SPbGASU representatives became winners of the Brick Competition
SPbGASU representatives won prizes at the Brick Competition 2021. Its results were summed up in early December in Kazan as part of the First All-Russian Architectural and Construction Forum Kazanysh.
The brick competition is held to advance brick as a building material that is increasingly in demand all over the world, as well as to develop new approaches in architecture based on the centuries-old heritage of brick architecture. Participants give their own suggestions of the "brick style" and get the opportunity to learn the history, modern masonry technologies and the nomenclature of bricks through online consultations. The competition is held in a "paper" format and does not involve implementation of the winning projects, but the proposals are considered by the jury with all rigor - as if the implementation was planned.
The competition is organized by Project Baltia magazine and Architile company. Its participants can be architects under the age of 30, including students of specialized universities.
1. Elizaveta Dvorschenko, 2. Natalia Gribanova, 3. Anastasia Lungu
The Grand Prix was won by graduates of the Faculty of Architecture Elizaveta Dvorshchenko and Boris Gusev. They developed the concept of a crematorium on the territory of Tuchkov Buyan in St. Petersburg called "Limb".
The best project in the nomination "Brick interior" was the Ceremonial complex of graduates of the Faculty of Architecture Olesya Drozdova and Daria Pyatnitskaya.
Second place in the Brick Public Space nomination was taken by Natalia Gribanova, a master student of the SPbGASU Faculty of Architecture (co-authored with Vitalina Barysheva from the Ural State University of Architecture and Art) with her project "Vodopol'e. Museum of the Iya river"; third place in the nomination "Brick Interior" was taken by graduate Anastasia Lungu with the work "Museum of Optics and Light"; and third place in the Brick City House nomination was taken by a creative team consisting of Vera Kuznetsova, SPbGASU graduate,Sergei Dzyuba, a master student of the Faculty of Architecture, and Arseniy Kovalev, master student of the Mining University, with the project "Schiaparelli's House".
"Architecture of death": change of the worldview
The crematorium, designed by Elizaveta Dvorshchenko and Boris Gusev, is a narrow construction stretched along the banks of the Malaya Neva like a corridor. All technical and service premises (administration, waiting room, staff room, coffin storage and oven) are located in its underground part. On the surface, only the entrance, the columbarium and the bridge over a small channel are visible. An important part of the site is the wall, each brick of which symbolizes the memory of the deceased. In addition, according to the authors, when going upstairs after the farewell ceremony, a person should smell the trees and hear the rustle of leaves: for this, a park is provided on the territory of the complex.
Project by Elizaveta Dvorshchenko and Boris Gusev. 1. Interior and main entrance, 2. Columbarium, bridge, general view
Graduates believe that their project will help to reconsider the attitude towards mourning objects as something terrible and repulsive, and in a modern city they need to be integrated into the landscape fabric.
Olesya Drozdova and Daria Pyatnitskaya chose a similar facility for design. “The topic of death in our country is a taboo,” Daria explains this decision.
Project by Olesya Drozdova and Daria Pyatnitskaya. Entry group
The ceremonial complex includes farewell halls, a columbarium of modular towers, a religious area, technical and auxiliary rooms, as well as a dining area with a kitchen. The entrance area is an extended space with a lot of light entering through the lanterns in the vaults of the building. The authors are sure that this has a positive effect on the emotional state of a person and creates the necessary calm atmosphere here. In the halls of farewell, smooth architectural lines and water tanks contribute to this. Leaving the farewell hall, the visitor finds himself in a green garden, which also reduces psychological stress.
Project by Olesya Drozdova and Daria Pyatnitskaya. 1. Hall of farewell, 2. Columbarium
The experience of such a rethinking of architecture and work with the themes of death and memory can be found in the world practice. Thus, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York, dedicated to the victims of the 2001 terrorist attack at the World Trade Center, was conceived by architects as a space that combines mourning and recreational functions at the same time. In addition to the pools with the names of the victims engraved on the edges, standing on the site of the twin towers, the complex has a large park with places to relax. Located in the city center, the memorial is part of the environment, which, according to the creators, helps to remove the stigma from a difficult conversation about a tragic event.
