Steel and Glass Features for the 300th Anniversary of Omsk

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

As part of the forthcoming 300th anniversary celebrations of the Siberian city of Omsk, the city decided to refurbish and renovate Valikhanov Street in the city centre, which cuts through historic parts of the town. The project involved the design and construction of steel and glass “crystals” to be scattered along the street as if by an imaginary “wizard”. In total there were 11 crystals: three canopies (providing a much needed crossing under the busy road), five information kiosks, two fountains (including a larger design intended as a local ‘Arc de Triomphe’) and a stacked glass sculpture.

Judge's comment:

Here, the judges noted how the geometric challenges called for a variety of solutions and manufacturing techniques to produce the different steel and glass structures.  Laser cutting and 3D printing technologies were among the processes proposed by the structural engineers, and the judges enjoyed the resulting forms and the evident collaboration between designers and manufacturers.