The City Council of St. Petersburg - with its tablets, pointer and long debates, temporarily moved to the online space. The official letter reported that "in connection with the need to comply with measures to curb the spread of coronavirus infection, the next meeting of the City Planning Council will be held in the form of absentee consideration of projects and remote voting on them." Materials were sent to the members of the council; they were supposed to send their opinions on the same day.
In our opinion, lively discussions, which are often protracted, are often boring and seem redundant, but still cannot be replaced by correspondence and exchange of documents. There is always a mood, an atmosphere in the hall of the City Council. Formal statements are replaced by attacks or jokes, sometimes veiled barbs. There is a place for emotions, you can add a little more personal impression about each architect. There are dramatic twists and turns that can change the course of a vote.
We reviewed the projects, and also asked architects to comment on the new format and the transition to remote work.
The final minutes of the meeting will be prepared within a week and will be published on the KGA website.
BC on Poklonnaya Hill
St. Petersburg, Engels Avenue, 107, letter A
Designer: "URBIS-SPB", "UMBRA"
Customer: TRUST LLC
Considered: architectural and town-planning appearance
The site is located next to the interchange on Poklonnaya Gora, which connects the large northern highways - Engels, Torez and Severny avenues. Previously, the customer planned to build a multifunctional complex Ingria Tower here, the height of which reached 180 meters along the spire. But he did not manage to get a building permit, and later the legislation concerning the height of buildings was changed.
The new business center has only 13 floors and an underground two-level parking. The building is rectangular in plan, the first and last floors have been increased to five meters, the first floor is given over to retail premises and restaurants. The design of the facades is formed by two "systems of columns" that encircle the entire building and, according to the authors, "form a structure with Gothic motives." The first system starts from the first floor and stretches upward, the second descends from the parapet, in the center of the building they intersect and form a denser "hatching".
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zooming 1/7 Business Center on Poklonnaya Gora © "URBIS-SPB", "UMBRA"
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zooming 2/7 Business Center on Poklonnaya Gora © "URBIS-SPB", "UMBRA"
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zooming 3/7 Business Center on Poklonnaya Gora © "URBIS-SPB", "UMBRA"
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zooming 4/7 Business Center on Poklonnaya Gora © "URBIS-SPB", "UMBRA"
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zooming 5/7 Scan along Engels Avenue. BC on Poklonnaya Gora © "URBIS-SPB", "UMBRA"
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zooming 6/7 General plan. Business Center on Poklonnaya Gora Image courtesy of the press service of the Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of St. Petersburg © "URBIS-SPB", "UMBRA"
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zooming 7/7 Situational diagram. Business Center on Poklonnaya Gora Image courtesy of the press service of the Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of St. Petersburg © "URBIS-SPB", "UMBRA"
In the review head of the architectural studio "Vitruvius and Sons" Sergei Padalko it is written that a manege parking lot is being built on the adjoining site, and in addition, "a complex transport interchange is being designed, which in the future will completely change the existing urban landscape." The reviewer calls the architectural solution clear, concise and very appropriate: "among the complex silhouettes of the surrounding buildings, the simplicity of the new volume looks significant and convincing." "The 56 meters height may not seem like enough, but the perspective views are convincing."
LCD on Parashutnaya
St. Petersburg, the area bounded by Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue, Artseulovskaya Alley and Plesetskaya Street
Designer: "LAYERS ARKITECTS"
Customer: Universal Invest Kamenka LLC
Considered: building sketch
Parashutnaya is one of those outskirts of the city, which turned into multi-storey "ghettos", although not in the worst case - there are still pieces of woodland, there are reservoirs, and developers, in the struggle for a buyer, are trying to ensure that their multi-storey complex is something something different from the neighbors. Color and “pixelated” facades riot here, huge murals adorn the ends, and giant schools are being built.
