Architectural Council has supported conservation of constructivist ATS in hotel project

“Architectural Bureau AI” has suggested reconstruction of existing constructivist ATS building at Bakuninskaya Street to be used as a hotel and apartments, conserving the old building and constructing a new volume floating above it.

Renovation project for the building of former ATS at Bakuninskaya Street, 5, bld. 3, has been developed according to an urban land development plan, providing for creation of a hotel, apartments for longtime accommodation and retail function with total area of 17 thous. sq.m and maximum height of 45 m. Though the building, constructed in 1927-1928, has no conservation status, the project provides for its preservation.

ATS is of T-shaped layout — upon the project its front part is to be renewed according to the archive materials in initial color — with vertical wine-colored stripes (now the building is completely grey) and authentic window sashes. Retail and hotel lobby are provided for in this main part, supposedly, as an atrium with two tiers of windows and stairs inspired by 1920s.

Modern volume literally hangs over the ATS, standing out with a console and separating visually with a spatial “break”. As opposed to the lower historic part, where concrete and plaster are preserved, tinted glass as well as panels of fibre reinforced concrete are mainly used for the upper part.

The old and the new parts are also divided by function: the lower part — apartments, the upper part — three-star hotel, for creation of which the project designers suggest dismantling of elongated part of the old building behind the façade.

The Architectural Council hasn’t approved even a fragmentary dismantling and recommended that the designers look for an option with entire building reconstruction, the new function being included. For instance, as loft apartments, which may fit into the former industrial interiors, according to Vladimir Plotkin. For such options deficient areas may be compensated by the height, the Architectural Council pointed out.

The project has been recognized as an interesting, but risky one. Sergey Choban, for instance, spoke against the version with additional structure in general, and according to him, a 45 m volume behind ATS at the back of the land plot would be a better option. Nikolay Shumakov, Aleksandr Kudryavtsev and Vladimir Plotkin considered the project promising, and suggested following the second proposed option, which looks lighter and more “aerial”. It is also recommended that signs “Telegraph” — “Phone”, being representative of the style, should be restored on the front. Aleksandr Kudryavtsev also suggested developing of a full-fledged renovation design as part of the project.

“The case is indeed analogous to the one of Taganskaya ATS, — stated the council chief, the chief architect of Moscow Sergey Kuznetsov. — But a huge progress can be observed here — the main conceptual part of the building is to be conserved. Nevertheless, the risks mentioned at the board shall be additionally inspected. As we think that today it is impossible to approve dismantling even of a part of such building”.

According to Sergey Kuznetsov, no decision will be made unless all possibilities for work with the existent building being completely conserved, are checked. By the chief architect’s estimate, additional consideration is likely to be arranged as work proceeds within a month.