Lobby of a Sports Complex

The client, a well-known Russian company, approached us through the largest design institute in St. Petersburg with an invitation to a design competition. They admitted that they knew nothing about us before but decided to look at our work because the competition was international and involved British, German, and American studios. They wanted more diverse approach and the client was curious about what a Japanese architect could do.

They wanted to design the interior of the lobby for a sports complex with an ice rink. The existing building has an unconventional layout resembling a triangle in shape, with transitions from the hall to the floors. In addition, structurally necessary columns were placed across the lobby, which visually cut the space into pieces and did not allow to feel its volume. The interior itself should be luxurious enough and appropriate for the level of visitors, but at the same time it is a public space lobby, so there were no exorbitant budgets for decoration.

The Japanese architect proposed a concept based on the continuity of movement and tranquility. We know from physics that movement begins during the rest phase. Rest and recovery are an integral, and often no less important, part of professional sport than the training itself; after achieving a result, we must take time to contemplate it, otherwise the work becomes a race for the sake of the process. Tranquility is reflected in the classic, but monochrome interior design, which allows those who are there to relax and concentrate on their emotions and thoughts.

Movement is embodied in the kinetic sculpture, placed in the atrium in the center of the lobby. The moving installation is inspired by a similar composition from the BMW Museum in Munich. It consists of silver spheres suspended from the ceiling on cables; the spheres move vertically; the speed and sequence of movements are adjustable. The sculpture can change its appearance to mimic the peaceful movement of water in normal times or a sporting game on a competition day.