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zooming 1/10 Situational diagram. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
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zooming 2/10 General plan. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
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zooming 3/10 3 D block diagram. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
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zooming 4/10 View from Korolev Avenue. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architectss
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zooming 5/10 View from Korolev Avenue. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
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zooming 6/10 View from Plesetskaya street. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
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zooming 7/10 View from Plesetskaya street. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
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zooming 8/10 View from Plesetskaya street. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
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zooming 9/10 Facades along Plesetskaya street. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
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zooming 10/10 Photo fixation. Complex development within Parashutnaya Street, Korolev Avenue and Plesetskaya Street © SLOI Architects
The "Layers" bureau prepared a sketch for a plot of about 25 hectares, which borders on the residential complexes "Clear Sky", Ultra City and "Kamenka".
The buildings of the houses are grouped into two clusters, between which there will be a kindergarten for 250 children. The complex will partially cover the multi-storey parking lot and green spaces from the noise of the roads. Linear two-three-section houses are complemented by 17-storey towers so that the entire courtyard space can be viewed from the street. The whole complex is permeated by a system of bike paths, completely pedestrian zones are provided: they are supposed to become part of the everyday path for those who use public transport. According to the designers, there should be enough training places at the expense of schools in "Clear Sky" and "Kamenka": for 1375 and 825 places, respectively.
Valentin Kogan, partner of the "SLOI" bureau
“In this composition, the complexity arising from the neighborhood of towers and small linear buildings is important. At first glance, when compared with neighboring buildings, it may seem that our project has a high density. But we are not afraid of this, because we are going to very carefully develop public spaces: ZNOPs, boulevards, parking lots and everything else. In our case, it would be easier to apply perimeter building, and then try to "pull" all the facades onto it. I personally like it better when an architectural motive appears already at the town-planning stage.
The inner space is arranged in such a way that there is space for both public spaces with a transit function and private spaces without cars between houses. Residents of both the projected residential complex and neighboring quarters will be able to enjoy the pedestrian boulevard: drink coffee, buy groceries, go to classes and so on. In the summertime, if quarantine is lifted, the boulevard will become a place of attraction for much of the area.
As for the City Council: the main thing is that this format does not imply joint discussion, the author has no opportunity to provide explanations. Perhaps it would be worth organizing a video conference for this occasion. Our bureau has not yet switched to remote mode, also because we were preparing for this city council, and we needed a lot of concentration and a quick response. We decided not to risk it. On the other hand, we have always outsourced a certain number of engineers, so project managers understand very well what remote work is."
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Vladimir Grigoriev
chief architect of St. Petersburg
Archi.ru: how effective was the remote format, is it suitable for the city council? If the situation with the epidemic drags on, do you plan to hold video conferences for members and experts of the City Council?
This format is devoid of live communication, in which architects develop a certain general idea of the critical elements of the urban planning context and the correct method for solving an architectural problem. In this sense, the remote format will not replace a council meeting as a platform for a free exchange of views. But it has proven to be effective as a way to quickly gather the opinions of a wide range of professionals as a basis for making an informed decision.
Please tell us about the remote work of the committee: what are the difficulties or, perhaps, unexpected advantages, what can be learned from this experience?
The committee is working, some of the employees have been transferred to a remote mode. There are, of course, difficulties. The main functions of the committee are carried out at great cost. The committee has a specificity - it is the need to work in the MapInfo system, providing remote access to which is fraught from a security point of view. But, probably, it is not entirely appropriate to talk about the pros and cons of the current situation.
Do you have any forecasts / assumptions about what will happen to architectural bureaus and the construction industry of St. Petersburg in general after the epidemic?
I would not dare to make predictions about the construction industry. As far as architects and design bureaus are concerned, this is not the first crisis. In general, the position of the design industry is very difficult due to the systemic underestimation in the society of intellectual labor in the field of urban planning and architecture.
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We also asked three architects who are members of the City Planning Council to answer the following questions:
1. What is your opinion on the first two projects on the agenda? [Two other questions were devoted to the sculptural monuments, the paratroopers in the Park of the Combat Brotherhood and the industrialist N. I. Putilov at 47 Stachek Avenue. We decided not to cover them now, not our topic, - approx. ed.]
