Significant contribution in transforming Minsk has ‘Tvorcheskaya masterskaya – 7’, taking part in many city planning projects. One of striking objects, playing important role in urban-forming will, without doubt, become large residential complex between the streets Mayakovskava, Aranzhereynaya, Lugavaya, Palevaya . Environmental approach clearly is visible there and, what is also important, it`s possible to recognize individual author`s work. About creative process, responsibility to the investor and to oneself, faith, expectations and reality of designer`s work on the example of this project, reflects director of the bureau Anatoliy Zinovyevich Tseitlin.

     Significant contribution in transforming Minsk has ‘Tvorcheskaya masterskaya – 7’, taking part in many city planning projects. One of striking objects, playing important role in urban-forming will, without doubt, become large residential complex between the streets Mayakovskava, Aranzhereynaya, Lugavaya, Palevaya . Environmental approach clearly is visible there and, what is also important, it`s possible to recognize individual author`s work. About creative process, responsibility to the investor and to oneself, faith, expectations and reality of designer`s work on the example of this project, reflects director of the bureau Anatoliy Zinovyevich Tseitlin.

The area of territory is 7,119 hectares.

    Project of this complex includes 6-story multifunctional commercial building with two built-in 2-story garages for 176 automobiles; three 25-story residential towers with 210 apartments; two 19-23-story residential buildings with 162 apartments and shops attached; built-in underground 2-story garage for 309 automobiles with shops attached. Besides all that, on the territory where future complex will be situated, an 18-story residential building with public objects attached to it is already built.

    Composition of residential complex is in accordance with city planning concept and takes into account scale, silhouette and architectural style of existing surrounding buildings. Architectural design was made in accordance with function of the complex, city territory zoning and the existing relief.

    The Mayakovskaya Street is becoming an important junction of the capital city, so that the rising interest to build there and form new parameters of its architecture is fully justified. Destiny of our object, supposed to appear in this place is like of many others – prosaic: it`s ‘birth’ is delayed for many years. Long time ago, 15-16 years earlier – colleagues remember! – there was architectural bureau of A. Chadovich, that was working on a concept of commercial sector development on the bank of river Svisloch in the area of Mayakovskaya Street (together with the river holm). Group of young enthusiasts (today they are spread all over the world for various reasons) carried by the waves of romanticism of those years, made a beautiful ‘image’ and called it ‘Slavic Valley’. We presented our concept on various competitions, even on architectural symposium in London this model – it`s still ‘alive’, hanging in our bureau – had received attention of architectural authorities. Then another era came, economical situation worsened, time of romanticism was gone. There were no investments and the idea was forgotten…

     Time has passed. An investor appeared who clearly presented his ideas about the future of this territory. A parcel was selected, somewhat smaller than it was supposed to be, on that side of Mayakovskava Street where individual houses sector is situated. I think that city made a right decision: individual homes should be pulled down, environment enriched, apply clear urban system. If it becomes possible to realize the project in whole (and if we don`t think about the financial side), we can have an astonishing mega-oasis of respectable habitation.

     ‘Minskproekt’ made detailed plan of residential area some time ago and placed several residential and commercial objects there. Everything was done according to normative of building intensity. Of course, this normative, that determines how many square meters of residential area can be built on given territory – it is a philosophical concept, since it supposes empty piece of land that will be occupied by objects. This norm is set in general urban plan and is adequate for the residential areas. Then there is the normative for green area per one inhabitant etc. All these numbers are balanced one with each other, making the only normative base we have at this moment.

      However, there is one ‘but’, a very important one. When the investor is building a territory, where there are objects that need to be pulled down, he knows very well all the expenses and all he want is to get as much as possible from this part of land. In our case, there are many stuffed cabins, cottages, penthouses that appeared when city planners had no clear position about this territory.

      So what happens now? All of them have to be pulled down and get paid. All this is putting an extra weight on the actual price of one square meter of building. That`s why such unthinkable prices of apartments appeared. Yes, it significantly overcomes normative parameters but it suits the investor because as a result he can earn profit after building and selling the apartments. As we all know, there is no business without money.

