In the 34th volume of PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA, we devoted a large-scale analytical material to this topic "Flaws and perfection: architectural heritage under the hood of prejudice».
And as if to confirm the relevance of this discussion, an international scientific and practical conference "Cultural heritage and modern methods of its renovation and revalorization", organized by the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection and the Office of International relations of KMDA. The location of the renovation event was not chosen by chance. We share with you the main theses and examples that were presented at the conference.
Approaches, challenges, solutions
"Architectural heritage, the building itself is no less important than what is inside it, even if it is art," said Yves Goldstein, director of the KANAL-Centre Pompidou Museum of Contemporary Art in Brussels.
Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
The core of the museum is the former garage of the Citroën factory, where cars were not only assembled, but also shown to customers. Modernist "palace" made of glass, concrete and metal in the 30s. designed by Belgian architects Alexis Dumont and Marcel Van Getem in collaboration with French architect Maurice-Jacques Ravaset.
According to Yves Goldstein, the main problem during the reconstruction of the building, which was decided to be turned into a museum, was the need for a special microclimate for the safe storage of paintings. Creating such a microclimate in a hall with 21 m high ceilings was extremely problematic. And it is unacceptable to violate the integrity of the structure of the monument. "We built three new pavilions on the site so that this place could fulfill its functions as a museum. But at the same time, they preserved the Citroen building, which became the basis of the entire museum project," summed up Yves Goldstein.
International scientific and practical conference "Cultural heritage and modern methods of its renovation and revaluation" in the space of the educational hub "Osvitoria". Photo: Maksym Drobinenko
"When you work with such important buildings, you have to make important decisions. Sometimes you have to build new to preserve the old," architect Margit Aule from the Tallinn studio KAOS Architects supports Yves Goldstein's opinion. In the project of the Fahle Park business center, located in the center of Tallinn, KAOS designers proposed to restore as close as possible to the original a group of limestone buildings built in 1909-1913 according to the design of the modernist Jacques Rosenbaum, but to supplement this historical foundation with new glass volumes.
KANAL-Centre Pompidou Museum, located in the former Citroën factory garage, Brussels, Belgium. Photo source: KANAL-Centre Pompidou
However, according to Margit, sometimes it is justified to take the path of minimal intervention, and then the buildings themselves can point the way. Describing her project to transform Noblessner's foundry into a multicultural center, Margit Aule says: “We had a very limited budget and kept the old floor tiles and rough walls. This made it possible to save money, but at the same time preserved the authentic flavor of industrial interiors."
The old foundry building is valuable not only for its industrial architecture, but also for its unique acoustics. Even before the restoration, world-class concerts and performances were held here, and after it, the hall acquired an exhibition function.
Fahle Park is a complex development project in the historical part of Tallinn by KAOS Architects. Image source: KAOS Architects
Conference participant from Poland, architect and founder of APA studio Wojciechowski Architekci Szymon Wojciechowski explained that he is always guided by five main principles:
1) build so that the project remains relevant in the future;
2) build beautifully;
3) build without looking back at fashion;
4) build based on a strong commercial foundation;
5) build according to "green" requirements
"The Elektrownia building is located in Warsaw, in the Powisle district, which has now become super-expensive, extravagant and mega-popular. But at one time it was a district that did not have cultural public centers and a full-fledged life. It was a dead zone, a criminogenic spot on the city map. Now Powisle is actively developing and revitalizing thanks to several objects, including our Elektrownia," said Ostap Ivanov, an architect from APA Wojciechowski Architekci.
Elektrownia is an old power station building in Warsaw, reconstructed by APA Wojciechowski Architekci. Photo source: APA Wojciechowski Architekci
Since Warsaw was badly damaged during the Second World War, the inhabitants of the city are extremely sensitive to any of the old buildings, including examples of industrial architecture. And this places a huge responsibility on developers and architects. While clearing the engine room building of the power plant from temporary extensions, the architects preserved important structural details and tried to restore their original appearance. In order to choose an authentic paint for the balcony on the facade of the building, the designers had to conduct a whole investigation.
