MAKHNO Studio deserves a place on the imaginary list of the most daring architectural studios: as futuristic as it is nature-centric, it is provocative yet open to compromise. Their FUTURA project reflects this approach—the designers of MAKHNO Studio have created a concept for a giant Ukrainian industrial enterprise that could serve as an example for future architects.
It depends on the architectural firm, but designing a new headquarters for a metallurgical company is a daunting task even for the most experienced. In spite of all this, FUTURA has been designed with a series of bold choices, from the color scheme to the roof garden, resulting in a unique benchmark for modern Ukrainian architecture.
A key step in the design of FUTURA was to take ecosystems into account, as the designers wanted to create not just a building, but a living space where nature, architecture, design, and landscape all coexist. This is also why the use of black is so dominant—at first glance, it may seem a drastic choice, but it is the result of a conscious decision: black is both a natural color and a reflection of the client’s business, the steel industry. To optimize costs, the building’s cladding is made up of lighter elements, which nevertheless creates an extravagant look—a mix of sheet metal, wood-framed facades, wood panels, metal and glass structures.
Thanks to MAKHNO Studio’s holistic vision, the architectural unity of FUTURA results in perfect harmony, it’s people-centered while also aiming to serve future needs. “For us, the goal of the project was to create something non-standard and provocative, with an open space for studying, working, and relaxing. A new control point of the city, which could become a model for the future neighbors of the complex,” comments the studio team.
In the center of the space stands an unexpected object, a sculpture of the studio’s own design. This is almost the case today, but in the future, hopefully, no building will be able to exist without a green area, so to enhance the tranquil atmosphere, an urban garden is placed on top of the central building. This garden contains a number of elements, from the dome-shaped arbors to the sculpture walkway and the fountains, giving the place a meditative atmosphere.
The studio fully incorporated its own principles into the FUTURA project, which is probably the secret behind this creation, which at first glance seems so rugged and yet so human. It is also a reflection of MAKHNO’s view of design as an art form: since the whole complex is decorated with unique art objects, it can also be interpreted as a contemporary piece of art. Then there’s the much-discussed naturalness, creating a balance between the industrial scene and the urban landscape. When one discovers the references to tradition with an expert eye, it becomes clear what makes this project so humane: the ‘guardians’ of the place are the aforementioned DIDO sculptures, which are the basis of Ukrainian culture and a direct descendant of Ukrainian zoomorphic sculpture—moreover, the sculptures, lamps, ceramics, and other handicraft objects come from workshops evoking ancient crafts. Last but not least, as traditional and ancestral as it is, it also embraces the future—the studio has incorporated a number of innovative solutions into FUTURA that serve the idea that there’s no past without a future, and vice versa.
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