Dynamic flow

Yekaterinburg, administrative centre of the Sverdlovsk Oblast district, is the fourth largest city in Russia with a population of more than 1.3 million inhabitants and the biggest industrial and cultural centre on the Asian side of the Urals. It is located 1667 kilometres from Moscow on the legendary border between Europe and Asia, a point marked by an obelisk standing a short distance from the city. Because of its position and the absence of mountain chains to the east, Yekaterinburg is particularly exposed to winds that blow in from Siberia and is prone to sudden and dramatic changes in weather. The summer lasts just a couple of months whereas the winter extends from November to April with temperatures that can drop to minus 40°C in the coldest periods.
In such an extreme climate everything that involves venturing outdoors becomes difficult, even everyday activities such as shopping. As in many northern European capitals, this problem has been overcome by building architectural structures capable of recreating not just a microclimate but a complete human-friendly landscape.
These centres are fragments of an introverted metropolis within which people share consumer spaces and also meet and socialise. They are complex architectural works that not only fulfil the typical functions of retail spaces but above all create ambiences with a clear identity and a high degree of comfort, ideal for customers and visitors who will spend many hours inside, whether in stores, food corners or entertainment and leisure facilities.
The two companies OOO «ASK Gorod» and OOO «Interior Service» led by Sergey Nagrebel’nyy have acquired extensive experience in the design and construction of these complexes and have also completed numerous internationally-renowned fashion brand boutiques, bars, restaurants and public and residential buildings.
One recently completed project is that of a large shopping centre in the centre of Yekaterinburg. It features eye-catching yet sober, elegant interior architecture where the concept of luxury is inspired by Art Deco motifs interpreted in a contemporary vein. It makes extensive use of Granitoker (Metalwood series) and Granitogres (Unicolore series) porcelain tiles produced by Casalgrande Padana and installed in 10×60 cm, 30×60 cm and 60×60 cm sizes and colours Bronzo, Argento and Bianco Assoluto. Thanks to effective use of water-jet cut tiles, the dynamic movement of the curved lines extends over the large floor spaces and is mimicked in the wall decorations. The result is a display space of outstanding environmental quality, where the ceramic material acts as a figurative presence that makes a vital contribution to the success of the entire project.