View from within: A Mix of French with Nizhny Novgorod

Though opinions on the organization of such architectural competitions are not completely shared, and to predetermine that courageous foreign imaginations will be embodied in reality is still early, nevertheless, now St. Petersburg together with rich regions can flaunt such names as Norman Foster, Kise Kurokava and others. And private developers involve foreign architects in the construction of mixed commercial premises even more than city authorities – from globally known Eric Van Egeraata and Ricardo Bofill to high quality and highly specialized western bureaus.

But grinding in original ideas to local building specifications and business customs is not completely simple. St. Petersburg architects too are not always happy to cooperate with foreign colleagues and are not ready to perceive them in the role of condescending preachers. Because of the lack of mutual understanding, the realization of some extremely interesting projects both in the cultural and the commercial sphere have been postponed for years. It is clear that the city cannot develop architectural plans without integration into the international creative environment. However the question is, how many foreign architects will take root in modern St. Petersburg and how will contact with them be established.

An interesting historical parallel is explained by one of St. Petersburg’s venerable architects, head of architectural workshop Studio 44 Nikita Yavein: "there Is a myth that St. Petersburg is constructed by foreigners. I have not heard greater nonsense. There is no other European capital in which foreigners have built so little as in St. Petersburg. Creations of foreign stars are very few: a Chapel constructed under a project by Shenkel in Alexandria near Peterhof, the construction of the German embassy by architect Berrens and the "New Hermitage," by Leo Fon Klentse. We consider Rossi an Italian architect, in fact his mother is German, and his father is unknown. At five years old he moved to Paris, and at 14 to St. Petersburg, and here received architectural education. Rastrelli came to St. Petersburg at 16 years old, before which he lived in France. The great Scottish architect Charles Cameron has not built one building on his native land... These are all people of foreign origin who have been brought up by the architectural culture of St. Petersburg. If we compare what was under construction in St. Petersburg and in Italy in the days of Rossi and Kvarengi, - it is not similar."

Many St. Petersburg architects are assured that it is very difficult for foreigners to deeply feel the historical environment of the city.

So, for the third time a project large (up to 200,000 sq.m) to build a shopping and entertainment complex close to Moscow Rail Station in the place of the foundations of the bankrupt Russian joint stock company VSM cannot enlist the support of the town-planning council. The architect - British company Chapman Taylor - suggests putting a bulky building practically in the "red lines" of the site, which is extremely effective from a commercial point of view, but, in the opinion of the St. Petersburg experts, does not correspond at all to the building, which has developed in this place.

"In designing the first class A shopping and office complex in the city at 25 Nevsky prospect (Atrium), we worked with one of the leading American architectural firms. It suggested building a 4-storey building, with the motivation of entering a new era, and the fact that it is time to tear ourselves from the past. If we had accepted their philosophy, the project would not have taken place. I think it would not be possible to attract tenants, and that's not even mentioning the spoiled shape of Neva prospect." Says Yavein

All stars on a visit to us

By the way, Studio 44 acted as the adviser for sir Norman Foster, in adapting his project of the development of New Holland Island located in the center of Petersburg, near to Mariinsky theatre to local realities. Lord Foster in a consortium with СТ Group which belongs to Shalva Chigirinsky won the international architectural tender, which took place in the Northern capital at the start of 2006.

The British star has suggested putting in the center of the historical ensemble a cultural complex, reminiscent of the star’s Palace of festivals on 2,050 places. The technical miracle promises to have an open amphitheater with approximately 2,900 seats, located on the shore an internal island reservoir. It can be used all year round - an air cushion will protect spectators from bad weather. Another original design is a convertible stage in the center of a lake that can disappear under water.

The commercial part of the project has a shopping and services center which measures almost 37,000 sq.m, three 4* and 5* hotels (in total almost 56,000 sq.m), offices (approximately 10,000 sq.m), a two-level underground car park (50,000 sq.m), apartments (8,700 sq.m) and so forth. Approximately 180,000 sq.m are expected to be reconstructed and built. The estimated cost is around $378 million. In June in the foundations of the multipurpose complex the first stone was ceremonially laid. Under the plan construction will be completed in 2010.

"We had quite a specific role in this project as consultant," recollects Yavein. “The ideology at foreign experts is basically that in third world countries, and undoubtedly in St. Petersburg, it is necessary to show off somehow to win a competition. For example, in one of the first variants of the cultural center project there was a huge dome, reminiscent of a nuclear mushroom towered. Overcoming this ideology is rather difficult, however attitudes are changing, they listen to us and try to understand.

The development of New Holland is extremely complex from an engineering point of view, the investor should observe the strict requirements of the local committee on the protection of monuments, hold difficult negotiations with companies-monopolists, etc. Therefore the success of the project, as considered by Yavein, will depend on the local designer (Yuri Mityurev's architectural workshop). He should adapt the ideas of Foster to local construction laws and regulations and to other specifications. "Otherwise the situation with Dominic Perro will be repeated only in an even stricter form," assures Yavein.

