Rebirth of internal lines
Statistics show that Russians have begun to travel more within the country. In this situation, the companies that manage the airport infrastructure finally have the opportunity to invest in it. Although it would be more correct to call it “necessity”, since the overwhelming majority of airports still exist in the archaic format of Soviet “glass”. Over the past 15 years, only Moscow and St. Petersburg airports have been reconstructed with the participation of leading Russian and foreign architects and with the result of varying degrees of relevance and expressiveness. Experiments include Terminal D at Sheremetyevo-2, designed by Dmitry Pshenichnikov's team with a clear preference for bionic forms. The calmer solution of the Vnukovo terminal from Metrogiprotrans brought him recognition in professional circles and the Crystal Daedalus award. Some of the most significant objects were conducted through a competitive system. Thus, in 2007 Nicholas Grimshaw won the competition for the reconstruction of Pulkovo airport. In 2016 it became known that the RMJM bureau won the competition for the interiors of the new terminal B under construction at the Sheremetyevo-2 airport. The pace and geography of airport renovations has increased significantly since the announcement of the list of cities that will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches. This event became a catalyst for the renewal of urban infrastructure facilities, and, first of all, the airport terminals, which play the role of the “face of the city”, obliged to present it in the most favorable light and demonstrate local attractions. Thanks to the World Cup'18, airports in Samara and Nizhny Novgorod have been updated, Saratov and Rostov-on-Don are next in line. At the same time, airports are being reconstructed in other Russian cities with high tourism potential, for example, in Simferopol and Perm.
Perm saga
The history of reconstruction of the Bolshoye Savino airport in Perm is quite dramatic. There was a place in it for public scandals, and a project freeze due to a change in regional authorities, and a struggle for a contract between leading Russian holdings. The results of several architectural competitions have been approved and canceled. In total, more than 15 years passed between the decision to reconstruct the former military airfield and the completion of the construction of a modern airport in its place.
It was impossible to predict which project will reach the final and get a chance to be realized. Everything was decided by a happy coincidence, thanks to which the investor of the project, the Novaport company, chose the concept proposed by Asadov's architectural bureau and the Spectrum company. In it, the architects were able to combine the functional planning and logistics scheme developed by German airport design specialists WP ARC, already tested in Saratov and well-proven in Russia, and a striking architectural and artistic image, in which a wide range of associations with various cultural and historical sights can be guessed. Perm.
The terminal layout is simple and logical. The main building is a square with a side slightly less than 140 meters. From the side of the airfield, a gallery is attached to it with an extension and perpendicular blocks, to which boarding ramps are joined. Inside the main volume, all the main functional blocks of airport services are arranged with German precision, from check-in counters to shops and cafes, from customs to a number of baggage conveyors. The structural scheme of the building is also quite standard - a monolithic frame with a step of 9x9 meters, in some areas, it turns either to a double step, or is replaced by large-span structures, if it is necessary, for example, to block a huge two-story hall in the departure area.
The architectural task was to find a volumetric-spatial solution that could give this "car" for servicing passengers and aircraft an individual and spectacular look. The huge set of technical and engineering problems that come with this image is rarely taken into account. It's a pity. It is the solution of these problems that distinguishes high-class designers. Until recently, this role was mainly played by foreign specialists, but now the situation is beginning to change. In any case, a team with experience in the development and implementation of similar projects has gathered at the terminal project in Perm. In addition to Asadov's bureau, the project team included: the general designer Spectrum company, the Perm architect Sergey Shamarin, who was involved in the master plan and issues related to the architectural details of the terminal concept, as well as the bureau
UNK project, which won the competition for the design of the terminal's interiors, and many other companies, thanks to which Perm received a new super-modern terminal with an original architecture and a unique image.
