Center in shell

After the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s, even in the capital of Russia, the design and construction were minimally regulated, leading to the emergence of buildings from the 1990s to the early 2000s that were poorly planned and dissonant with the urban environment—structures that appeared as foreign insertions into the city’s architecture. Unfortunately, many of these buildings still exist today, even in the center of Moscow, and superficial facade improvements do not significantly enhance the city’s appearance.

The situation can be changed with the concept of lightweight facades proposed by the architectural studio za bor. Continuing to explore the possibilities of lightweight constructions, architects Pyotr Zaytsev and Arseny Borisenko, using one of Moscow’s large shopping centers (built in 2002) as an example, suggested using available materials to create attractive facades. This project tackles two tasks simultaneously—improving the urban environment and serving as a landmark, attracting potential shoppers to the shopping center.

To refine the facade, perforated and stretched metal sheets were used—a simple, cost-effective, and lightweight material. These sheets are attached to a polygonal metal frame anchored to the existing building facade. The point load generated by this method is insignificant for the building’s structural elements.

During the summer months, the shell made of perforated and stretched metal sheets significantly reflects and diffuses light, allowing it to be used as an awning and reducing wall heating, positively affecting the costs required for air conditioning. Moreover, it can function as a large screen for light shows, movies, and advertisements. With the help of an application, anyone can use Wi-Fi in this location and, through the shopping center’s app, listen to the audio track accompanying the projected video at that moment using their smartphone.

Thanks to this technically straightforward solution, which requires minimal time and financial investment, visually inappropriate shopping center buildings can become interesting objects that attract and entertain residents and visitors of the city in a matter of weeks. Importantly, improving the urban environment in this case can significantly increase the profits of the shopping center’s owners and tenants, making it more popular and noticeable.