The well-known French architect won a tender on designing the second stage of the Mariinsky theatre in 2003. His idea of a "gold cocoon" (an incorrectly formed external shell of the building made form glass and aluminum) was recognized as the best among 11 presented works. Designing began, however later experts found out after a couple of years that in the documentation presented by the star, there are were no provisions for water supply to the building, a water drainage system, ventilation, etc. It was not possible to overcome disagreements between ФГУ "Northwest management on construction, reconstruction and restorations" (the construction of the second stage is financed from the federal budget) and the French architectural bureau. At the beginning of 2007 the contract with Dominic Perro was terminated. They had promised for him to remain an architectural supervisor, but the corresponding contract has not been concluded.

The approved project is far from that which won the tender. In particular, it was necessary to make amendments for the St. Petersburg climate, strengthening the supporting structure on which the " gold shell" leans.

St. Petersburg experts also have serious doubts about the realization of a protogenic kind of architectural project of a new football stadium with a capacity of 60 000 spectators on Krestovsky island, being carried out by Japan’s Kise Kurokava. It won the tender last year, beating four other applicants. Construction of the international class sports premises will cost 6.66 billion rubles and will be paid from the St. Petersburg treasury. Experts consider that in the effective "spacecraft" offered by the eminent architect, fire safety requirements have not been considered, and with the whimsical St. Petersburg weather the sliding fields and guyed roof design are also not the best engineering decisions.

Now in the city another large-scale architectural competition is taking place for the construction of the new terminal at Pulkovo airport. The second round has two applicants - British company Grimshaw and Partners and America’s SOM. In August they must have their final offers ready. The English have presented a rather effective project - a single flat terminal building with a wavy gold roof (a replica of the central administrative boards numerous St. Petersburg churches). The Estimated cost of its construction is 340 million euros.

However the tender commission which includes high federal officials and the governor of the city has found slight inadequacies and has offered the British, and the second finalist to introduce in the build up a certain St. Petersburg stress which would teach them the local hub among other airports of the world.

"Foreign stars basically work with budgetary money. For private customers the cost of their services is ruinous. In my opinion, our architects have less ideas than foreigners, and it is necessary to introduce western technologies in local projects here. On all recent complex objects we have involved foreign sub designers. Domestic experts simply do not have experience in developing front systems for high-altitude buildings. We also have little practice in the development of underground space,” comments Yavein.

Private Cosmopolitans

However, this point of view is not shared by all developers working in St. Petersburg. More and more companies entrust designing to foreigners. "If the name of the architect is of the highest level, for the investor it first of all has image aspect, an element of branding for its premises. In addition a western investment fund is participating in a project the involvement of an architectural bureau with which it constantly cooperates, may be an obligatory requirement. As a rule, western architects, with decades of experience in designing shopping and office centers, significantly better understand the functional side of a commercial premises - according to international norms and classifications. Consultants who work with them in the build up have practically nothing to correct," Nikolai Pashkov, director of professional work at Knight Frank says about St. Petersburg.

Swedish company Ruric AB, one of the most active developers in the St. Petersburg market of commercial real estate, has involved the Netherlands' Eric Van Egeraata in designing a multipurpose complex at 96 Moika Nabarezhnaya. The investor will have to develop a 3-hectare site near New Holland and Marinnkaya. From this territory the Military-transport university will be soon be removed, and on the freed area by 2011 should be constructed a mixed premises measuring up to 200,000 sq.m combining housing, hotels, restaurants, apartments, shops, offices and underground parking for 2,000 cars. The budget for the project stands $400 million. The decision to involve the Dutch star in the project was taken by the Swedish shareholders.

ST. Petersburg holding RBI actively cooperates with foreign investors. Last year it created a joint venture with Deutsche Bank, and in 2007 Morgan Stanley has become one of its shareholders. A new multipurpose complex, which RBI has planned on Novgorodskaya street (on the periphery of the historical center), is being designed by Spain's Ricardo Bofill. "We did not want to see something made from glass and concrete,” says RBI. “So we studied the modern trends in architecture. Invited experts. And Bofill came up. We wrote him a letter, and despite his star status, marvelously quickly answered and has arrived in St. Petersburg. According to him, it was important for him to work here. Before he started designing, it was necessary for him to become long acquainted with the city, walking around the city, going to museums. Therefore the project, in our opinion, has turned out very St. Petersburg."