Participants of the conference "Cultural heritage and modern methods of its renovation and revaluation" Ostap Ivaniv and Szymon Wojciechowski, APA Wojciechowski Architekci, Poland. Photo: Maksym Drobinenko
"We picked up archival documents and found out that in 1904 this pigment was brought from Australia, and in principle it can be found only in two or three countries of the world. Therefore, we had to try very hard to choose the appropriate paint," Ostap Ivaniv gave an example.
In order to painlessly integrate new buildings into the historical fabric of the city, a delicate and creative approach is required
Today, the site of an old power plant in Warsaw, reconstructed by APA Wojciechowski Architekci, houses more than 70 shops, beauty salons, restaurants, offices, a hotel and residential premises for rent.
Riverview residential area in Gdansk, Poland. Project by APA Wojciechowski Architekci. Photo source: APA Wojciechowski Architekci
Another project of APA Wojciechowski Architekci that the architects are proud of is the Osiedle Riverview. The Riverview residential area is located in the center of Gdańsk, near historical monuments, so the designers had to be particularly delicate. The architecture of Riverview reflects two faces of the city - Protestant, austere, and the other - eclectic, baroque.
Therefore, part of the buildings have strict brick facades, and on the other side of the block, the architecture of apartment buildings echoes the bourgeois buildings of the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. This stylistically different architecture is combined by the rhythmic pattern of the window openings and the unified design of the metal elements of the facade. This approach made it possible to painlessly integrate new houses into the historical fabric of the city.
Retrospective: prototypes for A-Station
The location itself, where the conference "Cultural heritage and modern methods of its renovation and revalorization" was held, is a visual reference to the theme of the event. A-Station is an example of successful renovation of abandoned post-industrial spaces with the preservation of five architectural monuments, in particular, the national heritage monument - the building of the military commandant's office on Arsenal Square. (Read more about the details of the project and its future stages in the article "Yellow brick, black font. The precedent of A-Station as a heritage work case» in the 33rd volume of PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA).
A-Station in Kyiv: the territory and workshops of the former "Arsenal" plant after the restoration carried out under the A Development project. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Before developing a concept for the renovation of the territory of the "Arsenal" plant and the workshops where the workshops were located, the team of architects of the A Development company studied the experience of their colleagues from different countries. As Tetyana Lysiuk, the chief architect of A Development, told the guests of the conference, the Arsenal and Rotermann City projects in Tallinn, Coal Drops Yard in London can be considered to some extent prototypes of A-Station.
Participant of the conference "Cultural heritage and modern methods of its renovation and revaluation" Tetyana Lysyuk, chief architect of A Development. Photo: Maksym Drobinenko
In the Tallinn Arsenal barracks, weapons were also manufactured and repaired until 1991. In 2012, the building complex was sold to a private developer. The reconstruction, carried out by the development company Nordecon, turned the barracks into the shopping and entertainment center Arsenal Keskus, which became the core of the mixed district of Pihya-Tallinn.
Today, the former cinema "Zone" is the prestigious district of Rotermann City, the business card of Tallinn
Rotermann City, located in the port area, is both a legend and a symbol of Estonia's rebirth. This industrial district was actually destroyed at the end of the 70s of the XNUMXth century. and was in such a state of disrepair that the director Andrei Tarkovsky used the local nature as scenery during the filming of his famous "Stalker". Today, the former cinema "Zone" is a prestigious and prosperous area with many restaurants, shops, offices and expressive architecture, where emphasized modern volumes are boldly integrated into the historical context.
The building of the historic carpentry workshop in the Rotermann City district of Tallinn, reconstructed according to the project of the KOKO architects studio. Image source: KOKO architects
"Rotermann City is Tallinn's business card, the project has received numerous awards from the European Union as the best example of renovation. For Estonians, this is a particular example of modern industrial design. For me, as a Ukrainian architect, the bold solutions of KOKO architects, used for the reconstruction of the building of the carpentry workshop, are still fantastic," says Tetyana Lysyuk.
Coal Drops Yard is a reconstruction of former coal warehouses in London's King's Cross district by Heatherwick Studio. Photo credit: Heatherwick Studio
Coal Drops Yard in London's King's Cross district became another source of inspiration for Kyiv architects. The sculptural roof, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, joins a series of old warehouse buildings that once stored the coal that Londoners used to heat their homes. This area, despite its location in the center of London, degraded for several decades until it came into the focus of the development company Argent.
