ARCHITECTURE

portfolio
VERONIKA VOLKOVA
portfolio of creative works

I WISH TO SHAPE A WORLD

OF UNRESTRICTED
CREATIVE FREEDOM AND
COOPERATION

COMMUNITY CENTER
URBAN RENEWAL

PHARMACEUTICAL INSTITUTE
& STUDENT HOUSING

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THE BENT HOUSE

STORYTELLING DESIGN

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TOKYO REPLAY CENTER

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DRAMA THEATRE
THE URBAN STAGE

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SPATIAL FANTASIES

& DIGITAL WONDERS

The small scale of the constructive elements and

the use of timber structure opposes the cumbrous
concrete environment of the neighborhood.
I believe that big changes are brought in small
steps. Small architectural interventions are able to
transform a city.

COMMUNITY CENTER
URBAN RENEWAL

project title: Community Center and Urban Renewal Proposal,

Novogireevo, Moscow
project type: academic
course: 6th year studio
school: Moscow Architectural Institute
Faculty of Housing and Public Buildings
professors: prof. Dr. Diakonova T.A.,assoc. prof. Skachkov V.F.,
assoc. prof. Sulim K.L.,asst. prof. Motova A.S.
date: fall 2013
time available: 2 months
brief : the initial task was to analyze a neighborhood with a
complex urban situation and to propose a small-scale architectural
intervention that would solve local development problems.

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Veronika Volkova

nika.volkoff@gmail.com

The social and economic success of the single

human-scaled project would engender the
development tendencies that would place a human
and a community in focus.

Novogireevo district of Moscow is a place of the

great potential that was largely wasted during the
post-soviet years of chaotic development.
The area of the central square of Novogireevo is
packed with massive retail buildings. The landscape
is ruined by numerous parking lots and temporary
kiosks. Albeit every square meter of the land is in
use, there are few places to meet with friends and
spend ones time productively.
The proposed Community Center is a place for
meetings - it contains rooms for leisure activities,
a coworking area and a meeting hall that could be
used for public discussions, presentations or music
events. I want people to get out into the city and
meet with each other.

The triangular form of

the building reduces
the snow load, heat
losses and usage of
building materials.
At the same time its
graphic silhouette
enriches the image of
the neighborhood.
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2
2

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Novogireevo - urban rooms

Plan development

The Community Center is located near the central square of the

district. It connects the public area of the central square with the
currently isolated pond. The proposed building takes the place
of the existing temporary structure currently occupied with a
clothing shop.

The plan is based on the straight path that connects the road
with the pond. I have divided the structure into 3 separate
volumes in order to lessen the scale of it. The area of each
volume vary depending on its function.

1. Community Center 2. Subway entrance 3. Square 4. Cinema

5. Shopping mall 6. Pond

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The axis of the middle volume rotates, thus creating the better
view on the pond and the surrounding green area from the
interior.

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1.

Entrance

2.

Reception

3.

Grand staircase

4.

Circulation

5.

Lounge

6.

Leisure rooms

7.

Coworking area

8.

Foyer

9.

Meeting hall

SPACE FOR PEOPLE

The project of the Community
Center places a human in its
focus. The place-receiving
experience of a user is driven
by the relationships between a
human body and the building.
The sequence of diverse
spaces provides an exciting
experience both within and
beside the building.

10. Stage
11.

Backstage

12. Accessible roof

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11

12
extreme
width

height
ways out extreme
brightness extreme

width

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3

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width
loudness

height

height

ways
waysout
out

low

brightness
brightness extreme
loudness
loudness
width
height
ways out

Perception
scheme

low
low

1 1

2 3

low

brightness
loudness
4

Foyer of the meeting hall

Grand staircase

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PHARMACEUTICAL INSTITUTE
& STUDENT HOUSING

project title: Pharmaceutical Institute & Student Housing

in the Town of Tver, Russia
project type: academic
course: 6th year studio
school: Moscow Architectural Institute
Faculty of Housing and Public Buildings
professors: prof. Dr. Diakonova T.A.,assoc. prof. Skachkov V.F.,
assoc. prof. Sulim K.L.,asst. prof. Motova A.S.
date: fall 2012 - spring 2013
time available: 8.5 months

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Veronika Volkova

nika.volkoff@gmail.com

Architecture of educational facilities plays an important

role in shaping a society. Furthermore, establishing new
schools and universities is able to cure the condition of
social stagnation and population outflow that are typical
for many Russian cities. These two points have outlined
my choice of designing an institute in Tver for a thesis
project.
The project consists of two parts: the masterplan
proposal for Tver and further elaboration of one of the
key sites of the city. The proposed Institute campus
is placed into the natural landscape of the riverside.
Two main principles embedded in this project are
environmental intelligence and versatile learning
experience.