Construction at 23 Novgorodskaya Street, according to the plan will start in 2008. On a 1.2 hectare site there will be a mixed premises with a total area of more than 53 000 sq.m, which will include housing, office and shopping areas, and also parking. It is Bofill’s first project in St. Petersburg and second in Russia (the Belton Park microdistrict). "

In the city there are already constructed commercial projects designed by foreign architects. For example, one of the largest shopping and entertainment complexes in St. Petersburg Grand Canyon on Prospekt Engels (total area – 75,000 sq.m) was designed by American company Gensler. " We started to work with one Russian architect, then with others. We could not find a common ground. Therefore we purposefully started to search for architects who have constructed more shopping centers. As a result we arrived at the Americans. In a rather short time they created a project which we could envisage," general director of Solomon (the developer of Grand Canyon) Mussa Ekzekov says. A preliminary agreement on Gensler also developing the architectural concept of the second phase of the Grand Canyon project which will include a congress hotel, sports center etc, has already been reached.

Gensler is also developing a project for the layout of the largest scale project in St. Petersburg connected with the complex development of a 450-hectare territory. It concerns the alluvial grounds on the western extremity of Vasilevskogo island on which by 2010 a sea passenger terminal is planned to be built and by 2015 a commercial and residential complex with an area of more than 4 million sq.m.

In one sheaf

Today one of the most successful foreign architects in St. Petersburg is Sergei Choban, a former Russian. Now he lives and works mainly in Germany. His most famous Russian project is the high-altitude "Federation" complex on the territory of "Moscow-city" (being developed together with Peter Shveger).

Last year on the Petrogradsky side class A business center Langeenzipen, designed by Choban was put into operation (investor - Theorem). "We purposefully refused the services of local architects. In my opinion, they have a lack of imagination. It seems they have been brought up on the creations of Rossi and Rastrelli, and draw boring hangars. We would like to leave a stamp on the architecture of the city," Igor Vodopyanov, managing director of Theorem explains.

Sergey Choban has suggested making the facade of the building from 3D glass with internal back lighting on which by means of a digital printer Greek-roman images will be depicted. This method was rather recently developed by German company Okalux, and is still scarcely used in Europe, and in St. Petersburg is being used for the first time. The technology allows to precisely reproduce color photos onto more transparent surfaces. The bright facade has cost the investor 2.5 million euros and the total cost of the project is approximately $15 million.

"Usually architects use glass to give a building a modern and hi-tech character. Here it possesses an absolutely different quality,” Sergey Choban says. “Owing to the classical motifs put on the glass we have managed to build a bridge to the past, but the building has not lost its modernity".

Now Choban is collaborating with Theorem on another large-scale project - to construct the Novy Kvartal office complex measuring more than 300 000 sq.m. On the former site of the Rossiya factory on Sverdlovsk Nabarezhnaya. The first class A business center called Benua should be ready this year. Its facade will be decorated with figures in theatrical suits developed by Benua for the Petrushka ballet.

"From my experience domestic architects are not as familiar with modern technologies and materials used in the West. We work with German experts because they know how to transform a beautiful drawing into a constructed building. In addition they have very strict control which our architects, as a rule, do not provide,” says Vodopyanov. “On the other hand, it is absolutely pointless demanding working documentation from foreign architects because it will not correspond precisely to Russian specifications. Therefore a certain link" is necessary.

"In the realization of large and complex projects both international and local experts adapting western ideas should participate. Without such a team the success of the developer is problematic," Yuri Borisov, managing partner at AB Group is assured.

Sergey Choban is also working on another two large-scale commercial projects works together with well-known St. Petersburg architect Evgeny Gerasimov. In particular, they are designing an office-shopping complex measuring almost 200,000 sq.m, which LSR group intends to build on the former territory of the Elektrik factory on the Petrogradsky side (10 Malookhtinsky Prospekt).

The same pair are developing the design of business quarters at 65 Malookhtinsky prospekt. The investors are the bank of St Petersburg and Setl City, which is part of Setl Group. Several class A and B business centers, including a 97-meter tower in which the bank’s headquarters will be located, will measure in total 150 000 sq.m. The highlight of the future quarters will be its own mooring. The budget of construction totals about $430 million. In the opinion of the organizers of the project, the international architectural team has allowed to enlist easily enough support from the town-planning council of St. Petersburg.

Aditum investment company, which has reanimated the old idea of the underground construction of Ploshchad Revolutsii in front of Moscow station, is also working with two architectural bureaus – St. Petersburg's Zemtsov and Kondiain and London’s TP Bennet Architects. The approximate area of the future 4-storey shopping complex is almost 80 000 sq.m. The project envisages the construction of a traffic intersection on the crossroads of Nevsky and Ligovsky prospekt, and also an underground car park with 300 spaces and an underground system of pedestrian crossings. The cost of the works is preliminary estimated at $270-300 million.

"An architectural pairing is an absolutely reasonable solution in our case. The English have experience in developing large underground spaces, and specialize in such projects. The Petersburg bureau thoroughly knows this site as it has worked on a similar idea here," Alexander Dymov, general director of Aditum explains.