To comply with all aspects of heritage legislation, as well as to take into account the specifics of ancient structures, architects Heatherwick Studio and design engineers from Arup worked with Giles Quarme Architects, an architectural firm specializing in working with historic buildings. The coal warehouses, built back in the Victorian era, and also damaged by a large-scale fire, could not withstand the additional load.
Arup managed to make the structure of the new upper level and roof independent of the historic part by distributing the load on a series of steel supports. At the same time, the old architecture and the modern sculptural roof appear as one. But, despite such a scrupulous approach, the project did not avoid problems.
The sculptural roof, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, joins a series of old warehouse buildings that once stored coal
"You should not think that only in our society the reconstruction of such large areas is not accepted "with cheers". No, this project was also very problematic for the developer. Activists blocked its start for almost two years, Tetyana Lysyuk said. — Even before the pandemic, my colleagues and I came to the architectural office of Thomas Heatherwick and had the opportunity to talk about the project. We were interested in how the British approach dialogue with the public.
The architects explained that this is a separate and very difficult part of the work. Such a dialogue usually takes place with the participation of representatives of the city and the developer, since it is extremely important to get support for your plans from the community. Now that the idea has been implemented, the Coal Drops Yard has become famous all over the world. Here are the offices of global companies Facebook, Microsoft, Google, commercial and office spaces, as well as luxury apartments."
Coal Drops Yard is a reconstruction of former coal warehouses in London's King's Cross district by Heatherwick Studio. Photo credit: Heatherwick Studio
Working on the A-Station project, Ukrainian architects compiled the quality characteristics of star prototypes and managed to "sewn" them into an authentic shell made of yellow Kyiv brick.
Landscape, landscaping, connections
An equally important component of any project, in particular related to the reconstruction of historical heritage, is the improvement of the surrounding territory in accordance with modern ideas of people about comfort and aesthetics. Almost everyone who spoke at the international conference talked about this aspect.
"If you leave the area in a mess, people simply won't come here," Margit Aule from KAOS Architects is sure. It is not only about a high-quality landscape with maximum landscaping and comfortable, original street furniture. "We understood that in order to integrate our Elektrownia Powiśle magnet into the environment, it should have other overgrowths besides public functions. This is how office space, retail, apartments, and hotels appear. It is multifunctionality that fills a place with life and makes it attractive to visitors," explains Ostap Ivanov, architect of APA Wojciechowski Architekci.
The second stage of the A-Station project is the creation of a covered street between Mykolaiv Gate and the new mixed-use center. The project of the Creative Architectural Workshop by A. Pashenko for A Development. Image source: Creative Architectural Workshop A. Pashenko
Tetyana Lysyuk, the chief architect of A Development, believes that full revitalization is possible only under the condition of comprehensive solutions: "A comprehensive approach is very important for us. For example, the workshops of the former "Arsenal" plant are located in the heart of the capital, and, in addition to realizing the importance of a careful attitude to historical architecture, it is necessary to understand that without large-scale changes, creating connections between the new and the old, there will be no quality result.
A-Station is 5 reconstructed shops, which now house co-working spaces, office and educational spaces, restaurants, and a food market. And, of course, a comprehensive approach involves the improvement of the urban area. As part of the A-Station project, almost 17 square meters were reconstructed. m of the adjacent territory, both in the square near the subway and in the previously closed territory of the plant."
High-quality care and management of the territory are integral components of success, especially if it is the territory around the architectural monument
High-quality care and management of the territory are integral components of success, especially if it is the territory around the architectural monument. Mathieu Rousse Perrier, curator of heritage in the Paris agglomeration, speaking to the participants of the conference, said that their services try to respond as quickly as possible to information about damage to historic buildings or monuments.
Graffiti from street sculptures will be washed off within 2-3 days, and if the inscriptions have a political connotation - in a few hours. Overall, Mathieu Rousse Perrier points out that people's strong reaction to all things heritage is a global trend: "Never before has the public been so attentive to the state of architecture, monuments and works of art in public spaces."