      So, the investor got permissions, and recalling that we are the assignees of Chadovich`s old bureau, he came to us.

      You know, there such moments of enlightenment. I suggested my idea of that complex, with detailed argumentation. The investor is not a novice in building business and he understood well what the word is about. The idea was accepted and after affirmation among the directors, we made an architectural study of the building.

      40 years of practice taught me to feel responsibility to the investor. I will never give a project with my signature, if I don`t feel it`s essence, if I don`t determine its function, purpose.

      Let`s suppose, you made a beautiful drawing, everyone liked it, investor accepts it. But when you started working on a project – it doesn`t come out the way it is on drawing (fortunately such thing never happened to me). As a rule, investor can`t understand that a drawing was just an idea and that now in designing process something is changing, something remains the same. This ‘something’ is always changing for the worse. This happens if you don`t start thinking of the whole project in the beginning, how it should be built. You can suggest a 67-story tower and then realize that only nine stories are allowed...

       But for some reason I believed in this object. I thoroughly designed everything: plans, future infrastructure, facades and based on all this a ‘drawing’ came out which was fully compatible with investor`s requirements. The project was accepted immediately and approved in the Committee of City Planning and Architecture.

   Nevertheless, almost year had past and nothing happened. Although, I reapeat, we believed in that object and we kept working on it, meticulously worked on all the details, so that when it`s time comes, it would be ready for battle, as they say.

   Time and money are today highly valued. Therefore, if we would stop project development, in case of critical necessity we would be finishing it for not less than 6 months. That`s why we are able to do the fine work in two months, and present complete project of investment feasibility.

    A new phase has appeared in design process since January 1, 2008 – investment feasibility. It is somewhat shortened, describes a general concept for the expertise. After passing this phase it`s possible to start working on ‘construction’ project. It drastically shortens investment cycle. In brief, this new regulation is advantage both for the investor and for designer.

   Speaking again about project delivery deadline, I can say this: there is a positive side of its delay – meanwhile ‘Minskinzhproekt’ finished documentation on expansion of Mayakovskava Street. While we were working on architectural study, there were only talks about city`s intention to widen the street up to 4 lanes in both directions. It is very important for our project and since the main part of it is already done, we can, technically speaking, connect to this future street infrastructure and place our complex properly. I think that every architect more than once worked on a project and at the same time predicted the new design of the street, which caused numerous problems.

    How was this story concluded? Since Myakovskava Street is widening to eight lanes with elements of highway, it will soon have transport of high frequency. Architect`s task is to create best possible conditions for living in the future complex. That`s why we placed from the street side a sort of protective zone: in front of residential buildings we put a big ‘curtain’ – administrative-commercial complex, which will act as a defense from noise and other discomforts that this location brings. This complex will have numerous passageways – it`s not a compact wall, but fully elaborated structure with arcs which create the illusion of free, open space. You can walk through them without obstacles and reach the green zone for example. Besides all that, two underground passages are designated, and this will provide security in pedestrian transport.

    Landscape recreational zone, which is standing next to our complex, gives it distinct charm. River bank, park (which will stand here) – it all speaks in favor of this place; so that residents of this complex and surrounding buildings as well, will be fortunate in closer or distant future, since they will be able to utilize the whole territory -  cultivated, ecologically acceptable for living.

     We, from our side were trying to apply elements of quality modern architecture. Multi-story buildings rising high and horizontal extended façade of public area are visually contrasting, making a beautiful silhouette of this harmonic ensemble. It is multi-profile and functional at the same time.

  ..What it will look like in reality – only time can tell. Unfortunately, today`s building practice is such, that buyers receive apartment without any interior finishing – it is a part they must finish themselves according to their understanding and financial possibilities. It comes out that after year or two, when all the inhabitants have moved in, public areas – lifts, stairs, etc. become far from attractive…and everything was so well designed…

    Maybe we should use experience from abroad, where residents are moving in new flat with all the fittings in kitchen, bathroom, with furniture (chosen by new owners) and all they have to do is place light decorative accents. To go out on loggia and repaint it, change anything to match your own taste – that kind of thought doesn`t even occur to anyone…

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