INRTU Student Won the Grand Prix of the Competition for the Best Air Terminal Project in Kirensk
Valeria Bogomazova, a student of INRTU, won the Grand Prix in a design competition of an air terminal in Kirensk. The author came up with a new image of the air harbor in the form of a ship and received a tour to Baikal as a reward.
Kirensk district administration approached INRTU with a request to design a new air terminal. The two-story brick airport, built in the 1940s, is a strategic facility for the northern town. There are regular flights to Irkutsk. However, the building is badly outdated and there was a need to modernize the air hub.
According to Professor Inna Druzhinina, when students began their work, they practiced the volume and spatial model. They were learning to design buildings for public and industrial purposes. Most of the initial data were studied remotely. Nevertheless, at one of the classes they met with representatives of the airport management.
"Initially it was planned to limit ourselves to course papers. Then we decided to hold a competition, inviting authoritative experts to the jury. Unanimously, the Grand Prix was awarded to Valeria Bogomazova. The student most vividly revealed the identity of the port city, came up with original ideas related to the appearance of the building and the terminal square. She also designed the territory around the air terminal in detail, proposing new planning connections," commented Inna Druzhinina.
In Valeria's project, the roof is crowned by a glass dome, which seems to pierce the port through, forming an atrium space. The square in front of the building is decorated with an anchor.
As Valeria Bogomazova noted, navigation on the Lena River has played a huge role in the history of Kirensk, and maintenance of water transportation is still an important source of income for the local population. It is also important that Kirensk is a stopping point on the Ust-Kut - Yakutsk cruise. All this inspired her to design a ship-shaped airport.
Valeria Bogomazova was congratulated by Daria Shemetova, Chairperson of the Commission and Director of Kirensk Airport. In her opinion, it is Valeria's project that emphasizes the atmosphere of Kirensk "as a city of rivermen". Darya Shemetova awarded the student with a tour to Peschanaya Bay from Eastland Group, which includes Kirensk Airport.
In addition, the jury determined the leaders in two other nominations. Alina Kalinina took the first place in the direction of "Functional Planning Solution". The student's project emphasizes the authenticity of Kirensk.
"I wanted the air terminal not to stand out from the surrounding and dominant buildings. So I tried to make a reference to wooden architecture in the design with an emphasis on the introduction of new technologies and materials," Alina shared.
Elizaveta Eryomenko was the first in the "Volume and Spatial Solution" nomination. In her search for the image of the airport, she referred to the name of the Kirenga River, from which the word "Kirensk" is formed. In the Evenki language it means "eagle's nest". Therefore, the author chose the image of a bird of prey as the basis of the composition.
"The terminal's cantilever symbolizes an eagle's head, while the shed is reminiscent of an eagle's wingbeat. Also, to visually separate the volumes of the floors, I chose different architectural techniques and materials. As a finish for the second floor I proposed broken laths, and for the first floor – panoramic glazing. The configuration and color of these elements refer to the waves of the Lena River, near which the airport is located. I believe that such symbolism gives individuality to the whole architecture of the building," the student explains her idea.
The curator of the project is Professor Inna Druzhinina. The professor has established contacts with the heads of municipalities, searches for assignments, and coordinates colleagues. Earlier, under her guidance, students carried out projects for Angarsk and Olkhon district. The cooperation is supported by Alexandra Borisova, Head of the Irkutsk Region Architecture Service.
