Ostankino Pond

concept
Design work: 2012
Principal architects: Darya Listopad, Artem Ukropov
Architect: Galina Serebryakova
Partners in Wowhaus: Dmitry Likin, Oleg Shapiro


Ostankino Pond used to serve as a cooling pond for the Ostankino TV Tower. This function is no longer required and the pond now seems a neglected and uncared-for territory between the TV tower and Ostankino House. We would like to give the inhabitants of Ostankino’s multi-storey blocks and the numerous denizens of the TV centre a chance to look anew at the old pond.

Objective:

• to transform the wasteland around the pond, turning it into one of Moscow’s most picturesque spots; • to reconstruct the infrastructure of the boat station.

Solution:

We propose creating a new recreational zone around Ostankino Pond. We are confident that the area around the TV centre and the district of mass housing can be reanimated by means of modern architectural forms and accessible infrastructure.

The boating station

First and foremost, we propose reconstructing the boating station, which is currently an unprepossessing monument to the Soviet entertainments industry. We plan to preserve the old framework, inserting into it a number of brightly coloured pavilions containing public functions.

Exploded diagram

The lower level of the boating station will contain utility rooms, public toilets, and a boat rental. The roof will have a café and terrace.

Around Ostankino Pond

The new embankment curving around the pond takes the form of a wooden amphitheatre which people can sit or lie on.
We have taken account of the fact that the park surrounding the pond borders Ostankino House. We propose an interesting lighting solution which is a paraphrase of the theme of the palace park. The flower-like, long-stemmed lamps echo the silhouette of the TV tower. The flowers of various heights are made from translucent Corian; together, they create an eye-catching extensive sculpture.

In the evening, the lamps will illuminate the area around them, creating ‘islands of security’. This lighting installation made from dozens of variously coloured lamps gradually thins out towards the church, without obstructing the view of it. The floral lamps can even grow on artificial islands in the pond.