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Three Finalists Announced for Moscow’s Ukraina Hotel Entryway Competition

Turkey Architecture News - Mar 12, 2014 - 21:22   3792 views

Three Finalists Announced for Moscow’s Ukraina Hotel Entryway Competition

The three finalists for Moscow’s Ukraina Hotel entryway competition were announced: TPO Lesosplav in cooperation with Malishev Wilson Engineers (UK), ABD Architects (Russia) in cooperation with Werner Sobek Moskwa (Russia), and Studio 44 (Russia).

The competition was commissioned to conceive an architectural concept for the design of the historic Ukraina Hotel main entrance. Built in the 1950’s, the Ukraina Hotel is one the seven Soviet skyscrapers, also known as the “sisters.” In 2005, Ukraina Hotel was listed as a building of cultural and historical heritage.

Because of the complexity of the task, to respect Moscow’s Stalinist architectural heritage while providing an entryway that could serve as a business card for the hotel itself, an open international competition was initiated on February 15, 2013 by Sergey Kuznetsov, Chief Architect of Moscow.

According to Sergey Kuznetsov, “many members of the jury noted that the choice was difficult to make. There was a wide variety of quality projects, but not all of the participants managed to address all the tasks set in the competition brief.” “I think the finalists fully reflected the goal initially proposed by the competition.”

Three Finalists Announced for Moscow’s Ukraina Hotel Entryway Competition

TPO Lesosplav in cooperation with Malishev Wilson Engineers proposed a ribbon-like awning:

The proposed concept for the new entryway for the hotel solves several of the main tasks: it is independent in constructive and stylistic terms and yet it does not dissonant in its composition alongside the existing architectural monument. The installation not only fulfills its practical function as a protective canopy, but at the same time it is a piece of modern design in its own right which works in contrast with the historical building. It creates a dialogue between the old and the new and on a variety of levels; including in terms of rhythm, scale and material.”

Three Finalists Announced for Moscow’s Ukraina Hotel Entryway Competition

ABD Architects in cooperation with Werner Sobek Moskwa proposed a constantly illuminated rectangular “blade” over the entrance:

The main task of an architectural proposal for an entry canopy was the creation of an structure which would not make a negative impact on the façade and also wouldn’t violate the compositional structure of the building. In our view, the architecture of the new structure should be neutral, visually light and should not engage in a dialogue with the building. The awning over the entrance, designed in the form of rectangular plate, or ‘blade’, covers the entrance area and access ramps. It is free of visible support which visually lightens the structure, making it weightless. As it is planned that the canopy be equipped with a constantly illuminated inner surface, it will be perceived as a large rectangular, though extremely thin lamp, hovering in the air.”

Three Finalists Announced for Moscow’s Ukraina Hotel Entryway Competition

Studio 44 proposed an awning inspired by a traditional symbol of Russian hospitality, the “rushnik”:

“The Ukraina Hotel entryway awning is a 112 long metal sheet, or ‘rushnik’, hanging between two massive propylaea in a slight downward curve (a „rushnik„ is an embroidered towel traditionally used to offer bread and salt to guests welcomed to one’s home in Russia and other Eastern European countries). The propylaea are made from square blocks of cast iron (6 m x 6m).“ “A tectonic structure and imagery strikingly different from the order of the original building helps the avant-portico avoid being either in confrontation with or contraposition to the hotel building. It is neither in contrast to or flirtation with the original building; but rather it is neutral, in „exterritoriality„ and autonomy.“

The international jury included: Sergey Kuzentsov — Chief Architect of Moscow, First Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Committee for Architecture and Urban Development; Anna Bronovitskaya — Historian of architecture, Associate Professor at the Moscow Institute of Architecture; Alexander Kibovsky — Minister of Moscow government, Head of the Department of Cultural Heritage of Moscow; Arild Hovland — Senior VP for business development at Rezidor in Russia and CIS; Narine Tutcheva — Architect, Head of Rozhdestvenka Architectural Bureau; Knut Goppert — Structural Engineer, Managing Director at Schlaich Bergermann und Partner.

The jury appreciated the projects of the finalists for creating a new symbol for the hotel, while respecting Moscow’s architectural heritage. Chosen out of 10 competing proposals, now one of the three finalists projects will be implemented by the client.

The competition was commissioned by Ukraina Hotel with consultancy provided by KB Strelka. It was organized with the support of Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning, as well as the Department of Cultural Heritage of Moscow and the Union of Moscow Architects.

> via archsovet.msk.ru