Russian Skyscrapers
The new stage of high-rise construction development in homeland architecture started from the capital. Even back in the 1990s the projects of stand-alone towers and high-risers of the Moscow City encouraged Russian architects and their foreign colleagues to test the new trend in our reality. Later on the regions also actively joined the national high-rise race. Many cities immediately raised the matter of the importance of high-rise construction and some of them – even the necessity of creating their own business clusters by the example of the Moscow Business District.
As the branch developed, the quality of new highrise buildings grew as well. Therefore, a feature length discussion on skyscrapers outside Moscow seems not only eligible, but also necessary. To date, in different cities have already been erected a lot of rather interesting and memorable buildings. Far more are being constructed now or scheduled for realization in the near future. So, let us turn to the more recent Russian “high-rise geography” particularized.
The development of high-rise construction in the Russian regions has taken shape with certain particular features: the concept of the native City was consistently worked out for Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg, and only after that - for Grozny. Other cities would settle for the construction of stand-alone residential or mixed-use developments.
The project of Gazprom’s skyscraper in St. Petersburg was the most highprofile and controversial. The immense scale of the proposed 320-meter candle- shaped building by RMJM, which won the international competition in 2006 caused heated discussions and a barrage of criticism. During the long struggle for survival the project was modified: lost high-altitude parameters and to win them back, was moved to a new site and have perfected its outline and layout. Today on its official website the company states that the construction of the project can be completed in 2018.
After all the twists and turns of the alleged rivalry with the historical verticals of the city, the skyscraper that is called “Lakhta Business Center” is being built in the Primorsky region of St. Petersburg in Lakhtinsky Prospect within 9 kilometers away from the city center. The design was realized by architect Tony Kettle and RMJM London, and Gorprojekt CJSC was appointed as a general design contractor. It is expected that in 2018 the building will become the tallest (462.7 m) in Russia and Europe and will surpass “Federation” skyscraper in Moscow.
According to the designers of the concept, the new “Lakhta Center” skyscraper is a modern development with comfortable offices, cozy public spaces and vast green areas, good transportation and pedestrian accessibility and advanced social infrastructure. Almost half the areas are to be given for various cafes, restaurants, shops, fitness centers and a swimming pool. There are to be arranged cinemas, art galleries, shopping and recreational areas and a parking lot for 2000 cars. Within the service facilities of the skyscraper there is to be a diagnostic and medical center with child and adult outpatients’ departments, a day hospital and a 24/7 ambulance station.
The architectural concept of the “Lakhta Center” is based on the design performed for the competitive project of “Okhta-Center” in 2006. It was substantially revised and adjusted to the new location and site configuration. The development comprised of a tower and adjacent low-rise volumes is located in the former industrial and undeveloped areas, which reflects one of the world’s leading trends of establishing skyscrapers in historical cities (for instance, the recent ones are Palazzo Lombardia in Milan and The Shard in London).
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Text by MARIANNA MAEVSKAYA