Light installation "Pulsar" by Vasyl Hrublyak in the public space of A-Station. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Red lines
"The feeling of deep envy does not leave me! - these are the words of Anatoly Karminskyi, professor, expert and head of the "Kyivderzhekspertiza" service, who responded to the speeches of architects and urban planners from Europe. — We have a law on the protection of heritage, in which the "red lines" are drawn very clearly. The people who passed this law probably had no idea what they were voting for, just like those who wrote this law. Our law prohibits reconstruction. And such concepts as renovation and revaluation are absent in principle in the legislative base! And they should be."
Participant of the conference "Cultural heritage and modern methods of its renovation and revaluation" Anatoliy Karminskyi, head of the "Kyivderzhekspertiza" service. Photo: Maksym Drobinenko
According to Anatoly Karminskyi, the Law of Ukraine "On the Protection of Cultural Heritage" needs to be revised in accordance with modern international approaches.
"I would say - not everything is as bad as it seems! - believes Shimon Wojciechovskyi. — For me, Kyiv is a very lively city. Here is the proof: I remember this place (Arsenal plant) as a completely abandoned depressed area, but now life is raging here!".
Szymon Wojciechowski admits that the projects of which he is proud - Osiedle Riverview in Gdańsk, Elektrownia Powiśle in Warsaw - also caused a resonance in society: "Before marking the "red line" between the old and the new, we need to formulate what results we want achieve. In order not to cross the line, one must constantly be in dialogue and discuss every step. We believe in the power of discussion at the level of all stakeholders. Architecture is life, but it is important to understand and consider the historical context. In Gdańsk and Warsaw, our projects caused a political and public outcry. However, it is easier for us, because in our cities, unlike Kyiv, we have approved zoning."
The public space around the Postimees Group headquarters and the covered street project in Fahle Park. Tallinn, Estonia. Kaos Architects. Image source: KAOS Architects
The public space around the Postimees Group headquarters and the covered street project in Fahle Park. Tallinn, Estonia. Kaos Architects. Image source: KAOS Architects
Despite the fact that the laws in European countries are no less, if not more strict, they are still quite flexible. Akos Kapbedo, Master of Science in Architecture and Heritage Protection of Budapest, said that in the capital of Hungary, each district has its own architect and a separate department, and heritage protection is carried out at four levels: international, national, city, district.
At the same time, Akos Kapbedo cited as a positive compromise the reconstruction of the Neo-Baroque palace on Szabadság Square, where architects Čaba Nagu and Karol Polu transformed the attic floor into a spacious office space. The client wanted a panoramic view of the city, while the protection of the monument required the preservation of the original form of the attic, as well as the material and uniformity of the slate roof. As a result, a unique system of slate lamellas was created: when closed, they look like a slate coating, and when open, they provide a luxurious view from the inside.
Participant and organizer of the conference "Cultural heritage and modern methods of its renovation and revaluation" Oleksandr Nikoryak, head of the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the KMDA. Photo: Maksym Drobinenko
Volodymyr Prokopov, the Deputy Chairman of the KMDA, believes that the result of the revitalization of the Kyiv Arsenal clearly demonstrates how approaches to heritage in Ukraine are changing: "The Kyiv Arsenal is part of the historical and architectural complex of the Kyiv Fortress. This is the only fortification in Europe that has been preserved in a fairly complete form. Kyiv fortress is one of the examples of scientific restoration. New meanings dictated by time have changed the functional use of production workshops and the main building of the fortress from weapons production and repair to educational hubs, co-working spaces, and food zones."
Oleksandr Nikoryak, who heads the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the KMDA, agrees with his opinion: "In the process of revaluation, it is important to provide not only a new function to buildings, but also to restore their artistic qualities by restoring the exterior and interiors, to preserve the maximum amount of authenticity."
A-Station public space, Kyiv, Ukraine. Project A Development. Photo: Yuriy Ferendovych
Before starting the intervention, it is necessary to find out what exactly is the value of the object for society. It will have to be researched, studied. It's long, but necessary," Christina Sinclair, director of the Edinburgh World Heritage Agency, gave this recommendation to Ukrainian architects.
According to Sinclair, the rapid pace of urbanization from the point of view of heritage protection is no less a serious challenge than the climate crisis. And in order to respond to it, all parties to the discussion will have to show patience, persistence and willingness to compromise. Historical objects have not only a physical function, but also a spiritual one. That is why the issue of their adaptation and further use is so difficult and controversial. But it is resolved.
