In March, Project Baltia magazine organized a competition called Horizon for the Sevkabel Port space. The participants had to come up with a social and business campus, the place for which was chosen not quite usual - the roof of a large industrial building B, located opposite the main entrance and overlooking the embankment.
At the first stage, the expert council reviewed 115 applications, then reduced the list to 20 best projects. They were published on the website of the competition, where an Internet voting took place, after which a short list was determined. As a result, eight bureaus competed for the victory, the work of the architectural group DNK ag was recognized as the best. We propose to look at all the projects of the second stage, since each has interesting ideas for arranging public space near the water.
First place
Architectural group DNK ag
Port. Sea. Infinity
If building B were still in operation, DNK ag's proposal would have turned it into a venturian duck building: the architects place two huge cable spools on the roof. There are other associations that are more appropriate for the new function of the building: DJ records, for example, and the authors themselves mention the infinity sign.
Inside the "coils" there are panoramic offices, the guests of the "Port" are given the entire remaining roof with the amphitheater and stage, as well as the space under the "discs" and courtyards-wells. Despite the fact that the setting was conceived as a giant art object, DNK ag's proposal as a whole is one of the most concise and restrained. The experts liked the project for the clarity and brightness of the image, the successful separation of spaces and realizability.
Second place
KATARSIS Architects
Clean energy of the bay
This project also appeals to the industrial past of the building, but instead of coils, the architects use the image of transformers. The rounded corners of the two-story cluster echo the windows of Building B and the lines of the neighboring seaport, the rough skin reminds of freight containers. Inside the "transformers" there are offices and multifunctional spaces of all-season use, the free part of the roof turns into an embankment-esplanade.
Third place
Pugachevich + Tammvis
Wave
Moscow architects found inspiration not only in the waters of the Gulf of Finland, but also in bright murals. They cover the building with a “wave lid” in trendy salmon shades, which can be reached via fire escapes and a chimney at the main entrance. The new space resembles a motor ship with several decks: upper and lower, open and closed. Inside the "wave" are offices and exhibition spaces, all open areas are connected into a large walking route. Another highlight is the view balcony, which protrudes as a console towards the bay.
Honorable mention by the jury
ARKHATAK
Work / rest
ARKHATAK's ironic concept contrasts with brutal visualization, but in both one feels the city dweller's longing for wildness and nature. The architects propose to turn the roof into an attraction: “the largest outdoor pool in Europe,“the best urban resort”, where they promise“4000 m2 body caressing water”and“the possibility of 100% immersion”. The offices are hidden under the pool, which is not even a pool at all, but something like a Karelian lake with huge boulders and a waterfall, in the middle there is an island with a country house. The jury's desire to mark the project with an honorable mention is understandable: the dream of swimming in a pool overlooking the bay is as tempting as it is difficult to achieve.
Ivan Kozhin
The architect from Studio-44 proposed the most "rigorous" project. Building B continues with a ziggurat roof, which is all an amphitheater with views of the four cardinal points. Courtyards are laconic, therefore they are universal. Public and business are given almost equal parts of the roof, they do not interact or intersect, the offices have a fairly large private space for relaxation.
AMD Architects
Again the industrial image - a bunch of wires. The authors describe the project as follows: "the architecture pulsates, creating either discharged or the most dense and closed spaces, then it focuses on itself, then it offers to admire the environment." This concept looks the most elaborated and thorough, a lot was able to fit on the roof: view offices, a skating rink, it is also a festival field, an open lecture hall, restaurants, a promenade, etc.
RHIZOME
According to the idea of the RHIZOME bureau, in order to make a “zone of free and reckless recreation” out of the roof, not so much is needed: showers, changing rooms and storage lockers. This "core" opens up a lot of opportunities: doing yoga, rollerblading, sunbathing, warming up in a species sauna all year round, swimming in a pool, etc. walking path. Offices and enclosed spaces are made up of modules that resemble port containers.
Alexander Alyaev and Marina Skorikova
Roof
At the heart of this project is the enjoyment of the views and the love of walking on the rooftops. The classic St. Petersburg roof is saturated with various spaces and points of attraction. In the center is a large courtyard separating offices and outdoor areas.
ludi_architects
Sweet horizon
There is little sun in St. Petersburg, and sweet can replace it, which also gives endorphins - this is the logic of the authors of the project. All new spaces on the roof can be folded out of "refined" cubes to accommodate offices, workshops, dances and exhibitions, and in open spaces - sports and observation decks, walking areas.
