Minsk Light Industry Accessory Factory
The building of a former Light Industry Accessory Factory is located in the central part of Minsk, but is hidden in the back of the industrial block. Its construction dates back to the second half of the 20th century and the building itself is a typical example of Soviet architecture functionalism .
Since the building was abandoned for the past few decades, at the time of the sale it was in a dilapidated condition. The new owner wanted to transform it into a business hub where IT-companies could coexist with educational establishments and cultural institutions. We were asked to adapt its run-down facades for the new function.
When our team saw the building for the first time, we were enchanted by the purity of its architectural language.The original austere design of the facades was formed by the open material of concrete panels, nuanced pattern of the seams between them and original mullioned windows.
From the very beginning it was clear that it wouldn’t be possible to maintain the pattern of the seams on the facade due to the external walls’ insulation: the pattern would be hidden behind the thermal insulation panels. We decided to preserve the spirit of the building's industrial past and the memory of the concrete panels by using a smooth texture of grey plaster in the new design. The austerity of this solution was partially “softened” by the repetitive geometry of the mullioned windows that replicated the original window blocks. These solutions, whilst being delicate to the original architectural language of the building, led to a significant simplification of the facades’ design. To create a more amiable environment we decided to form a “vibrant perimeter” of the ground floor’s exterior by marking out the basement with black and white pattern of the ceramic tiles’ cladding. This intrusion of a new (to the historical design) material reflects our understanding that while working with reconstruction architects sometimes need to balance their will to preserve the authentic architectural language with the respect for the users’ perception of the architectural environment.
Light Industry Accessory Factory facades’ renovation became one of the first large projects for our architectural group. This project very much shaped the way we see the design process. We never use a formal approach to a building, interior or a piece of furniture; our method is to approach every new project as if it is a character with its own history and personality. And with our design, which often reflects many personal thoughts and meanings, we try to create the scenario of its future.
