The concept of a social center and a kindergarten in New Moscow, and a landscaping in between. The project uniquely combines modern architecture and the poetics of a village near Moscow. Maximally simple volumes, “decorated” with a system of canopies and terraces. Median friendly scale in a diverse environment of skyscrapers and private houses. The image of the objects is a synthesis of village, city and nature. The project is located in a contrasting multi-scale suburban environment, where tall high-rise apartment buildings are adjacent to low-rise private homes. The Social center and the garden become a bright, human-scaled space, which sets the atmosphere of friendliness and kindness not only because of its functionality – after all, the kindergarten and social center are warm, friendly people and pleasant associations, but also because of the architectural volume.
2022
New Moscow
7,650 m2
Concept
Urban public buildings form a framework of public spaces – a system of three areas: urban, children’s and aquatic, forming a place suitable for different ages and activities. The Social center is a multifunctional volume, as simple as possible in construction and in the volumetric and spatial structure. The rectangle with sides 18 x 72 meters and 8 meters spacing of columns. The functional specificity of the library is achieved by the programming of the activities, the design of the first floor and the surrounding area. The first floor of the building consists of four separate blocks with different functions with a system of independent entrances. An elaborate system of canopies and terraces connects the library with its surroundings. In winter the library “shrinks” to a warm contour, and in summer the terraces “increase” in volume by 2 times. There are flexible spaces for sports, co-working spaces, and public lounges on the 2nd and 3rd floors. A multi-light atrium links and unites the different functional areas, becoming the core of the community. The roof of the building is exploited and contains a sport area and an observation deck.
The kindergarten is built on the image of a small village, united by a single covered courtyard. The area of the kindergarten, standing on a large drop in relief, turned into a new playscape. Relief and retaining walls are used to control access and saturate the area with different spatial experiences. A central space with a ramp and multilevel playgrounds overlooks the neighborhood’s main square with a huge stained-glass window, visually integrating it into its surroundings. Some areas of the kindergarten serve as a creative club spaces, they are equipped with a separate entrance and are open to neighborhood residents on weekends – a solution that allows the building to be open not only to preschoolers, but also to older children and their families. Thus, the garden becomes not only an important functional space, a striking visual object of the neighborhood, but also expands leisure opportunities for young residents.
