skyscraper begins? 100 floors? 300 meters?
- There is a global standard: a skyscraper - from 150 meters. And if we talk about engineering and technology, then the most complex "bells and whistles" start from 180 meters. And there, as the designers themselves believe, there is no significant difference - 200 or 400. "Lakhta Center", for example, is being built by the same people that and Burj Khalifa in Dubai (the tallest structure in the world - 828 m with a spire). And although the St. Petersburg skyscraper is twice as low, this does not make it easier for them. And, to tell the truth, all these "super-high-rises", if you remove the spiers from them, will become quite "ordinary" skyscrapers. Spire of Burj Khalifa - 280 meters - in fact, another skyscraper, only "uninhabited". Therefore, they came up with this "pseudo height" apt term - vanity height. Literally it can be translated as "cavity height" and as "vanity height". Vanity, ambition, symbols of power - skyscrapers have always been associated with this.
Tell us what the exposition will be?
- First of all, this is information about high-rise construction in Russia, compactly packed in tablets and videos, which we have collected over several months. At first there was an idea to show models of all the freshest Russian skyscrapers. But then we realized that then the main idea would be lost. Indeed, in fact, the loudest complaint about skyscrapers is not about their architecture, but about the fact that they degrade the quality of the urban environment: they spoil panoramas, overload roads, etc. Especially now, when more and more high-rise buildings are acquiring residential rather than office functions. We, meanwhile, want to prove the opposite. So, in the end, the center of our exposition is the environment, the space between skyscrapers, which we, together with the children's architectural club "Horses on the Balcony", will be living on during all three days of the festival. Guests will have a choice: hang out in our lounge area, listening to interviews or watching excerpts from science fiction films, or take part in an active program, paving a new route in the city of skyscrapers, or simply leaving their own impression - what is it like to live in a skyscraper.
What is the main goal of the project? What results are you expecting?
- The result of three-day master classes should be a completely complete statement about life among the towers. What is important for us is that the author of this statement will be the younger generation, which, in principle, perceives and uses the urban space differently.
On the other hand, our goal is to raise the issue of the interaction of skyscrapers with the city among the professional community. On October 6, we are organizing a large round table on this matter. It will be attended not only by architects and developers, but also, for example, employees of the recently opened Moscow City Museum, or "image makers" of high-rise complexes - they already know everything about how to convey a positive message to a mass audience. High-rise construction is a given. And with its help it is really possible to form a comfortable and humane environment.
