Vorobyovskaya embankment
Period: 2013Address: Vorobyovskaya embankment, Moscow, Russia
Supervisors of the workshop: Dmitry Likin, Oleg Shapiro
Architects: Evgeniya Sidorova ("Vorobyovy gori" pier), Vladimir Gusev ("Tetris"), Anastasia Richkova (Pavilion unit)
Photos: Ilya Ivanov, Vladimir Gusev
Vorobyovskaya embankment was joined with Gorky park in late 2012 and in the summer of 2013 the first pavilions were set up. They became new points of interest on an uninterrupted 6,7 km pedestrian route where you can now rent bicycles, grab a bite or buy tickets for a boat trip on the Moskva river.
To create a comfortable environment for park visitors along the Vorobyovskaya embankment by connecting natural and cultural elements and to develop an infrastructure while making use of the unique river scenery.
Five points have been marked out along the embankment to build units of a similar design which have different functions: ticket kiosks, bicycle rentals, security posts, food stands and toilets. During the day they attract attention due to their bright colour and in the night due to luminescent light directing pedestrians in the dark.
In order to solve the infrastructure problem and to create a common feel for the embankment we came up with a special construction set combining pavilion units that have different functions, shapes and colours: the bicycle rentals are bright red with metal grids, the toilets are white, food stands are yellow, in addition to that there are ticket stands, security posts and vending machines. During the night illumination improves orientation and adds to general safety. We proposed 6 units altogether which can be moved around depending on where the are needed. Objects are made of waterproof material, do not require major construction and can be easily stored in winter time.
Five key points have been marked out:
- The Western entrance from the Setun' river (non-operating pier)
- Vorobyovy gori pier (operating pier)
- The concrete embankment
- Leninsky beach
- The non-operating pier by the Andreevsky monastery
Western entrance from the Setun' riverside
A non-operating pier is an entrance to the park zone and contains five units (without ticket stands)
Looking for an optimum solution that would correspond to the needs of both those who walk along the embankment and those who want to use river boats we suggested to use different levels of the embankment for different functions.
On the upper level there is a pavilion that comprises a toilet, a bicycle rental and a ticket stand aimed at the visitors of the park.
On the lower level a pergola is set up. It is a light wooden construction with a mini river port in the middle that has ticket offices of three river transport operators. A recreation area on the sides provides shelter from rain or sun to passengers waiting for a boat or can be used simply for sitting and contemplating the river.
What makes this complex stand out are the six beacons on the roof which glow in the dark and add to the scale of the new embankment, thereby becoming its new symbol. Non-capital constructions without a foundation make it possible to add new elements, e.g. to build a cafe on the second floor or to expand the ticketing area.
The central part of the route is Leninsky beach. On the upper level of the embankment there are all 6 pavilion units arranged in one line.
The resurfacing of the territory did not only imply the construction of the pavilions. We suggested adding a bit of playfulness in the process: a green slope of Leninsky beach was furnished with unusual benches of various colour, almost like an art-piece, and the stairs connecting the upper and lower embankments were vividly decorated.
The place itself suggested this idea: under mown grass practically along the entire slope there is a ferroconcrete base plate with square 35x35 cm orifices which provide air for grass and drain water. The benches "grow" from these orifices in various combinations.
The main inspiration for the project was "Tetris" which also has Russian origins. Benches are scattered along the slope according to a pattern from the game. Visitors are free to either lay on the grass or sit on a bench.
Glulam was picked as the most appropriate material as it is resistant to drops in temperature. First a beam is coloured, then laminated and finally put in the ground.
Three units have been set up on a non-operating pier (without cafes, ticket offices or rentals).