2. How convenient is it to conduct a city council remotely?
3. Has your workshop switched to remote operation and how is it coping with it?
Anatoly Stolyarchuk
1. A business center is a perfectly acceptable solution for this difficult place. I think we need to agree with the authors of the project.
The second job is not bad, but there is a problem that must be solved: the absence of a school on the territory of the quarter. Two schools in neighboring residential complexes fall within the radius of accessibility, but the problem of crossing the highway remains: you need a traffic light or an underground passage. If there are supporting documents that guarantee that schools in neighboring areas will be built, and they will be able to accept children from the new complex - and there will be many of them, then, as an exception, a sketch can be accepted. So far, I have not seen such documents. The rest of the solution can be considered successful.
2. I'm used to a certain order of the City Council, when there is a lively discussion, different points of view are expressed. When you yourself come with one opinion and leave with two others. A forced measure has now been taken. In my opinion, this format cannot replace a full-fledged discussion.
3. Several of our employees over 65 are working from home. In this difficult situation, I myself have to be in the workshop. I cannot say that remote work is convenient. Communication is essential. They say that the situation with the epidemic and self-restraint will greatly affect the world, it will change. Many companies are likely to get rid of people and meetings. I fully admit it. But I hope that direct communication will never be ruled out.
Evgeny Gerasimov
1. I voted for both projects. There are no questions at all for the second. And regarding the first: the place is significant, before they wanted to build a skyscraper there, now an office building - it looks good for this corner, a la David Chipperfield. If you have good parts and materials, you get what you need. Quiet, not colored, not broken building.
I would also like to speak about monuments. To erect a monument is the simplest solution, put it - and that's it, the question is closed. Just a little, we arrange busts - heroes of labor, composers, architects. It seems to me that the artistic expression of the tragedy should be different. The same is about Putilov. The industrialist built a plant, which was later named after Kirov. The best way to preserve memory is to return the factory to its original name. And the monument itself is weak, Putilov looks like Tchaikovsky. Yes, and he is not needed, we have a dominance of monuments. You need to think, study seriously, have the courage to react.
2. The procedure in this format is emasculated and turns into absentee voting. But the point is different, the primary function of the city council is discussion, development of an opinion for the chief architect. They voted - so what, it has no official weight. The presentation is also important: how everything looks on the big screen, what the author tells. There are always more questions than comments on projects.
3. We transferred all employees to remote work, we were preparing for this three weeks ago - we purchased equipment, carried out technical measures, translated group after group. Time and money wasted, but the main thing is that the office is working. This is a new experience, and any experience is rewarding. Let's see what happens. Employees will tell you how they work, look at the impact and the result. Maybe this is the future. Or maybe not.
Mikhail Kondiain
1. It's a shame that the business center is covering up a rather interesting brick complex in the background. I also think that at the corner it is quite close to the road it is cramped - an indent of 20-25 meters would help. Something low-rise suggests itself here, the height of a nearby parking lot.
1, 2. As an exception, you can hold a city council in this format. But each of the projects requires discussion, during which many different aspects are touched that the authors can use. Often, after we send a project for revision, it becomes incomparably better. Even in good projects, there are things that can be improved.
If we are talking about a residential complex, then there can be a lot of tips. It is impossible to sit and write an entire article of comments on each item. One can talk about parking lots for a very long time. For example, the guys from the "SLOI" bureau tried, on average, their project is not bad. But from time to time, again and again, it is necessary to bring up the topic of the fact that customers are pushing free-standing parking lots, which can be compared to a time bomb. If they are built, they will be empty. Further questions: does the elevator work or not? As a woman with a stroller going down and up, who is watching all this. The best alternative is a two-level parking system in a built-in room. It has a lot of advantages: cheap, comfortable, ergonomic, does not block the views even on the first floors. I only touched on one question, and here's how much reasoning came out.
3. We switched to remote work by 90%, there are little things that can only be done in the workshop.
When it comes to collaborative creative work, the remote format is not the best option. In difficult projects, you often need to sit nearby and help the guys figure it out. You need to switch to Skype mode, while you need to have two screens - for a video conference, and for a file. We'll have to completely re-equip.
