Ice rink

Address: Moscow, Krimsky Val 9
Client: Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure
Directors: Dmitry Likin, Oleg Shapiro
Ice rink of 2011/2012:
Architects: Dmitry Zadorin, Anastasiya Izmakova, Sergey Kolosovsky, Olga Rokal, Galina Serbryakova, Maria Khokhlova, Olga Khokhlova
Ice rink of 2012/2013:
Architects: Anastasiya Izmakova, Evgeniya Sidorova, Olga Khokhlova, Marina Yarmarkina
External collaborators: AST (Austria, ice technicians), 4a Architekten (Germany, initial concept), Ulrike Brandi Licht (Germany, lighting solutions)
Cafe interior design: Igor Gurovich and Asya Samokhina (Moroz I Solnce cafe), JBRH (Bulka cafe), Kira Grishina (Medeo cafe) Photography: Arthur Dugin, Kseniya Kornilova


Objective:

- to create a modern ice rink with artificial ice, capable of withstanding the challenging winter conditions in Moscow;
- to build structures in the vicinity of the ice rink that can be used by all visitors to the park (whether skaters or not).

Solution:

Gorky Park has always been famous for its large ice rink and ice-covered alleyways, but in recent years the unreliable winter weather has often made skating difficult (the ice has tended to melt and break up). We built an artificial ice rink, acknowledged to be the largest in Europe. As before, the rink follows the shape of the main alleys, but we decided to build in the capacity to change its layout every season. For the convenience of visitors to the rink we created a proper infrastructure, including heated pavilions containing cafes and changing rooms. For pedestrians and viewers we built a bridge – a 300-metre promenade above the central alley.

Plan of the ice rink (2011-2012 season)

We proposed constructing three entrance complexes for the skating rink – at the central entrance to the park, from the embankment, and from the direction of Neskuchny Garden. Here visitors can buy entrance tickets, hire skates, and spend time in cafés.

Apart from the main skating zone, there are a number of specialized zones: a dancing rink, a rink for children, and a professional hockey pitch. We also provided several public toilets, a medical centre, and separate smoking zones.

In designing the central entrance, we highlighted the park’s main visual axis. On both sides of the entrance are pavilions with skate hire, cash desks, and cafes, and at the very end of the central alley is Club Medeo with its dance rink.

In addition to the main alley, other pathways and alleys were also covered with ice; these slightly isolated paths created a quiet and romantic atmosphere for skating.

Since it gets dark very early in the winter, we paid particular attention to the lighting. We equipped the entire rink with dynamic lighting, and the pavilions have brightly luminous facades. In realizing the lighting concept for the rink we were helped by Ulrike Brandi Licht (Germany).

 

Alongside the central alley, which is covered in ice, we proposed creating a wooden bridge (constructed in such a way as to be easily assembled / dismantled). For visitors without skates this is a convenient promenade and simultaneously a viewing platform.

The pavilions contain heated cafes where visitors may relax and have a bite to eat. They can also, without entering the cafes, grab a hot drink to take with them at one of the kiosks.

The Frost and Sun pavilion café is open to all visitors to the park.

Club Medeo is the rink’s central pavilion and a venue for ice parties. The ground floor contains the café and an open-air bar; above is a DJ’s window, allowing DJs to observe how the audience is reacting to their music.

Inside the pavilions are skate-hire facilities equipped with spacious changing rooms, benches, and lockers.

The interior of the Frost and Sun café is dedicated to the theme of figure skating.

The interior of Café Bulka is in the style of a city café. This is the perfect place to treat yourself to hot chocolate and fresh pastries – without having to take your skates off.

2012-2013 season

For the opening of the second season we took into account lessons we had learned from the past as well as the wishes of our visitors. The ice rink has slightly changed its configuration and moved closer to the main entrance of the park. The skate-rental area at the main entrance has doubled in size, and new public-catering spots and recreational zones have appeared. The wooden bridge, a big hit with visitors, is now much longer.

The fountain square, which was not part of the ice rink last year, is this year the main feature. The area around the fountain is now covered with ice and people can skate around it in circles.

This season’s main design theme, suggested by Gorky Park’s management, is the Kingdom of Distorting Mirrors. A light-and-mirror installation in the middle of the fountain’s basin is the highlight of the square. A three-dimensional arch frames the central axis of the rink, opening up a view of the last pavilion at the end of the central alley. The arch has been assembled from mirror plates which in even the faintest of breezes sparkle and glisten, creating a festive atmosphere.

Mirror screens stand at the corners of the fountain’s basin. They constitute a kind of fairground attraction for the skaters: the screens are positioned in such a way that people can be photographed with their own reflections.