Saint Petersburg-based architecture and interior design studio DA bureau has revived an abandoned mansion's courtyard with a temporary pop-up space in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Named The Third Place, the project is situated in a historic mansion in the centre of St. Petersburg, where the Lopukhins and Naryshkin lived before the revolution; during the soviet era a railway museum was located here; the building has been abandoned for the past 15 years.

The studio was responsible for major reconstruction of the building by maintaining the authenticity of the building to be preserved and supplemented with contrasting modern elements.

The architects intended to create a temporary pop-up space in the courtyard of the building to contribute to people's acquaintance with the new city cluster.

The team carefully restored the historical facades of the building by preserving the identity of the existing structure. According to the architects, the building's "current condition undoubtedly carries a certain aesthetic quality."

"Therefore the atmosphere reminding that of ancient ruins has become one of the main zests of the courtyard," they added.

As the team highlights, the idea of using oysters served as protagonists to design this pop-up project. 

"Therefore we conceived an idea to combine the aesthetics of the mansion's abandoned courtyard with an allusion to a rugged northern beach of Aquitaine, the home of oysters," they added.

"One can see white sand here, with wooden bridging slightly raised above it, along with reeds brought from the Gulf of Finland. This view serves as a background for the bright and contrasting art objects and food corners."

The architects covered one of the façades which is currently being reconstructed with a reflective foil curtain that creates a bright and festive atmosphere. 

One can get to the courtyard by 'plunging' into an arch in Liteiny Avenue. The bustling and noisy atmosphere of the street is immediately changed for a quiet measured mood of the northern seashore.

Plan

Axonometric 

Project facts

Project name: The Third Place 

Architects: DA bureau

Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Year: 2020

All images © Sergey Melnikov.

All drawings © DA bureau.

> via DA bureau