World of Joy

The second stage of the Urban Farm at VDNKH gave the local landscape and architectural ensemble several buildings that demonstrate an interesting associative approach to creating thematic pavilions.

Written by:
Elena Petukhova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

18 July 2017

Object

Architect:

Firm:

WOWHAUS http://wowhaus.ru/

The project of the farm, about the first stage of which we already wrote, appeared thanks to the desire of the VDNKH management to bring back to life one of the derelict corners in the northeast of the exhibition park territory. Formerly, this was the place that predominantly consisted of venues demonstrating the achievements of the Soviet agricultural industry. In addition to the pavilions with self-explanatory names of “Pig Breeding”, “Sheep Breeding” and “Poultry Farming”, next to the cascade of creeks there was an exposition dedicated to hunting and fur farming. The latter did not survive the transition period from VDNKH to All-Russia Exhibition Center and back to VDNKH again. The whole territory fell into decay.

However, the surviving genius loci prompted the architects of Wowhaus to embark on a rather courageous experiment. They decided to create an educational venue where children and their parents could get acquainted with the wildlife, as well as master various skills related to subsistence farming. This is not a copy-paste from the western urban farms but a whole new original concept that combines family outdoor recreation, a mini-zoo, a club of young naturalists, and craft shops.

For this unconventional idea, the management of VDNKH allotted a land site with a total area of about 3 hectares. A significant height difference divided the territory into two unequal parts: the lower larger one with a creek, and the upper one stretching along the slope. The first one https://archi.ru/en/64821/razmyshleniya-na-gorodskoi-ferme with a cowshed, a poultry-house, fruit and vegetable garden, and a children’s playground was finished very quickly and was opened in 2015, becoming an almost instant success.

The construction of the second part, which included building a few new pavilions meant for year-round studies of crafts and agricultural activities, was postponed until the next 2016.

Because of the specifics of the terrain, construction was only possible on a narrow strip of land running along the edge of a slope, and on a wide land site that used to be occupied by the “Hunting and Fur Farming” pavilion – now this place was to function as the grand entrance hall. Here the guests of the farm are welcomed by the entrance group with ticket offices and an info desk that embraces in a broad semicircle a square with flower beds and two surviving statues of “Hunter” and “Fox Nursery”. Inside the territory, literally two steps away from the entrance, in order to prevent any possible complaints about the underdeveloped service infrastructure, the architects placed a farmers’ cafe that will also host a cooking class for children. Further on, the pedestrian route runs parallel to the slope of the hill. Alongside the trail stand two pavilions, one after another. The first one contains various craft shops: pottery, joinery, and others, while the other contains greenhouses. In the second stage, the trail makes a smooth bend and leads the visitors over the bridge above the canal and to the main square of the first stage with a cowshed and a bird creek. The master plan of the farm took into account the results of the social and economic survey conducted by KB23 – the possible features of the future farm and the set of buildings necessary for their realization were defined collaboratively. The project was developed by nine architects, all of them working within the framework of a single design code.

The chief architect of the second stage, Anastasia Izmakova describes the task set by the company before the project team on the following way: “We were to design pavilions in the spirit of the whole VDNKH in general, with literary associations and even symbolism”.

The entrance group that now meets the guests almost exactly traces the outlines of the semicircular colonnade with wooden girders instead of columns (something that was widely spread still in the classic Russian manor architecture tradition) – one could not think of a more direct reference to the spirit of the former VDNKH.

The next object along the path – a spacious cafe, stylish and laconic – is probably inspired by the Scandinavian architecture. The cafe is notable for the elegance of working with the wood in a combination with glass that is characteristic of Wowhaus.

The complex of craft shops is one of the most impressive structures in the ensemble of the Urban Farm – first of the unusual parabolic shape of the roofs of three large sections. “The first thing that I imagined was a huge hangar of metal corrugated sheets – shares the author of the craft workshops project, Anastasia Izmakova – And I tried to come up with structures that would sort of call up this image in one’s mind, at the same time creating a totally different atmosphere”. The solution was in the form of bent wooden arches, on top of which a roof of larch lath was laid. Also – arguably, for the first time in local architecture – the architects of Wowhaus used the burn-based wood protection technology. This is not only an interesting decorative design solution widely used in the traditional Japanese architecture, but one that has a number of practical benefits: it keeps the wood moisture-fungus-proofed, and provides for low heat conductivity.

