Monumental forms
Megabudka Architects believes one of the most important issues of modern architecture in Russia is the lack of identity. Nowadays, Russian architects often imitate contemporary colleagues from other countries. As a result, national identity is completely absent in the newly created environment.
The studio carried out research and, as a result, developed their own vision of what they consider is a New Russian Style. The created architectural style is not artificial, but is based on rethinking the cultural and value aspects inherent in the national architecture and mentality. The approach was developed with the participation of a number of modern designers and architects, systematised and turned into a determinant of Russian design.
The Hospitality Center building complex is located at the starting point of the circular driveway, when entering from the public car park. The circular route through the park begins from here, and the complex guides visitors to choose the direction of travel without additional navigation. To enhance the effect, the first block of the building is turned towards the predicted movement of guests. The buildings are shifted relative to the central axis of the entrance so as not to block the perspective view of the iconic landmark of the park – the Fortress.
The complex consists of separate blocks of different height. Each volume has its own function. The volumes form a cozy, comfortable-scale building front, reminiscent of a fragment of a street in the old city. In the future, it is planned to complete the construction with the next blocks of different functions. This will complete the composition of the entire complex and will allow the owners, together with the bureau, to think over the best strategy for responding to the possible requests of park visitors.
All blocks stand on a single stylobate, they are united by a wooden terrace on the roof. The high stylobate part is given over to technical and storage spaces and is partially hidden in the relief. Thanks to the use of relief differences, the terrace becomes an observation platform from which dramatic vivid views of the pond, the fortress and the fire-breathing sculpture of Gorynych (a folk hero of Russian fairy tales) which is one of the main attractions of the park, open up. The obtuse shape of the stylobate hangs over the tall grass, resembling the Ladya (a sailing-oared river vessel used in Ancient Rus).
The facade is made of ebony. Black – the colour of the board burned out under the sun – is the true colour of Russian wooden architecture. The volume of the building, regardless of the season, works well with the landscape: on the white snow it looks as epic as possible, and in the warm season it merges with the line of tree trunks of the surrounding forest. The combination of architectural techniques dilutes the monumental forms of the buildings of the complex. Architectural ornaments of triangular windows, various lattices, belts, cracks, a variety of ways of laying boards, thinning and, of course, proportions with the character of prowess – these are some of the methods of a new interpretation of the architecture of the Russian Izba. We took into consideration the degradation of buildings, as if they were being built by a Russian peasant, eventually completing the required volumes, based on his changing preferences and tastes.
