Architecton Residential Complex | ARCHINFORM Architectural Bureau

Why ARCHITECTON?

Not so long ago, the construction of the Architecton residential complex in Yekaterinburg was completed. The site on which this facility appeared is notable for its history: previously, the building of the Ural Regional Industrial and Economic College, PROMECT, was located here. Built in 1930 as a college of Soviet trade during the Great Patriotic War, it was used as a hospital, and after the collapse of the USSR, the building was transferred to commercial structures and functioned for a long time as a business center.

Despite its rich history, the object did not have the status of an architectural monument. Nevertheless, its demolition caused a wave of public indignation: in the eyes of many citizens, the building had a certain value — even if not as a unique architectural structure, but as a pleasant environmental object.

As architects, we find ourselves in a difficult situation. Although the customer turned to us for the design of a new residential complex after the demolition of the old building, the karma over this place was heavy. It was clear that any new construction on this site would be negatively perceived by the residents. And, probably, it was easier to step aside altogether and refuse to participate in the project. However, in our opinion, it is much more professional and responsible to find and propose the right architectural and urban planning solution in the current conditions. Moreover, we knew the history of the city well and understood the context. And it became an interesting challenge for us.

On the one hand, we had to design an apartment building that is quite utilitarian in its function, on the other hand, we had to find a unique architectural solution that would be organic to space and time, as well as give residents a sense of historical connection between the memory of the place and the new object.

Working with the architectural and cultural context is of key importance. Despite the fact that the demolished building was not an architectural monument, history dates us back to the era of constructivism — this is a particularly significant element of Yekaterinburg's cultural identity.

The architecture of constructivism represented the most progressive architectural trend of its time and developed as an experiment with the function, form and design of buildings. Such experimental models in the 20s of the last century were called "Architectons" and demonstrated new functional and constructive possibilities of buildings. And it was this metaphor that we used as the basis for the architectural solution of our project. In the process, it was important for us not to ignore the story, but to rethink it.

Is it possible today to create an organic new in place of the lost, which does not copy the past, but enters into a dialogue with it?

This is how the idea of a new "Architecton" appeared — an architectural statement reflecting the spirit of the place.

The image of the new building is formed by a composition of large masses, where the sections of the apartment building, intersecting perpendicularly, lean on each other at a height of 12 floors, forming a kind of giant portal connecting the external and internal spaces of the complex. This creates a special drama of intense interaction between two volumes, one of which is solved by a linearly dissected facade matrix, and the other represents a continuous broken glass surface.

Of course, the scale and materials of the complex are modern, but the tectonics and the very principle of working with the form refer us to the architecture of the Soviet avant—garde.

And it is especially important for us that, judging by the large number of complementary reviews from completely different people, the residents of the city accepted this building, which means it organically fits into the cultural pattern and the urban landscape.

Thus, the history of constructivism in Yekaterinburg continued and acquired a new original, relevant and functional solution.