The maximum height of the parabola of each craft shop section is more than 6 meters, and the architects endowed two sections out of three with lofts in order to increase the useful floor space. One section was left devoid of such intermediate floor, and, being inside of it, one can fully appreciate the dynamic beauty of the ribs of glued wood with their almost-Gothic strained lightness.

The next pavilion – the greenhouse – is in fact a chain of several blocks meant for different types of indoor cultivation of plants: one has in it racks for hydroponic growing of greens and vegetables, the other has flowers growing in the soil, the third has exotic plants growing in tubs; the pavilion is covered with a translucent pitched roof from cell polycarbonate. The side façades of the blocks are decorated with sophisticated intertwining stained glass patterns. The vertical and slanting imposts form a pattern that reminds a spike or even a pineapple.

The experiment of VDNKH management and the creative search of the Wowhaus architects ended up being a doubtless success. The farm is growing ever more popular. The idea and its realization are so much about love of nature, wildlife, and people that it is even surprising that it could get implemented in our pragmatic time of give and take. In addition to all other things, the project of the Urban Farm at VDNKH once again proved the status of Wowhaus as number one explorer of new formats for recreational spaces.

zooming — Birds-eye view of the farm. Urban farm at VDNKH, 2nd stage. Wowhouse. Photograph © Mitya Chebanenko

Architect:

Firm:

WOWHAUS http://wowhaus.ru/

18 July 2017

Headlines now

Faraday Grid

The project of the Omsk airport by ASADOV Architects is another concept among the 14 finalists of a recent competition. It is called “The Bridge” and is inspired by both the West Siberian Exhibition of 1911 and the Trans-Siberian Railway bridge over the Irtysh River, built in 1896. On one hand, it carries a steampunk vibe, while on the other, there’s almost a sense of nostalgia for the heyday of 1913. However, the concept offers two variants, the second one devoid of nostalgia but featuring a parabola.

Inverted Fortress

This year, there has been no shortage of intriguing architectural ideas around the Omsk airport. The project developed by the architectural company KPLN appeals to Omsk’s history as a wooden fortress that it was back in the day, but transforms the concept of a fortress beyond recognition: it “shaves off” the conical ends of “wooden logs”, then enlarges them, and then flips them over. The result is a hypostyle – a forest of conical columns on point supports, with skylights on top.

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Transformation of Annenkirche

For Annenkirche (St. Anna Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg), Sergey Kuznetsov and the Kamen bureau have prepared a project that relies on the principles of the Venice Charter: the building is not restored to a specific date, historical layers are preserved, and modern elements do not mimic the authentic ones. Let’s delve into the details of these solutions.

The Paradox of the Temporary

The concept of the Russian pavilion for EXPO 2025 in Osaka, proposed by the Wowhaus architects, is the last of the six projects we gathered from the 2022 competition. It is again worth noting that the results of this competition were not finalized due to the cancellation of Russia’s participation in World Expo 2025. It should be mentioned that Wowhaus created three versions for this competition, but only one is being presented, and it can’t be said that this version is thoroughly developed – rather, it is done in the spirit of a “student assignment”. Nevertheless, the project is interesting in its paradoxical nature: the architects emphasized the temporary character of the pavilion, and in its bubble-like forms sought to reflect the paradoxes of space and time.

The Forum of Time

The competition project for the Russian Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka designed by Aleksey Orlov and Arena Project Institute consists of cones and conical funnels connected into a non-trivial composition, where one can feel the hand of architects who have worked extensively with stadiums and other sports facilities. It’s very interesting to delve into its logic, structurally built on the theme of clocks, hourglasses and even sundials. Additionally, the architects have turned the exhibition pavilion into a series of interconnected amphitheaters, which is also highly relevant for world exhibitions. We are reminding you that the competition results were never announced.

Mirrors Everywhere

The project by Sergey Nebotov, Anastasia Gritskova, and the architectural company “Novoe” was created for the Russian pavilion at EXPO 2025, but within the framework of another competition, which, as we learned, took place even earlier, in 2021. At that time, the competition theme was “digital twins”, and there was minimal time for work, so the project, according to the architect himself, was more of a “student assignment”. Nevertheless, this project is interesting for its plan bordering on similarity with Baroque projects and the emblem of the exhibition, as well as its diverse and comprehensive reflectiveness.

Report

The Steppe Is Full of Beauty and Freedom

The goal of the exhibition “Dikoe Pole” (“Wild Field”) at the State Historical Museum was to move away from the archaeological listing of valuable items and to create an image of the steppe and nomads that was multidirectional and emotional – in other words, artistic. To achieve this goal, it was important to include works of contemporary art. One such work is the scenography of the exhibition space developed by CHART studio.

