Complex of ruined Greenhouse and Wine warehouse

Yaroslavl State Technical University

Project idea

Location: Russia, Yaroslavl region, Karabikha

The Greenhouse and the Wine Warehouse - today, are both a ruined red brick building on the borders of the park of the estate of N. A. Nekrasov. They are important visual markers in the sparse estate development.
These ruined buildings are located on the borders of the cultural heritage site. That being said, the wine warehouse flanks the estate's eastern entrance and is the first building we encounter at the main entrance. The greenhouse also connects the main axis, stretching from the main building of the estate. The loss of such an important element in this composition as the belvedere near the greenhouse broke the visual connection between the main dominants of the building.

The cultural heritage ruins of the Nekrasov manor are monuments of federal significance and they are included in the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage Objects.

Based on the analyzes of the current situation, we tried to answer the question of is it possible to revive and adapt the long-abandoned manor objects in the zone of protection of the cultural heritage.

Project description

In this context , we decided to work in the historical dimensions of the object while maintaining its original silhouette. This solution was chosen for the most gentle impact on the ruins and the environment as a whole.
Focusing on the surrounding buildings and the typology of these buildings, we came up with a gable roof silhouette for both buildings.

The main feature of working with the greenhouse is the re-creation in the scale and rhythm module of the belvedere, which, when removed from it, was made of a strong steel mesh. This step is necessary to restore the balance of the visual communications of the composition of the estate, to enable dialogue between the buildings and their intertemporal connection.

The greenhouse retains its original function, while the western wing is reserved for a small coffee house-garden, since there is no place on the estate and in the surrounding area where one could relax and enjoy the views. The central part begins with a vestibule, brought into the ground part of the belvedere, then already inside the main room we immediately see a staircase to the observation deck, and behind it are bathrooms hidden behind false walls. On the right hand at the entrance there is a greenhouse with various types of plants, places for relaxation and a small stage for the possibility of holding musical evenings. On the left hand is a coffee shop for 25-30 people, then a bar counter and kitchen and staff rooms.

The wine warehouse is wider and visual proximate to other buildings of the estate. So in this case we decided to go the palimpsest route with layering several layers to create a contrasting neutral background to solo the ruins.

The wine warehouse no longer carries its historical function, which is inherent in the name, now this building becomes a museum visitor center at the entrance to the estate and an open archive, with the possibility of arranging lectures.

Technical information

The greenhouse is “dressed” in translucent frosted glass to create the most neutral background. The glass itself comes with a breakdown and plays the role of compositional seams, connecting all the fragments of the facade in its background neutrality, creating a contrast without conflict, and the attraction of opposites.

The presence of plants in the greenhouse in combination with frosted glass creates an incredible illusion of the absence of matter and maximum unification with nature.

For wine warehouse we chose smooth gray concrete as the wall material, which, in contrast to the red torn brick of the warehouse, will organically fit in, reveal and expose the ruin itself and its history, and strive to express the essence of the spirit of the place. The roofing is gray, folded, matte, its texture is the most suitable for the selected concrete, merging with it into a single whole, and creating a single neutral background, on which the wine warehouse is sewn, while maintaining the unity of detail and background.