The jury distinguished the approach of young architects. “There is a reaction to the drama of the last two years in the projects, and such a response seems very convincing,” says Vladimir Frolov, editor-in-chief of Project Baltia magazine, emphasizing the poetic art form of the work.
Symbiosis of nature and culture
Natalia Gribanova and Vitalina Barysheva drew attention to the problem of natural disasters with their project, choosing a natural reserve in the Iya River in the city of Tulun, Irkutsk Region, for work. In 2019, one of the most serious floods in modern Russia occurred here. Prevention of such disasters, according to the authors, is possible through the creation of secondary channels and sustainable infrastructure.
Project by Natalia Gribanova and Vitalina Barysheva. Object perspective
The museum is dedicated to the river - the main water resource of the city, and the environment of the region. In addition, the object can serve as a platform for social interaction and integration of different traditions. Based on the ethnic heterogeneity of the region, the museum will bring together representatives of all nationalities, becoming a symbiosis between nature and architecture.
The use of bricks here is not accidental: from the 17th century all government buildings were built from this material. Stylistically starting from the traditional handicrafts of various nationalities, including Russians, Buryats and Evenks, the authors divided the facade of the building into modules using different types of brickwork.
The territory includes a museum, a pier and an observation deck, where there is a 30-meter wooden tower with an openwork finish that emphasizes its main function - observation of nature, its inhabitants and "big water", as well as pavilions inspired by the traditional buildings of the peoples of the region.
Project by Natalia Gribanova and Vitalina Barysheva. 1. Interior of the museum, 2. Yard
“During the flood, the tower and the site itself are partially submerged, which allows visitors to interact with natural phenomena and feel them directly,” says Natalia Gribanova.
According to the concept, museum guests begin their journey through it from a dark space illuminated by a projection depicting a river. There is an exposition dedicated to flooding. Then visitors enter the round hall, where the memories of eyewitnesses of the disaster are imprinted, and in the center of the hall there is a garden with typical plants of the Irkutsk region, where you can relax. The final exposition is located on the green roof of the building. All this helps visitors to think about the scale of the problem.
“While working on the concept, I learned a lot about the Irkutsk region, its inhabitants, culture and traditions. It was interesting to take part in the competition, as teams from different cities, architectural bureaus and universities participated in it. I want to thank Irina Shkolnikova, Associate Professor of the Department of the Architectural Environment Design: Irina Grigorievna gave me a lot at the design and completion stages. When I was exhausted, she directed me in the right way and supported me, ”Natalia sums up her competitive experience.
New life of the Lutheran church
Anastasia Lungu chose an inactive Lutheran church in Priozersk, Leningrad Region, as an object for design. In her opinion, it is not advisable to revive the original religious function of the building, since today there is practically no Lutheran community in the city, and a scientific and cultural center with a museum of optics and light can be located on this territory. However, its concept will refer to the history of the place.
Project by Anastasia Lungu. Diagram of the museum in cross section
The main intervention in the existing interior will be the appearance of a multi-level prefabricated metal structure. This will maximize the use of the dimensions of the room. The space between the structure beams will be filled with frosted, colored and ordinary glass in the manner of church stained glass. At the same time, colored glasses, according to Anastasia's plan, should clearly illustrate the RGB color model. The graduate believes that in this way the public space will help to popularize science without losing touch with her past.
Project by Anastasia Lungu. Museum interior
In the museum you can learn about the history of optics, optical phenomena, devices, properties of light. An educational component has also been conceived: studios for digital holography, video projections, and drawing with fluorescent paints are provided. Being engaged in them, people will be able to contribute to the exhibition fund of the museum. At the same time, educational activity is provided throughout the day: an observation deck, an exhibition of holograms, a hall of fluorescent paintings can be visited at any time of the day due to the fact that they are equipped with opaque screens. In the evening, it is convenient to hold light shows, concerts and theatrical performances.
“In the process of searching for ideas, I learned about the Museum of Digital Art in Tokyo (teamLab Museum). It simply amazed me and served as inspiration for the project,” says Anastasia.
Text: Aleksandra Podolnikova
Photos: Irina Shkolnikova, Elizaveta Dvorschenko, Darya Pyatnitskaya, Natalia Gribanova and Anastasia Lungu
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