NEW
MASTER PLAN
PROPOSAL
Urban redevelopment proposal was
a team project made by the 6th
year design studio. Afterwards, each
student made a design proposal for
one of the chosen sites.

BUILD-OUT

EXISTING STRUCTURES

PROPOSALS
NEW BLOCKS

PROPOSED STRUCTURES

Authors: I. Zhukov, ,A. Malchevskaya,

E. Soldatova, M. Stepanova,
A. Sharapova;Y. Saraikina, V. Volkova,
R. Isakova, T. Melnikova.

continuous green area along

the river: recreational and
forest park zones;
replacing private cottage
housing from the town
center;

EXISTING URBAN ROOMS

COMPOSITION SEARCHING

PROPOSED URBAN ROOMS

setting new dominants at

the intersections of arterial
roads;
new highways reconnect
separate districts; new
bridge connects two shores;
redevelopment of industrial
clusters within the city.

RAILROAD
ARTERIAL ROADS

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PROPOSED S ROADS AND GREENERY

RAILROAD
ARTERIAL ROADS

PROPOSED S ROADS AND GREENERY

SQUARE
MASS DISSOLVEMENT

PLAN DEVELOPMENT

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The sloping roof represents a shelter or a grove.

It can also be reminiscent of a set of pharmaceutical glassware.

study & production

visitors center
housing
sport & leisure
nearby facilities

hospital

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2

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6
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1.

Green roof

Site: 4.5 ha

2.

Greenhouse

3.

Sports & media center

4.

Departments

Proximity: river, monastery, city center,

educational and cultural facilities,
transport hubs, social housing,
tourists center, water park.

5.

Study & production center

Capacity: 2000 students

6.

Inner yard

7.

Junior students dorms

Divisions: undergraduate
graduate

8.

Senior students dorms

9.

Teachers housing

junior students
housing

teachers housing

senior students
labs

senior students
classrooms

junior students
labs

junior students
classrooms

green roof
housing

senior students
housing
riverfront

greenhouse
library

aquapark

lounge
assembly hall

sport grounds

Housing: 228 rooms for

288 students

inner yard

departments
rooms
exhibition space

foyer
study & production
visitors center
housing
sport & leisure
nearby facilities

gym

production labs

cafe
technical rooms

conference hall

office

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4
1

3
underground level

Greenhouse / 2nd level

Lounge area from the 2nd level

Lounge area / underground level

Amphi-theater from the inner yard

Lounge area from the dinig hall

Amphi-theater from the ground level

2
1
3

2 level

-1 level:

Ground level:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Piazza
Foyer
Lounge (-1 lvl)
Buffet
Dining hall
Lounge (-1 lvl)
Gym
Media center
Library foyer

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

Departments rooms
Auditorium (60 places)
Student labs
Conference hall (250 places)
Entrance
Parking entrance
Inner yard

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Lounge
Inner yard
Technical rooms
Book depository
Exhibition
Production labs
Research rooms

8.

Parking

2 level:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Assembly hall
Greenhouse
Offices
Faculty rooms
Labs
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In a Russian forest a tree grew up.

es

E
S
U
TH
Ogn
H
EB
T
sto E N d
r yt e lli n g
project title: Guest House Near Town of Smolensk, Russia
project type: professional
company: AABA architects
project team: Y. Loginov (chief architect),
V.Volkova (concept, architectural and landcape design),
E.Sushko (working drawings), ESSE (structal engineering)
date: fall 2014 - current time
status: under construction

I want a fairytale!
Said the customer.
And that is what he got.

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Veronika Volkova

nika.volkoff@gmail.com

It stood high and proud until a man hewed it down

to build a home for his family.

The Bent House was designed as a selfcontained mono-space that represents

the personality of the client. It is a guest
accommodation and a lounge space, working
as an extension of the main house situated
nearby.
The form of the house embodies its organic
reaction to the context. The client got the
site with the pre-built concrete stylobate. We
made this reconstruction of the previously dull
shape, bending and twisting it in response to
its surroundings.

As a house, the tree sprouted again.

