HAPPY MALL

Another interesting implemented project, on which our team worked, was the Happy Mall "Na Shchaslyvomu". Working from the concept stage to implementation, we comprehensively approached the solution of problems, combining architectural and planning solutions with the surrounding territory, as well as rethinking the function of the shopping center itself not as a typical "mall", but as an important anchor of the district with an active living public space.

Оutput data

At the time of our involvement in the project, the "box" of the future shopping center had already been built, and most of the area for parking had been asphalted. We began by carefully analyzing the location, the context of the surrounding development, existing and potential connections (pedestrian and transport). Based on the analysis and in the process of discussions, it was possible to convince the customer to change the previous planning decisions by partially reorganizing the parking area. The location of the shopping mall is generally very important from the point of view of the entire microdistrict, in fact the area in front of the shopping center will serve as a mini square of the district and concentrate a large number of people who can rest, meet friends, and spend time together. This understanding was the basis of project decisions.

Planning decisions

The planning of the territory in the existing limited conditions provided for the allocation of a wide pedestrian area in front of the main facade of the mall - the future public space not only of the mall, but also of the district. Potential connections with the shopping center from nearby residential buildings, public transport stops, and the park were worked out. In order to implement the plans to combine the territory of the shopping mall with the park, the customer even agreed to dismantle the fence in the park, lay additional paths, lower the roadway and take away part of the parking spaces in order to arrange a direct path from the park to the shopping center. It is worth emphasizing that all planning decisions were based on ensuring accessibility, starting from barrier-free entrances to the building to lowering pedestrian crossings, as well as connections to existing paths and walkways of the surrounding area. It was also proposed to slightly change the organization of traffic in the parking lot (marking) in order to divide the space more clearly and improve parking and traffic conditions.

Architectural solutions

During the design of the shopping center, the name "Happy Mall" appeared, which formed the basis of the conceptual solutions. The idea of "a gift in a bright wrapper" on Shchaslyvo was incorporated into the architecture of the mall's facade. An important task was to make the building not look like one solid and heavy volume. To do this, we used different divisions of the facade, a combination of textures and textures. The play of light and shadow, as well as color, which gives the building more expressiveness. To emphasize the entrance group, volumes of cubic elements appeared. Volumetric cubes change from bottom to top with a flow of colors, turning into mirror elements that reflect the environment. The basement part of the building has a vertical structure, and in order to emphasize these verticals and visually raise the building, we used illumination of these parts.

Facade lighting

At night, to emphasize the shape and main details of the building, special nodes of hidden fastening have been developed. Contour and accent lighting is used to highlight the main recognizable geometry of "Happy Mall" and emphasize the three-dimensional cubes of the entrance group.

Engineering solutions

In this project, the engineering and design department was engaged in the important and relevant work of calculating the design and manufacturing of nodes (for example, the obtained drainage according to the volume cubes of the input group from the glass roof). Often, this work is not visible to the average eye, but it is necessary for the high-quality implementation of project solutions. At each of the stages of construction, there was a constant author's view.

Environment design

During the improvement of the territory, the selection of paving "patterns" and the configuration of green areas, they tried to support the architectural solutions of the main facade. The design of the square in front of the mall is a continuation of the building's architecture. In particular, the segmentation of the paving into trapezoidal planes was used as a reference to the segmentation of the main planes of the facades, and for their visual combination - a "pulsating" line of perforated paving stones along the facade. For the effect of contrast and to smooth out the mostly sharp broken geometric shapes, the central green zones are formed in the form of round flower beds. There are round benches along their contour, and grass and a tree in the middle. Paving - cobblestones are selected in different colors and textures - large-format concrete cobblestones in 2 colors are combined with an uneven surface of natural stone inserts.

Street furniture

The design of the outdoor furniture was matched to the general concept of the space. All elements are individually manufactured, which were made according to our drawings by the customer (lamps) and our permanent local partner Wood Play workshop (benches, chairs, bike racks and trash cans). Lamps for lighting the square, bike racks and trash cans have sharp trapezoidal shapes, as well as elements of the facade and paving pattern.

Landscaping

Landscaping of the territory was selected from the point of view of decorativeness and functionality. Hawthorns were chosen for round green zones, because they have a compact crown and an interesting structure of branches, as well as decorativeness in different seasons - from pink flowers in spring to red berries in autumn and winter. The lower and middle tiers of landscaping are formed by perennial grasses and shrubs - ground cover mountain ash, evergreen ground cover pine, echinacea and meadowsweet. This combination creates the effect of weightlessness (light structure of cereals), decorativeness (echinacea and mountain flowers) and a green background (evergreen pine). Unfortunately, due to low-quality planting material and care features, landscaping solutions were partially changed and do not correspond to the primary approach. A good solution is to land in the parking lot in the landscaping strips of large-sized trees - maples, which will become wider and provide shade over time.

Conclusion

In general, the value of project solutions for this object lies in its complexity and integrity - architectural solutions are combined with planning ones. In addition, project solutions are based on reinterpreting the meaning of the object as a typical Rivne mall - only parking and the shopping center building itself, which was foreseen by the previous project. Together with the customer, we managed to realize an architecturally bright anchor building and a full-fledged public space around it, which is already a place of rest for the residents of the area, and with the opening of the shopping center, it fully attracts visitors.