16.01.2019 Duy Mac

Rings on a Chessboard: Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology by Herzog & de Meuron

Foto: Iwan Baan

The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology is a new global centre for applied research in the areas of technology and science. It is located within Moscow’s third ring road. Unlike the satellite cities of the former Soviet Union, the Skolkovo integrates itself into the infrastructure and cultural life of the Russian capital.

The overall concept is based on the idea of five districts in the form of urban islands that come together in a picturesque landscape. Uniform homogeneity is not the goal here - each district is being designed by a different architecture studio. Herzog & de Meuron have created District 3 from three circular shapes with “Skoltech University” at their heart.

The building is structured by an outer ring and two smaller inner rings. The outer areas are home to office spaces, while the inner rings accommodate teaching rooms and a large auditorium. As on a chessboard, laboratories and workshops are located on a logical grid of repetitive building blocks. The three rings encompass the strict arrangement of blocks; the interplay of geometric shapes creates a sculptural form.

Photo: Iwan Baan

Further information:

Partners: Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Stefan Marbach (Partner in Charge)

Project Team: Tomislav Dushanov (Associate, Project Director), Tobias Winkelmann (Associate, Project Director), Olga Bolshanina (Associate, Project Manager), Ilia Tsachev (Project Manager)

Design Consultant

Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland

Executive Architect

Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd., London, UK

General Designer

Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd., London, UK

Landscape Design

Vogt Landschaftsarchitekten AG, Zurich, Switzerland

Electrical Engineering

Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd., London, UK

HVAC Engineering

Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd., London, UK