Archcouncil Supported Development of Public Space in Project for Ostozhenka, bld. 4-6

The Architectural Council reassessed the mixed-use complex project at Ostozhenka, bld. 4-6. The team of architects for the project has been changed — now it’s Buromoscow that produced their project version focusing on the development of public spaces and abandoned facade design in pseudo classical style.

The construction site is adjacent to the territory of the Red Chambers — the XVII century monument — that separate it from the square situated in front of Kropotkinskaya Metro Station. On Ostozhenka Street, there are two historic houses: No. 6, which does not have the status of a monument and is subject to reconstruction with recreation of the front wall —there will be the main building with apartments and commercial premises on the ground floor. The adjacent house No. 4 was declared under the protection and is to be recreated in its original form under Buromoscow’s project.

The characteristic feature of Buromoscow’s approach to the project, first of all, is that they focus on the formation of public urban space around the buildings. Thus, a yard behind the Red Chambers and a small recreation area next to the Chambers are planned to be added to the landscaped area around the monument to Friedrich Engels.

The main building No. 6 is U-shaped with the main entrance from the courtyard and one more entrance from Ostozhenka Street. The last fifth floor of the house is shifted inwards, which forms consoles overhanging in the direction of the adjoining building No. 4. From the other side, the ends of the U-shaped building are made in “comb” pattern to avoid “window to window” effect.

Buromoscow presented two design variants for No. 6 building facades that differ in density of their parts. The architects decided to use the classic windows and design features from the surrounding buildings and place them in layers above the recreated facade. Buromoscow suggested that natural stone should be used as material, whereas the lower part should be made of bonding cement resembling plaster material that is typical for Ostozhenka Street.

There will be a three-level underground space with parking and commercial premises under houses No. 6 and No. 4.

Buromoscow also made proposal concerning the territory of the Red Chambers, which is not included directly in this project, but is a key part of the “cascade” of new public spaces in the territory between Ostozhenka and Prechistenka Street. Under this project, the rear facade of the chambers is to be opened and all technical equipment, which is now in the Soviet annex building (and cannot be placed directly in the landmark building), is to be transferred into a light glass pavilion, adjacent to the chambers from the courtyard side. Near the structure there will be an entrance to the underground level of the new complex.

The Archcouncil members pointed out the obvious progress that the project achieved as compared to the previous version. First of all, it’s connected with the development of the urban space, which was supported unanimously. According to the Chairman of the Council and the Chief Architect of Moscow, Sergey Kuznetsov, some issues related to land use and heritage conservation require improvement. In particular, Andrey Gnezdilov drew attention to the problem of the use of the “firewall” of house No.6, which faces the adjacent dental clinic and has windows under Buromoscow’s project.

Also, the architects recommended to clarify the issues related to recreation of house No. 4 in cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Department, because, according to Rustam Rakhmatullin, coordinator of Arhnadzor, the regulations specifying the restoration of this building provide for restoration of the facades, ie, their physical preservation rather than recreation.

According to Kuznetsov, the project will be finalized in due course.