The lecture held on October, 15 on the main stage of the Central exhibition hall ‘Manezh’ was organized with the support of STAbility constructing company and Rheinzink company, and generated a lot of interest in the public visiting the show and Zodchestvo Festival. Over 300 people gathered to meet the representative of one of the leading international architectural companies and to learn about the most interesting projects, that it had recently completed.

Hubert Nienhoff titled his lecture ‘gmp – dialogue-based design: global projects – local identity’ – and the subject was not picked up on random. This year Zodchestvo Festival is held under ‘Russian architecture’ motto, implying special attention to issues of national identity, an issue well known to architects from gmp Architekten-von Gerkan, Marg und Partner. The bureau runs offices in dozens of countries across three continents and works successfully all over the world, including Russia, Brazil, South African Republic, India, Libya and China. There’s some certain specifics to such wide geography of practice too, connected, in the first place, with the need to bind and correlate universal aspects of contemporary architecture high quality standards with unique typological and national specifics of each project. Creating a truly bright and impressive architectural piece that meets high esthetic and constructional standards typical for all GMP works, only becomes possible when the balance is reached between global ideas and local specifics.

In addition to the analysis of interaction between global and local in contemporary architecture, Hubert Nienhoff presented before the public the whole typological range of projects developed at GMP bureau, partly debunking the myth of the bureau specializing solely on big scale sports facilities design. Sure enough, stadiums and big sport facilities take an important place in the bureau’s portfolio, but their other urbanistic projects are of no smaller interest, also their transport facilities, public and cultural buildings. All of them go through the same four basic principles through the design and planning stages – principles, coined by the founders of GMP, world famous architects Volkwin Marg and Meinhard Von Gerkan, which are: simplicity, diversity and unity, clarity, clear structural order. Implementation of these principles on practice, no matter the construction location, results in immediately recognizable architecture, inevitably distinct by its scale, special elegance, and discreet expression.

All sorts of architecture were presented in the exposition, from city planning and reconstructions to new housing, commercial and social projects, landscape architecture, works by young architects and children. Several summary shows of architectural reviews and contests, that had been hold in Russia through the year also took place within the course of the Festival – such as ‘Glass work in architecture’, ‘The House of the Year’, and ‘The House of XXI century’, all carried out with the support of The Union of Architects of Russia.

Two buildings by SPEECH Tchoban&Kuznetsov architectural workshop have hit the shortlist of Zodchestvo Festival Award this year (in ‘buildings’ category): an office building on Leninsky prospect, and a residential building ‘6 Granatny str’ – both received Diplomas from the Union of Architects of Russia.

Furthermore, speech magazine was awarded as the ‘best architectural source in print’ with a special Diploma for ‘best coverage of World architecture for the Russian reader’: speech magazine is created and printed at the initiative of the heads of SPEECH Tchoban&Kuznetsov bureau, Sergey Tchoban and Sergey Kuznetsov. It is a unique magazine in terms of its concept, subject relevance and timeliness, quality of editorial materials, print and design. Through the past 4 years the magazine has won respect of both professional community and common audience interested in the overlapping of contemporary architecture and culture.

Sergey Tchoban, the leading partner at SPEECH Tchoban&Kuznetsov was bestowed another award personally. The Union of Architects of Russia presented him with a medal for ‘high architectural mastery’ (V.I.Bazhenov medal), which is awarded to foreign and Russian architects personally for their work in the aggregate – to those who have proved through their work to be professionals of the highest level.

Links: ‘A Russian abyss’- a feature story by Anna Martovitskaya at ‘Architecture of Russia’
‘Predictable outcome’ - a feature story by Maria Sedova at ‘Architecture of Russia’

Duravit company is famous for stylish and high quality bathroom furniture and equipment, one of the key factors that help it take over the international market of luxury bathroom fixtures is calling for the best designers and architects to participate in designing the products. Among others the list includes such names as Philippe Starck, Norman Foster, Matteo Thun, Herbert Schutes, Christian Werner, EOOS, Phoenix Design, Sieger Design, now the list also includes a new name of Sergey Tchoban, an architect who works in Russia and Germany. Duravit came to Sergey Tchoban as early as in 2008. For the architect, who specializes in ‘big architecture’, yet designs every little detail, up to a door handle, this offer presented a great occasion to show an architectural approach to creating a well balanced space where the beauty of the shapes goes smoothly along with the technical perfection and masterly finishing.