The Snowstorm Fish

The next project from the unfinished competition for the Russian Pavilion at EXPO 2025, which will be held in Osaka, Japan, is by Dashi Namdakov and Parsec Architects. The pavilion describes itself as an “architectural/sculptural” one, with its shape clearly reminiscent of abstract sculpture of the 1970s. It complements its program with a meditative hall named “Mendeleev’s Dreams”, and offers its visitors to slide from its roof at the end of the tour.

The Mirror of Your Soul

We continue to publish projects from the competition for the design of the Russian Pavilion at EXPO in Osaka 2025. We are reminding you that the results of the competition have not been announced, and hardly will ever be. The pavilion designed by ASADOV Architects combines a forest log cabin, the image of a hyper transition, and sculptures made of glowing threads – it focuses primarily on the scenography of the exhibition, which the pavilion builds sequentially like a string of impressions, dedicating it to the paradoxes of the Russian soul.

Part of the Ideal

In 2025, another World Expo will take place in Osaka, Japan, in which Russia will not participate. However, a competition for the Russian pavilion was indeed held, with six projects participating. The results were never announced as Russia’s participation was canceled; the competition has no winners. Nevertheless, Expo pavilion projects are typically designed for a bold and interesting architectural statement, so we’ve gathered all the six projects and will be publishing articles about them in random order. The first one is the project by Vladimir Plotkin and Reserve Union, which is distinguished by the clarity of its stereometric shape, the boldness of its structure, and the multiplicity of possible interpretations.

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The Fortress by the River

ASADOV Architects have developed a concept for a new residential district in the center of Kemerovo. To combat the harsh climate and monotonous everyday life, the architects proposed a block type of development with dominant towers, good insolation, facades detailed at eye level, and event programming.

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In the Rhombus Grid

Construction has begun on the building of the OMK (United Metallurgical Company) Corporate University in Nizhny Novgorod’s town of Vyksa, designed by Ostozhenka Architects. The most interesting aspect of the project is how the architects immersed it in the context: “extracting” a diagonal motif from the planning grid of Vyksa, they aligned the building, the square, and the park to match it. A truly masterful work with urban planning context on several different levels of perception has long since become the signature technique of Ostozhenka.

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Generational Connection

Another modern estate, designed by Roman Leonidov, is located in the Moscow region and brings together three generations of one family under one roof. To fit on a narrow plot without depriving anyone of personal space, the architects opted for a zigzag plan. The main volume in the house structure is accentuated by mezzanines with a reverse-sloped roof and ceilings featuring exposed beams.

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Three Dimensions of the City

We began to delve into the project by Sergey Skuratov, the residential complex “Depo” in Minsk, located at Victory Square, and it fascinated us completely. The project has at least several dimensions to it: historical – at some point, the developer decided to discontinue further collaboration with Sergey Skuratov Architects, but the concept was approved, and its implementation continues, mostly in accordance with the proposed ideas. The spatial and urban planning dimension – the architects both argue with the city and play along with it, deciphering nuances, and finding axes. And, finally, the tactile dimension – the constructed buildings also have their own intriguing features. Thus, this article also has two parts: it dwells on what has been built and what was conceived

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New “Flight”

Architects from “Mezonproject” have developed a project for the reconstruction of the regional youth center “Polyot”(“Flight”) in the city of Oryol. The summer youth center, built back in the late 1970s, will now become year-round and acquire many additional functions.

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The Yauza Towers

In Moscow, there aren’t that many buildings or projects designed by Nikita Yavein and Studio 44. In this article, we present to you the concept of a large multifunctional complex on the Yauza River, located between two parks, featuring a promenade, a crossroads of two pedestrian streets, a highly developed public space, and an original architectural solution. This solution combines a sophisticated, asymmetric façade grid, reminiscent of a game of fifteen puzzle, and bold protrusions of the upper parts of the buildings, completely masking the technical floors and sculpting the complex’s silhouette.

News

Arch, Pearl, Wing, Wind

In the social media of the governor of the Omsk region, voting was conducted for the best project for the city’s new airport. We asked the finalists to send over their projects and are now showcasing them. The projects are quite interesting: the client requested that the building be visually permeable throughout, and the images that the architects are working with include arches, wings, gusts of wind, and even the “Pearl” painting by Vrubel, who was actually born in Omsk.

