Scale Model of Museum, Theatre and Educational Complex Demonstrated Within the 6th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok

A scale model of the museum, theatre and educational complex to be located on the Orlinoye Gnezdo (Eagle’s Nest) Hill was demonstrated within the 6th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok; the model was designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, and a Russian designer – GORKA Group of Companies – is responsible for adapting the design to Russian conditions and standards.

The appearance of the future building is intended to catch an eye and shape the image of the city. When developing the design, its authors proceeded from the premise that Russia holds a unique position in terms of the prospective cultural development, and arrangement of a museum, a school for performing arts, as well as an opera and ballet theatre at a dedicated and important location in Vladivostok bears testament to Russia’s constant striving for taking the global lead in terms of cultural experience in future.

The complex on the Orlinoye Gnezdo Hill will represent a composite architectural structure consisting of three buildings designed, respectively, for museum, concert, and educational purposes. Tt will house branches of the country’s major museums – the State Hermitage Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery, the State Museum of Oriental Art, as well as a branch of the Mariinsky Theatre.

When developing the design, its authors proceeded from the premise that Russia holds a unique position in terms of the prospective cultural development, and arrangement of a museum, a school for performing arts, as well as an opera and ballet theatre at a dedicated and important location in Vladivostok bears testament to Russia’s constant striving for taking the global lead in terms of cultural experience in future. The decision to replace the concert hall for 950 seats with a bigger house with a capacity of 1,300 seats has become the most noticeable change from the previous design concept. The layouts provide for stage complex premises, side stages, dressing rooms, and scenery bays; the area of the stage itself has been increased.

Integration of the complex into the existing fabric of the city, as well as landscaping with the use of endemic plants and paving with the use of natural materials, constitute the main architectural idea. The landscape solutions complement the raised operated roofs with terraces and viewing platforms.

The theatre building features a glass-facade lobby facing Aksakovskaya Street. The light-filled lobby leads to the main auditorium. On the third balcony level, a Stravinsky Hall area is arranged, with tiered stalls, for holding children’s matinees and chamber concerts.

A winter garden is available, which can be accessed from the theatre lobby; the garden is located between the theatre, museum, and school-of-theatre-arts buildings.

The museum building is located in the Southern Part of the area overlooking the bay and the city. The entrances lead to the museum lobby, from which the visitors can go upstairs to the exhibition rooms. The exhibition rooms are terraced within the museum building; the overall exhibition is arranged as a system of rooms forming a promenade along which the visitors descend, so that they can view all the exhibitions sequentially or visit only certain rooms. It is planned that a sky bar with an incredible view on the surroundings will be arranged at the highest viewing point. The museum building will also house a conservation and restoration centre, as well as administrative offices of the museum.

The school building is located in the western part of the area. The raised part of the school of theatre arts will have entrances of its own. The first level accommodates a training theatre with side stages and stage complex premises. It also houses a school of creative industries and a gymnasium. Educational facilities and administrative offices are located on the upper floors. All parts of the building form a single sculptural composition rising above the hill.

The main idea of the building facades was the concept of sound with different geometry and vibration frequency. This has called into existence the system of lamellae which run around the facades of the complex with varying rhythm. The finish materials imitating light-coloured stone fit harmoniously into the panoramic view of Vladivostok.

It is planned that the interior finish of the complex will represent a combination of natural colours and materials, wood, stone, terrazzo, and glass.

Construction of the cluster will not only fulfil the cultural and educational potential of the region and secure the status of tourist and cultural centre for Vladivostok, but it will also help expand cultural ties with the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region and improve the insight of the Far East residents and foreign tourists into the best pieces of the Russian culture.

The task of forming four new cultural centres outside Central Russia was set by the Russian President Vladimir Putin in his Address to the Federal Assembly 2018. Later the task was elaborated in the Decree “On National Goals and Strategic Objectives of the Development of the Russian Federation for the Period up to 2024”. The construction was commissioned by the Social and Cultural Projects Fund “National Cultural Heritage”. JSC Stroytransgaz is the general contractor for the construction of cultural and educational complexes in four Russian regions – besides Primorsky Krai, such clusters are being built in the Kemerovo and Kaliningrad Regions, as well as in southern Russia.