Sergey Tchoban has chosen relaxed classics as the source of inspiration – those typical for object design and architecture of XVIII and XIX centuries, when bathrooms were seen not as a functional or service rooms where one spends only so much time, but rather as a living space, designed by the same principles of composition and comfort, just like other rooms of the house. Each and every detail of the bathroom becomes an object of design that plays its independent and individual role in shaping the space of the bathroom. A unique form and shape is found for every element, while its massiveness and laconism blend with grace and plasticity.

In Esplanade series there’s special attention given to the surfaces of the objects: there are two versions of the touch, each with its own strong character. Esplanade Oak goes with the finishing of fumed oak veneers, the respectable and authoritative look which is closer to furniture, while Esplanade Silk with a semigloss milky enamel finish creates a lighter, more airy impression and a look which is closer to traditional luxury bathroom equipment. Leather straps of dark brown, resembling fittings of old time suitcases, used as handles, add up as final strokes that complete the parade of textures in the series.

According Sergey Tchoban himself, it was important to him to underline the architectural routs of the new series’ design, its connection with principles and rules of how urban spaces are formed, where freedom and spaciousness blend perfectly with comfort and are properly scaled for a man. That is why he named the series ‘Esplanade’, which means a city square or a wide street meant for promenades and leisure time of the citizens.

The reason for initiation of public discussion of urgent for Russia ‘green’ issues was the design of the headquarters building of the company “Novatek”. At the site the agency SPEECH Tchoban&Kuznetsov implemented both a number of unique facade and design solutions and a set of engineering innovations aimed at improvement of energy efficiency of the climate control systems of the building. In particular, a double facade with the automatic system of sun blinds and a system of ‘cold ceiling’ by the Finnish company Halton had been applied. More about the headquarters building of the company “Novatek”.

In the course of the “Novatek” project the attitude to ‘green technologies’ of various market players appeared to be hardly called positive – beginning from obscure usage motivation, difficulties in sourcing of high-tech equipment, its installation and tooling, and finishing with problems with the official certification procedure according to international standards. In order to make the situation clear, to understand how typical it is for the modern construction market in Russia, as well as to exchange experience of current problems solving with colleagues and to try to determine the most likely scenario for future development the agency SPEECH Tchoban&Kuznetsov invited a number of leading specialists (designers, experts and engineers) to open, public conversation. The agency’s initiative was supported by recently founded National Agency for Sustainable Development and the Institute for Media, Architecture and Design “Strelka” whose yard held a round table on June, 20 attended by impressive audience of more than 150 architects, students and just people who are not indifferent to the issues raised.

Since all the experts invited to participate in the round table had practical experience in the use or promotion of ‘green technologies’ in Russia, the conversation was of definite and realistic nature. Instead of rather cloying massaging in the ‘radiantly’-enthusiastic tone of the idea to face the nature and join the rest of the civilized world having for a long time and consistently implemented at all the levels (government, entrepreneurial, social and public) the principles of sustainability, energy efficiency and ecology, the participants of the roundtable tried to make it clear with specific reference why neither the Russian government, business nor the society accept this idea seriously and categorically and, with very few exceptions, want to spend time and money to join the civilized world.

The discussion was opened by Alexei Panteleev - General Manager of “Prosperity Project Management”, one of the initiators and a member of Green Building Council Board. To enter the subject correctly, he gave a brief commentary on key terms of the ‘green’ theme, outlined the history of penetration of the ‘green ideology’ to the Russian market and analyzed the positive and negative factors influencing the development of this market segment.