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Architecture and Leisure Park

For the suburban hotel complex, which envisages various formats of leisure, the architectural company T+T Architects proposed several types of accommodation, ranging from the classic “standard” in a common building to a “cave in the hill” and a “house in a tree”. An additional challenge consisted in integrating a few classic-style residences already existing on this territory into the “architectural forest park”.

Overview

The U-House

The Jois complex combines height with terraces, bringing the most expensive apartments from penthouses down to the bottom floors. The powerful iconic image of the U-shaped building is the result of the creative search for a new standard of living in high-rise buildings by the architects of “Genpro”.

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Black and White

In this article, we specifically discuss the interiors of the ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh. Interior design is a crucial component of the overall concept in this case, and precision and meticulous execution were highly important for the architects. Julia Tryaskina, head of UNK interiors, shares some of the developments.

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The “Snake” Mountain

The competition project for the seaside resort complex “Serpentine” combines several typologies: apartments of different classes, villas, and hotel rooms. For each of these typologies, the KPLN architects employ one of the images that are drawn from the natural environment – a serpentine road, a mountain stream, and rolling waves.

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Opal from Anna Mons’ Ring

The project of a small business center located near Tupolev Plaza and Radio Street proclaims the necessity of modern architecture in a specific area of Moscow commonly known as “Nemetskaya Sloboda” or “German settlement”. It substantiates its thesis with the thoroughness of details, a multitude of proposed and rejected form variants, and even a detailed description of the surrounding area. The project is interesting indeed, and it is even more interesting to see what will come of it.

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Feed ’Em All

A “House of Russian Cuisine” was designed and built by KROST Group at VDNKh for the “Rossiya” exhibition in record-breaking time. The pavilion is masterfully constructed in terms of the standards of modern public catering industry multiplied by the bustling cultural program of the exhibition, and it interprets the stylistically diverse character of VDNKh just as successfully. At the same time, much of its interior design can be traced back to the prototypes of the 1960s – so much so that even scenes from iconic Soviet movies of those years persistently come to mind.

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The Ensemble at the Mosque

OSA prepared a master plan for a district in the southern part of Derbent. The main task of the master plan is to initiate the formation of a modern comfortable environment in this city. The organization of residential areas is subordinated to the city’s spiritual center: depending on the location relative to the cathedral mosque, the houses are distinguished by façade and plastique solutions. The program also includes a “hospitality center”, administrative buildings, an educational cluster, and even an air bridge.

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Pargolovo Protestantism

A Protestant church is being built in St. Petersburg by the project of SLOI architects. One of the main features of the building is a wooden roof with 25-meter spans, which, among other things, forms the interior of the prayer hall. Also, there are other interesting details – we are telling you more about them.

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The Shape of the Inconceivable

The ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh brings to mind a famous maxim of all architects and critics: “You’ve come up with it? Now build it!” You rarely see such a selfless immersion in implementation of the project, and the formidable structural and engineering tasks set by UNK architects to themselves are presented here as an integral and important part of the architectural idea. The challenge matches the obliging status of the place – after all, it is an “exhibition of achievements”, and the pavilion is dedicated to the nuclear energy industry. Let’s take a closer look: from the outside, from the inside, and from the underside too.

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Rays of the Desert

A school for 1750 students is going to be built in Dubai, designed by IND Architects. The architects took into account the local specifics, and proposed a radial layout and spaces, in which the children will be comfortable throughout the day.

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The Dairy Theme

The concept of an office of a cheese-making company, designed for the enclosed area of a dairy factory, at least partially refers to industrial architecture. Perhaps that is why this concept is very simple, which seems the appropriate thing to do here. The building is enlivened by literally a couple of “master strokes”: the turning of the corner accentuates the entrance, and the shade of glass responds to the theme of “milk rivers” from Russian fairy tales.

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The Road to the Temple

Under a grant from the Small Towns Competition, the main street and temple area of the village of Nikolo-Berezovka near Neftekamsk has been improved. A consortium of APRELarchitects and Novaya Zemlya is turning the village into an open-air museum and integrating ruined buildings into public life.

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Towers Leaning Towards the Sun

The three towers of the residential complex “Novodanilovskaya 8” are new and the tallest neighbors of the Danilovsky Manufactory, “Fort”, and “Plaza”, complementing a whole cluster of modern buildings designed by renowned masters. At the same time, the towers are unique for this setting – they are residential, they are the tallest ones here, and they are located on a challenging site. In this article, we explore how architects Andrey Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova tackled this far-from-trivial task.