The trunk ramifies

towards the key
elements of the
landscape.

vent pipes

chimney pipe

air holes

Air holes and the

longitudinal gills
provide natural
ventilation of the
timber roof.

timber shingles

ridge frame

common rafters

plate

Timber frames of the

roof are opened into
the interior and are
supported by the walls
and the pillar.

eaves

basement stairs

support pillar

concrete walls

Designers window
frames are connected
to the interior shelves
of the library.

air duct

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How does cultural heritage of

an individual influence his or her
personal awareness of the world
around him or her?
The Bent House depicts both
the clients personal values and
cultural context of the Smolensk
region with its appreciation of
Russian folklore.

1st level
2nd level (to the right)

1.

Mono-space: kitchen, dining

area, lounge

2.

Drawing room

3.

Library

4.

Bedroom

5.

Wine cellar

6.

Storage

7.

Billiard room

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TOKYO REPLAY CENTER

BRIEF / PROPOSAL
The task was to place 60
karaoke rooms at the area
of Akihabara The Electric
Town.

project title: Tokyo Replay Center of Music Production

and Entertainment in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan

TRC music production

and leisure center allows
visitors to create and
have fun with the help of
advanced technologies.

3 main functions
(karaoke rooms,
auditorium and public
space) are placed both
above and below the
ground level.

project type: competition

organizator: ArchMedium
team mates: Julia (Afito) Saraikina (equal workload)
date: fall 2012
time available: 1 month

AKIHABARA STATION

Akihabara is a center
of both advanced
technologies and
anime (Japanese
cartoons and comics).

TRC

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Veronika Volkova

nika.volkoff@gmail.com

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TRC

27 m

karaoke rooms

administration & registration

shops

21 m

auditorium + tech.rooms
bar + kitchen

multi-functional space & circulation

electronic billboard

green roof
9m

SOUTH MEDIA FACADE

Both facades use

media technologies
to interact with
the city. The green
roof soothens the
hectic ambiance of
the Akiba street.

0.8 m

It shows how music production rooms function. The relevant

square of the facade is colored according to the sound
intensity within the room.

NORTH MEDIA FACADE

-12 m

It functions as an electronic billboard and shows promotional

images and videos about TRC and Akihabara.

ground floor

Interior is combined
with spaces that are
developed vertically
in two directions,
enriching the placerecieving experience
of a visitor.
underground floor

south facade

TRC

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north facade

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TRC

DRAMA THEATER
THE URBAN STAGE

The forked street is directed

to the Kremlin.
The triangular shape of
the site has influenced the
planar structure of the
Drama Theater.
The pedestrian passage
reaches though the
building, connecting the
two streets.

project title: Drama Theatre in Moscow, Russia

project type: academic
course: 5th year studio
school: Moscow Architectural Institute
Faculty of Housing and Public Buildings
professors: prof. Dr. Diakonova T.A.,assoc. prof. Skachkov V.F.,
assoc. prof. Sulim K.L.,asst. prof. Motova A.S.

The theater was created to tell people the truth about

life and the social situation.
Stella Adler
The task was to design a drama theater with a
classical scene for 660 people and additional spaces
for experimental performances and theatrical
festivals.

date: fall 2011

time available: 2 months

Plan development

Visual connectivity
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Veronika Volkova

nika.volkoff@gmail.com

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DT

conventional + massive + enclosed

Classic Theater
Black Box Theater
Street Theater
trending + incorporeal + opened

The inner yard containing stage works as a

buffer between the black box and classic parts
of the theater. This outer stage is a social hub
and a starting point for trending on-themove plays.
The frame encloses the yard and creates a
cinematic visual connection between urban
environment and the interior space of the
yard, allowing to watch a city from within the
theater and vice versa.

SPATIAL FANTASIES
& DIGITAL WONDERS
where: children summer camp Junio-R in Bulgaria
when: august 2015
what: Supervision of several interdisciplinary projects
made by 8-18 y.o. children.

II

Tutors: V. Volkova (Spatial Fantasies class)

& D. Soshnikov (Digital Wonders class)
whats next: design hackathons in Moscow (in progress)

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I. VIRTUAL MUSEUM
3D scanning of people a 3D museum a VR via Unity

II. MEDIA EYE

Movement sensor a Pixel art a Coding a Space preparation a Media Eye pavillion

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III. TURNING HEAD

VERONIKA VOLKOVA

Kinect a Coding a Art object a Turning head attraction

nika.volkoff@gmail.com
8 916 587 4931

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