Shapes and images
Asadov's architectural bureau strives to invest in its projects a super-idea that translates into a language that is understandable and attractive to the customer and the public, expressive spatial and original technological solutions characteristic of the bureau. Alexander Asadov comments on the idea, which turned out to be a decisive argument in favor of the proposed project, as follows: “Once we designed a bridge for Kiev and thought that it should become a kind of guardian angel for the whole city, but the project remained on paper. And here in Perm, we finally have a chance to create a guardian angel with an even larger wingspan spread on the sides of the huge letter "P". As if the city itself had gained wings. And this image is inextricably linked with the famous collection of wood carved sculpture, which is kept in the Perm art gallery. There is an amazing cherub, which inspired us to develop a winged theme, organically continuing the idea with a white portal, reminiscent of the letter "P".
The figurative “wooden wing” is actually a huge structure, lined with gold-colored metal panels, hanging over the stained-glass perimeter of the main volume of the terminal. The impression of outstretched wings is created due to the plastic play of curved and straight planes. The structure then bends, hanging in a smooth arc over the entrance portal, then it forms sharp, as if cut off by a giant blade, edges at the corners of the building, protruding more than 10 meters. Due to the contrast between the materiality of the metal saturated in color and texture and the transparency of the stained-glass windows under it, the feeling is created that the entire structure soars over the perimeter of the building, protecting and protecting everything that happens under it with its golden radiance.
According to Andrey Asadov, the search for materials and technologies to create the “wing” required a lot of efforts from the architects, but they were worth it: “The surface of the structure is perceived as a golden tree. Especially in the evening, with decorative lighting. We spent a long time choosing the shade of the metal and the method of creating the texture in order to achieve this effect. We have developed an individual combination of a U-shaped profile, which is invisibly attached to a curved metal sheet. Thus, a voluminous rough front side was obtained. And on the side overhangs of the structure, we used smooth sheets to create the impression of a perfectly flat cut. From the point of view of the quality of performance and the effect produced, this structure became for me a good example of the capabilities of Russian manufacturers. The contracting company "Alfa-Stroy" from Yekaterinburg very responsibly approached the matter, meticulously implemented our decision."
The main and side facades of the terminal are mainly made of glass. The stained-glass windows are decorated with decorative images typical of the Permian animal style (the so-called bronze artifacts of the 3rd – 12th centuries AD), as well as stylized images of fossils and fossils belonging to the so-called "Permian period" - the last geological period of the Paleozoic era. These motifs for the terminal design were proposed by the architect Sergei Shamarin in order to give more color to the new building and to present the city's guests with the most vivid images associated with the history and heritage of the entire Kama region.
On the side facades, from the outside, horizontal imposts in the form of rectangular slats are used as additional decorative elements. They cover stained-glass windows in those places where auxiliary and technical rooms are located, which do not require large glazing areas. And where the offices are located, they are torn apart by the glass ribbons of the windows.
Taking into account the view of the new airport from the side of flying and departing aircraft, the architects designed the roof as a fifth facade, including the same combination of finishing materials and introducing, as an accent, curved lanterns, continuing the plastic game of metal and glass planes, begun on the main facade. … These lanterns and the natural light that comes in through them set the tone and character for the entire interior of the terminal.
Internal geology
The author's architectural solution of the terminal set a high standard for quality and artistic expressiveness, which the interior design had to correspond to. To find the best concept and development team, the project investor held a competition, which won the UNK project bureau, which proposed an interesting development of the architectural theme in the design of public spaces of the terminal. Yulia Tryaskina, partner of UNK project, describes the found solution in the following way: “For us, the image used by the Asadovs in the architecture of the terminal was associated not with a wing or a wave, but with an autumn leaf that fell from a tree and was slightly twisted from frost. On this image, we built our competition proposal, which was born literally in one breath, easily and naturally. For example, we used plant silhouettes to decorate a decorative frieze running under the roof along the transverse wall separating the two-story space of the main hall from the departure area on the second tier. At the same time, the images on the panel resemble the imprints of fossil plants, which are often found by paleontologists. The airport has a memorable image. Someone knows about the Permian period, someone does not. But if you tell your friend “we will meet under the sheet”, he will understand you. The interior should have such signs, not so much beautiful as catchy. In our interiors, we always highlight the main thing, that which will be remembered, and we bring everything else to this”.
