"European quality" and "exclusive design of residential interior" today promise many construction companies to the customer. A conscientious performer is really able to provide a sufficiently high level of construction and finishing works, however, no, no, yes, and a tricky thought creeps in: is it worth it? Does the result pay back a lot of money invested in the "European-quality repair"? You can, of course, do without the services of specialists. Just hire workers and, taking the foremen with them, go on a shopping trip. And even better - to entrust this occupation to the spouse. But how can you (or her) navigate the vast market of furniture, plumbing, building materials? How to choose what is in quality and in appearance will correspond to your ideas about the ideal house? In the company "Mainland" are different people. Each of them has his own unique life experience. As a rule, there is also the experience of apartment renovation - sometimes unpleasant. People are used to it: no one will solve their problems for them. Therefore, when they come to an architect or interior designer, many begin to explain to professionals what they should do, what to look for. All the same as if we, having come to the doctor, began to tell him what and how to treat. Meanwhile, who, if not the customer, is obliged to articulate his wishes and rely further on the professional level and taste of the artist?Co-authored with the customer “Everything is much more complicated,” architect Vladimir Vorobyev objects. - Strictly speaking, the customer does not owe anything to anyone. He appeals to us as a full partner. And the interior, which we will do, is for him to live in it for decades. Of course, there is a line that separates the sphere of customer's claims - and our, so to speak, professional competence. But the edge of this kind of watershed is blurred. It is enough if the customer simply understands that this face exists. And if the architect is confident that customer requirements go beyond good taste, he simply must intervene. In no case can one completely surrender to the will of the waves. But, on the other hand, if the future owner imposes certain requirements on the interior, this is normal. We, in the end, strive to create an individual atmosphere. And to create an individual environment "for no one" is impossible. Only a personal vision by the customer of the interior creates the life context of the design decision, intrigue around which the plot of the future apartment is twisted. In collaboration with the future owner, it is sometimes possible to create something that the artist himself could not even imagine ..."We take the right thing and put it on the right place" We are talking with Alexander Pushkin, General Director of the Firm "Materik", and architect Vladimir Vorobyev in one of the apartments built by "Continent". We talk about the problems of exclusive interior design in Russia, and the interior that surrounds us is a living illustration of many controversial points of conversation. Well, for example: the lamps are here, in this apartment - made according to a special project of the architect. Firm "Mainland" has carried out the entire cycle of development and manufacture of unique lamps; the construction was thought out in detail, the material was chosen - jade, dozens of technical conditions were observed ... And all this - so that the architect's imagination would be embodied in the actual product. Could it not be possible to take the catalogs of a reputable western company and select the appropriate fixtures for them? Catalogs include hundreds, thousands of positions - isn’t that enough? Our interlocutors patiently explain: the difference between a finished thing and a unique product for a specific customer is not only in prices. The question is in the creative position of the artist. If he really wants to create a unique interior, he will not be able to search from someone else’s catalogs for lamps, furniture, accessories made by someone else’s project. “One of the great artists, when asked how he works, replied:“ I just take the right color and put it in the right place, ”says Vladimir Vorobiev. - Similarly, we: take the right thing and put it in the right place in the apartment. And since we create an apartment exclusive, then the thing can not be mass production. A standard object on a non-standard place is a warp, not only violating the style of the interior, but simply a cutting eye. You have noticed how often people move furniture from place to place. This is understandable: a standard cabinet or table is created for any place - and therefore, it will not be anywhere in its place! So we are looking for life where to put it. We are looking for, but we can not find ...Renovation is not the limit of perfection All this is fine, but what can oppose this not too successful practice ... well, let's say, the same "Continent"? - We do not promise to realize any, the most fantastic idea, Alexander Pushkin joins the conversation. - However, three years of existence have taught us something. The modern level of construction and repair work is set by the global industry - and we strive to track and master all modern technologies, all the latest construction and finishing materials. At the same time, the "Mainland" is associated with dozens of domestic manufacturers of unique things: plastermen, carvers, blacksmiths, etc. Today we can create an interior in any style and organize the whole complex of works. This also affects the pricing policy. Not only are our prices significantly lower than what Western firms demand. Not only that, unlike most performers, we have the cost of work does not depend on the cost of the material. Our approach to the customer and to work involves the refusal of prepayment: it is inconvenient for the customer and, in general, for us. We prefer a phased payment, which allows the customer to keep abreast of our spending and really appreciate the reasonableness of our tariffs. Many are now under the spell of the magic word "renovation". After all, we sometimes treat the American or European “passport” of the product not only as evidence of high quality — that would be understandable! - and almost as a self-sufficient value. But what, in essence, is the notorious renovation? This means that the customer gets an apartment clean, smooth, full of everything you need - but standard, not intended for a particular person. Western construction firms how to work? The customer is shown what light fixtures, tiles, which doors, which door handles are available. All this, I admit, is of high quality, but typical, standardized. Something for you will make to order, but you should forget about the exclusive design.Things that are not in catalogs Alexander speaks confidently, but not at all. In no case should not blaspheme the work of other firms. You just have to be aware: you can’t do this on catalogs and serial products of this exclusive interior. A real, lively interior is collected in bits, in things, only then does it make the proper impression. Today in Russia it is not so easy. Very few workshops creating really unique things. Paradoxical situation: there is an architect who has invented some kind of detail, there is a customer who has approved this detail, but there is no master to put it into practice. “It’s incredibly difficult to make fabric, a lamp, something from furniture, some decorative details, hand-made things in Russia, everything that should enliven the interior,” A. Pushkin says. - And ordering all this in the West - each product will cost you like a Ferrari car ... A conversation with the general problems of modern housing arrangement suddenly turns to the difficulties that architects and designers face every day. It turns out that this is not the least important task: to find masters who have not yet lost their taste for piecework, custom-made work, bring them together, and thus make wonderful projects that would remain on paper without this.Behind the exclusive - the future
Passing the gallery 
