Tower of the public and business Lakhta Center is the symbol of new St Petersburg. It is very spectacular, but the complex wouldn’t be so harmonious without the multifunctional building. It’s become the second architectural dominant, not vertical but horizontal. MFB looks like open hands. It is the carefully calculated balance between the vertical and horizontal lines that creates the unique harmony in the architecture of the entire complex.
MFB is more complicated structurally than Tower. Its northern and southern wings rise to the sky like two waves in the Gulf of Finland. The smooth facades with negative slope angles, the building height changing from 7 to 17 floors, the complex shape of the roof, all conspire to make MFB look as if it was light and aery. But the total weight of all steel structures of MFB is comparable to the weight of an ocean cruise liner at about 24 thousand tones.
The Multifunctional Building is more complex than the Tower not just in terms of design. It offers far more functions: there are spaces for various events, sports, recreation, education, restaurants and cafes.
The North and South Blocks are connected by bridges that serve as observation decks. In its southern part all kinds of the most unusual expositions and performances can be organized. And the most spectacular facility in the main pedestrian gallery is the planetarium sphere.
It is an 18-meter metal sphere, three quarters of which are plunged in the glass facade. The sphere is made up of polished stainless steel triangles that are installed in a pipe frame which sits on a load bearing concrete structure. However, the carefully thought-out design solutions give the impression that the planetarium sphere is floating on air. The planetarium will become part of the scientific and educational centre, a modern high tech space open to the public.
The complex also includes a health centre, a restaurant area and a small retail gallery. The sports centre is not only a gym for doing exercise; it also provides a spectacular view of the Gulf of Finland from the swimming pool.
Given this range of capabilities Lakhta Center will undoubtedly become a new truly multifunctional centre of gravity. It is a whole city where anyone can find something to do, capable of welcoming and wowing up to one million St Petersburg residents and visitors every year.
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Russian video - • Лахта Центр. Многофунк...
7 окт 2024
