Private Art Foundation

Moscow, Russia

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Urban Routines Pavilion

Private Art Foundation

Moscow, Russia

Firm

MEL | Architecture and Design

Type

Cultural › Museum

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2014

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

Photos

Yuri Palmin (16)

The building of the private foundation, surrounded by the forest, is situated near Moscow with the aim to store and exhibit private art collection. The primary goal of it’s ascetic design is to bring attention to the value of objects exposed and to create perfect conditions for the perception of modern art.

One-storey building consists of several laconic architectural volumes covered by a single flat roof. Exhibition space is naturally formed within them. Storing, media and library blocks are differentiated in interior and exterior design through usage of various materials and claddings. Main entrance to the building is hidden between large architectural volumes of the facade, making the ascetic appearance of the construction complete.

Most of the exposition areas are located on the ground floor, with media space on the basement floor complimenting them. North and east sides of the exhibition hall have frameless windows facing the forest. To ensure evenly diffused light that is perfect for exhibiting of modern art ceiling panel lightening with adjustable spectrum and intensity regulations is used that allows creating various exposition outlines. The ceiling as an architectural element disappears leaving only the light united with the setting. The hall also has a zone with natural upper lightening that can be used for placing clue exposition elements and larger objects.

Storing space is adjusted to exposition hall and has its own entrance, driveway and unloading area. There is an elevator connecting it’s transit zone with technical and packaging areas in the basement. The storing space also has a preview area with ceilings heights and lightening equal to the exposition hall.
Console volume of the library that is facing untouched forest is almost floating among the trees. It is equipped with working and meeting areas. Walls are covered with shelves made of light oak. The interior and exterior of storing and library blocks are cladded with natural larch.

Architectural details of the project focusing on the synthesis of art, light and nature are supposed to blend together the interior and natural environment. The usage of frameless windows combined with interior and exterior walls cladded evenly using identical material results in border between inner and outer environment being ephemeral. To make the interior look neutral, inside areas are free of any extra detail. All the utility systems are hidden inside the walls and ceilings. To maintain the environment suitable for the stored pieces of art, the air is ventilated from the basement to the hall after passing temperature and humidity control systems. To organize the exhibitions in the hall mobile and demountable constructions are used that can be moved completely to the room adjusted to the hall if necessary.