The city indoor market at the intersection of Vavilova Street and Lomonosovsky Prospect was built in the 1960s. Sellers of all kinds of goods including meat, milk and honey gathered here under a single dome.
The architects of the ARCHPOINT bureau gave the market a modern sounding: now it is a cozy and comfortable place with a contemporary design. Here you can not only buy groceries, but also have a glass of wine at the bar, buy your favorite food at one of many cafes, or go outside and sit comfortably in the sun with food and drink. The task of the architects was to rethink the market, to create a point of attraction for local residents, while preserving the places for all the vendors who historically traded here.
The authors looked at the markets of European countries with a well-thought-out and understandable structure as examples of the design. The architects divided the rectangular space of the market into four blocks along the axes of symmetry extending from each of the four entrances. The SimpleBar wine bar and SimpleWine shop are at the center. Around them there are stands with vegetables, fruit, sweets, meat, dairy and fish products. Along the perimeter there is a food court area with a variety of cafes and restaurants.
The main materials which were used for construction are plywood and wood lath. Pavilions, cafes and bars are united by a single design style: there are plywood canopies everywhere and the same plywood facade with the signs attached to it. The design of the interior of cafes is not regulated - owners decide on it themselves. Sellers of meat, fish and milk do not have a special design of counters – they work under a single plywood facade with LED strip lettering. All counters are technically thought out for comfortable work - food storage areas are organized for sellers.
Lighting solutions deserve special attention. Technicians were invited to illuminate the counters. They have selected the optimal light temperature for each type of product at the market.
The building does not have a second floor; and the feeling of emptiness created by the large space and high ceilings is leveled by the canopies above each pavilion. They cover the ceiling a little and the feeling of intimacy and comfort is created.
Artistic solutions have added uniqueness to the interior. On different sides of the room there are four sculptures of women referring to Soviet aesthetics. The statues are unique - they were designed by the authors of the project together with the sculptor Denis Stritovich, printed on a 3D printer and hand-painted. The sculptures are located near the areas with meat, fish, milk, fruits and vegetables, each with its own peculiarity: for example, a woman with a basket of fruits and berries stands near the points of sale of vegetables and fruits, and a sculpture of a woman with a lamb in her arms is standing near the meat selling area. Another creative accent is the installation above the food court area in the form of boxes from which bright red tomatoes spill out.
The territory of the market was previously surrounded by a fence, which the architects decided to remove, thereby giving openness to the territory. To formally separate the market area there are plants planted that seem to grow out of benches, two central entrances are marked by the steel gates. The territory is technically equipped: communications have been brought out to the street for a possible stage for holding events.
The landing zone located outside is open all year round. Tables, benches and chairs are made of corten steel according to individual drafts. In the evening the landscape illumination turns on, giving comfort to the area. Although in winter the visitors are unlikely to sit here with food trays, this zone will be a part of the urban space by itself.
The architects created a place where the traditional market is harmoniously combined with the restaurants and leisure area. You can come here to buy avocados, honey, nuts or fish, and stay by the bar with a glass of wine, chat with friends and enjoy art installations.
According to the founder of ARCHPOINT Valery Lizunov, in the next decade people will be so used to making purchases via the Internet that going out will be a real event. At food markets you already can try dishes from cuisines from all over the world, and sometimes even watch an artist's performance in addition to buying food. In the future more and more forms of leisure will be added to this. The impressions just begin their journey as the top attraction for consumers.
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