two-level apartment with a total area of ​​154 m2 Maxim Pogorely, Vitaly Dorokhov

Passing the gallery

Materials prepared: Olga Vologdina

A photo: Karen Manko

Idea: Maxim Pogorely

Architect: Vitaly Dorokhov

Magazine: N4 (71) 2003

"The more I recognize people, the more I love plants." These words of the customer served as the starting point in the creation of original Kiev interior. The role of the "botanical garden" was to be performed by an ordinary city apartment ...Maxim Pogorely: The concept of the interior was based on the idea of ​​the most open space with an abundance of air and greenery. The customer wanted space. That is why the theme of a studio apartment originated in the interior solution, and the studio as a self-sufficient eco-space. We considered the concept of environmental friendliness not so much from the point of view of the actual ecology (cleaning, ionization of air and water, temperature and humidity control, sound insulation from the outside world), but also from the standpoint of creating the zone of maximum spiritual comfort and comfort. That is - the ecology of the personality as such, in all physical and psychological aspects. Such attention to the ecology of space is not accidental. The landlord leads a healthy lifestyle, and we played out the supposed scenarios of existence in such a house. For example, smoking guests: in the kitchen, installed two powerful hoods, allowing you to instantly clean the air from the adjacent living room from smoke, etc.Vitaliy Dorokhov: We tried to create an interior informatively unloaded, in this sense it exists in the tradition of minimalism. At the same time, they deliberately avoided brutality by introducing a tree into the decoration, populating the space with living plants.Maxim Pogorely: The space is homocentric: in any place of the apartment the visitor feels as if being in its center - in the anthropological sense, human, and not composite, of course. Life passes exactly where the person is: in the bedroom so in the bedroom, in the bathroom so in the bathroom. There are no passages that fall outside the general context, zones. The space is one, visible, not just focused on the visitor, but turned inward: the windows are shuttered - and the world around ceases to exist, giving the visitor and owner to enjoy each other’s company or themselves when they are alone. Any mass media, therefore, is clearly absent: there is no television or radio. Emotional space is created by music: built-in speakers are installed throughout the apartment (sound is supplied to all zones from a single source, and each can adjust the sound power). In theory, this space is not capable of revolution: repainting of walls, rearrangements of furniture, change of decor. It can only evolve, avoiding cardinal changes - moving paintings on the walls, the emergence of new, and the expansion of bamboo, finally. Even the concept of furniture does not allow permutations. As one of the guests justly noted, this apartment is designed for one person, maximum for a couple. It does not imply differences, "fragmentation" of interests. The life of the owners is intense, centered, very focused on what is happening in the house. If it is a couple, then the couple listens to the same music, goes to bed at the same time. That is, there must be a complete consonance of people with each other - and apartments with these people. I wanted - and almost succeeded! - do not overload the space with cute designer things: furniture, lamps, knick-knacks, etc. Everything, except for chairs, plumbing fixtures and lamps, was made to order. The idea of ​​furniture is inspired by the works of John Pesson and Shiger Ban, John Lautner and some allusions on the subject of tatami-room.Vitaliy Dorokhov: Initially there was a four-room apartment with a nondescript system of small rooms, a large hall and corridors with two half-levels shifted in relation to each other - that is, a textbook two-floor apartment. The architectural concept emerged gradually. The idea and design of each zone were born as the previous fragments appeared. Then they united in a common space, and if the metaphor “the interior grew and was built like a puzzle,” is appropriate, then it is.Kirill Bolenko (customer): Vitaly Dorokhov and Maxim Pogorelyy were advised to me by my acquaintances who had built an apartment for him. There were many ideas that I wanted to realize. I met with one, another, third architect, but their question: "Why do you need it?" - fought off any desire to continue cooperation. When I met the guys, I realized that these are the people that I need. Vitali, despite the young age, built a lot. In addition, he has a remarkable quality: an inspired person, irrepressible in search of a new one — solutions, materials, technologies. He submitted several productive ideas, including the idea of ​​monoculture (I originally planned a green garden from different plants). The enthusiasm of designer Maxim Pogorely was also very impressed. Worked with him in unison. My dreams and fantasies, some not even decorated with words, he miraculously felt and embodied in reality. And if we consider that in Kiev, many of the latest technologies and materials are not available, the authors have worked hard. Maxim Pogorely: "The concept arose not just from the desire to realize a certain stylistic idea. I wanted to create a closed ecospace, in which you can exist almost without going outside. The interior is minimalist, and yet it is not minimalism in its pure form. The tree in the living room gives it softness, intimacy and warmth. I think we managed to find the balance where functionality and imagery harmoniously coexist. "