The geological theme is continued by gray stripes on the side walls and parapets of the mezzanine floor. The jagged, broken lines of several shades of gray-beige resemble the layers of different geological strata in the excavation. But in general, the interior of the terminal develops a high-tech rather than archaeological and geological theme. A laconic color scheme with a dominant white color, structural elements of simple shapes without a hint of decor, graphic and rhythmic clarity of suspended ceiling systems with accentuated lighting devices - all this harmoniously complements the overall architectural solution, without conflict with the dominant element of the interior - a huge arched light lantern,crossing the hall and exposing a complex network of thin steel substructures supporting the shell of the "wing".
Prior to this project, UNK project bureau had no experience of working in airports, but the interiors of Detsky Mir, completed shortly before that, prepared the team for the most difficult part of the project - finding a balance between aesthetics, economics and safety. “The airport is, first of all, a function where it should be comfortable, cozy and clear where to go. In most rooms, people tend to overlook the design. The emotional, visually active component of the project is concentrated in only three places: the common room and in the departure waiting area. In other places, the priority was given to the safety of passengers, first of all to the fire department,”- this is how Yulia Tryaskina characterizes the specifics of work at the airport.
When designing interiors, architects could use a very limited list of materials suitable for the required fire resistance class (K0) and at the same time keeping within the given budget. Each solution and component was tested for compliance with safety requirements, it also had to be functional, easy to maintain and, if necessary, easily replaced or restored. So the priority was not so much artistic tasks as the operating conditions and the comfort of passengers, the control over which was carried out by the general designer - the Spectrum company.
Teamwork
The key to the success of large infrastructure projects is the well-coordinated work of all participants solving creative, technical and administrative problems. In this case, the functions of the general designer were entrusted to the Spectrum company, with which Asadov's bureau developed a successful tandem on the Saratov airport project. Sergey Frolov, Director of Project Management at Spectrum, believes that “the task of the general designer is to balance the interests of all project participants and find compromise technical solutions that preserve the original architectural idea while respecting the interests of the airport operator and construction restrictions. At the same time, one should not forget about ensuring the comfort of passengers, the necessary level of security, technologies and a logistic scheme that ensures the required passenger traffic and with a sufficient amount of space suitable for rent. To implement this approach, Spectrum is helped by management standards and widely used modern design support tools - information modeling (BIM) and cloud technologies that create a single information environment for all project participants."
In addition to the terminal itself, the project included a concept for the development of the adjacent territory, which included the traditional airport hotel and multi-storey parking. These objects have not yet been implemented, but the entire infrastructure was calculated taking them into account. Also, a project was developed for the improvement of the square in front of the terminal, in which, as in the architecture of the airport, local peculiarities were played up. “Instead of a banal parking lot or a purely functional area in front of the terminal, we decided to make an excursion into the specifics of the region for the guests of our city,” says architect Sergei Shamarin. - Our region is called Prikamye and the Kama River is the basis, the backbone of the city. To emphasize the importance of water, we suggested making a flat pool or dry fountain in the middle of the square, which will function in the summer. Inside the fountain, we have planned art objects in the form of huge glowing cubes, on which some symbolic images from the history of Perm can be captured."
In addition to the hotel, the parking lot and the fountain, one of the key elements of the airport infrastructure - the covering of the apron behind the terminal, which allows aircraft to drive directly to the building so that passengers can board without leaving the street - are to be completed as part of the reconstruction. This part of the construction should be financed from the regional budget and, according to plans, all work will be completed in 2019. It is then that residents and guests of Perm will be able to fully appreciate the convenience and perfection of the new complex, created by the efforts of a large international team.
