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“The roof exited again…” (Nikolai Malinin, headquartered number 2 (42)

The word “roof” is used today in three cases. When it flows (the roof as such), when it goes (at the same time, when not all houses) and when the bump (the roof in the sense of “protector”). In this building the architect Asadov managed to materialize all three values at once. Case in the history of Russian architecture unique.
Uniqueness of the emergence of the roof: it was the result of an architectural competition. Alien say “what about that?”, But in Russia is extremely rare occasions when the winner of the contest represents your project. Normally it or move, or process the project to full recognition, or nothing construct. But hit face in the dirt was not: the customers themselves boots were shoemakers. In 2002, the Union of Architects has announced a friendly competition for the reconstruction of the building, where sits his reign. Under the “reconstruction” means of course “the demolition of the re-establishment”, as well as the construction of an additional amount that will be transferred to the investor. That is, the roof is not only patron, but also the breadwinner.
Contest, despite the fact that he was invited to the proven masters, demonstrated a complete lack of uniformity of views. There were quite Luzhkov pobryakuhi Zakharova, and unbridled modernism Andrei Taranov, and unexpected by Alexander Skokan inversion (the old volume is not restored, but only stood solid in the body of the new glazing), and the most attentive to the spirit of the place was Alexander Larin. Who proposed a kind of paraphrase on the House of the architect – as he almost opposite. But the logic of the jury seemed too obvious, or simply gone are the days of allusions and reminiscences. Union of Russia and the so-ever accused of moss, and here was a rare occasion to express its progressiveness, and more than that: create a logo. In general, won Asadov.
Winning project is not only honest bred the old and new (which is considered good form, though rarely is reserved the blackness), but also put them on the hard contrast. There – weight, here – transparency; there – direct, here – crooked; there – stucco decor, here – patinated copper. It was very impressive, but once again arose sacramental question: Who needs this replica? But such questions provoke Union considers itself may not (but who, if not him?) And then, to somehow smooth out the contrast, Asadov resorted to his favorite “wave”. The topic of “new”, smoothly covering the “old” sounds in his work already for 15 years, and now found herself the perfect application. Cover covered, but not sunk.
With a wave of the project has not changed, but got integrity. Instead of separate volumes – one powerful line, which, as a wave and it should be, then rises (east facade), then falls off (rear), then divided by the breakwater (west), then runs to the shore mackerel (peak). And all this – no decoration, but complicated curved hull (inside – the monolith from the outside – copper), which for Moscow, especially after the collapse of the water park, a thing totally unique.
The most fashionable trend today – Biomorphic architecture – the first time in Moscow rang so clearly and strongly. He immediately pulled a chain of associations: a concert hall in Rouen, Perrault, an art center Gehry in New York, the church Meier in Rome, a country house of Anton and Vera Butko Nadtochy … this series seems to be here for anything, but the justification for Admission – completely local: this is the usual copper roof, what about full. Simply, it has grown to unprecedented proportions. But at the same time – thanks to a mild form – not to crush others, a green logically fitted into the park.
True, an elite school, behind the building, asked the amount of copper still lower and the rear facade of the copper was only a quarter. But it went to him only for the benefit of creating an elegant counterpoint. Another counterpoint were two arcs, striking variance in different planes: one arc – rear facade, and the other – a fragment of an extension to the same school, made the same Asadov 10 years ago. The same theme also supports the main facade, smoothly around the “old” house and “approach the” street to a sharp nose. As a result of bending on the roof of the house formed a pleasant terrace with an unexpected defect – a hole in the roof. Will Need to visually facilitate the copper hood, resulting (due to structural features) and really hard.
But this is the only thing you can blame the building. Inside – absolutely wonderful space, which did not dream Leonid Ilyich, whose famous sixth floor with a non-standard height – exactly the opposite. It’s funny: that he “tsekovsky” House that this constrained by various limitations (there had to be building in 1885 to build anew, there is – to represent “ordinary” house), but that there that there architects consistently looking for opportunities to extend the space to climb the third dimension. But the most radical “lazatelem” should recognize Andrei Burov, which houses architects, produced the facade of a building with frescoes by Pietro della Francesca.
Could not reflect on the tragic fate of the architect. In 1938 (the year speaks for itself) Burov embodies the rock alien fantasy, for it symbolizes freedom, light, history – all of which he was deprived. In 1978 another architect (his name I do not know) is building a house with an apartment for the first person in the country, and all that he can afford – to push the meter ceilings. Finally, in 2005, architects are building their own house – a bold, innovative, radical – but can not afford to keep it for the logo. Because all that bold and radical, belongs to the investor, and their share – a modest meaningless “replica”.