Then the meeting was addressed by Roman Feoktistov, Chief Architect of the company AECOM who supervised the LEED certification of Russia's only facility having received the certificate, furthermore in the “Gold” category. Strange though it may appear but this object became neither an office nor a residential building but a factory of SKF Group producing railway bearings, located in the industrial area “Borolevo-2” in Tver. In addition to the story of considerable efforts required from designers and builders for the certification of the SKF plant, Roman made a separate report on the results of the LEED preliminary testing of the Olympic venues built in Sochi. Their certification is the obligatory condition imposed by the Olympic Committee, but at present the results are not comforting.

This was followed by two other architects – Anton Nadtochy, General Manager of the agency “Atrium” and Sergei Kuznetsov, Managing Partner of SPEECH Tchoban&Kuznetsov. The first speaker told about the influence of the ‘green’ ideology on the agency’s operations as well as the history of the project of a multifunctional complex “Barkli Park” on Soviet Army Street the rating of which the developer company decided to increase with the LEED certification. To tell the truth, the next step of the house rating increasing became the invitation to design several interiors by Philippe Stark in it, following which in all the advertisings the architecture of the project was also attributed to the star designer. Sergei Kuznetsov dedicated his speech to the analysis of the interrelation of high-quality, beautiful architecture and its relevance to the principles of efficiency, which in his opinion are inextricably intertwined. As an instance Sergei mentioned the headquarters of the company "Novatek" working on which the designers naturally proceeded from a thorough study of the planning structure, constructions, and the external envelope of the building to the thoughtful engineering outfitting and interior design.

After that the floor was taken by a guest of the roundtable – Steffen Sendler representing a German company “Dress & Sommer”. He described the experience of his company on designing and building of its own headquarters in accordance with the requirements of ecological compatibility and energy efficiency and the results in energy and resources saving achieved. In particular, according to Sendler, the expenses for additional engineering equipment paid for themselves within two years of the building operation.

The final report was perhaps the most interesting. The floor was taken by Heating Engineer Olga Gvozdeva – a project manager for planning and management of engineering infrastructure in the Department of Planning and Management of the territory of the Innovation Center “Skolkovo”. On the territory of “Skolkovo” the most large-scale experiment in our country on global implementation of energy efficient and resource-saving technologies into construction will be launched in the nearest future. Almost all the buildings to be built will have to consume 4 times less energy (electricity and heat) than it is customary under the Russian regulations. This was the bar for developers made by the authors of the urban planning concept – French architects from the agency AREP.

By the end of the round table the weather deteriorated sharply and immediately after Olga Gvozdeva’s speech the most persistent and interested part of the audience together with experts moved under the roof to a large lecture hall of the Institute “Strelka” to continue the conversation, but in the answer-the-questions format. The change of dislocation revived the dialogue. The participants overwhelmed the experts with questions and even argue with them in certain positions defending their point of view - for example, the appropriateness of glass usage of in the ‘green architecture’. In total the event lasted for three hours instead of two and, if not the necessity to vacate the premises, the debate could easily go on further.

It is evident that the issue of ‘green technologies’ requires transition from abstract rhetoric to serious and professional discussion. So, the first round table organized by the agency SPEECH Tchoban&Kuznetsov and National Agency for Sustainable Development will not be the only one and the conversation will continue.

As usual, the highlight of the presentation of the new issue of the magazine speech: was a master class from a famous architect. This time the lecturer was the Danish architect Kim Herforth Nielsen, the founder of 3XN. Small in area but marvelously beautiful Scandinavian country, Denmark dwells in close bonding with water, especially the sea, gracious and yet demanding, on which shores the Danes would build their houses since olden days. Now these aboriginal ties are not severed, but augmented. 3XN architects build projects in Denmark, as well as in other countries, showing special sensitiveness to solutions where water plays one of the important roles. Kim Herforth Nielsen was pleased to share with the guests of the speech: presentation on his special perception of the architecture at water, implemented in many projects and edifices, which received many world rewards.

Strelka’s hospitable yard could seat more guests than usually. The most modest estimates allow to say that the presentation of the seventh issue of the speech: was visited by at least 400 guests, prevalently the youth, students and young architects and designers, for whom Strelka is going up with a special “Summer program” – a series of lectures, presentations and concerts. For more detailed information, please, visit: www.strelkainstitute.com