UNK Group designed the guest lobby and public spaces for Grand Tower , one of the latest skyscrapers under construction in Moscow City. The designers envisioned a spectacular installation formed by 2,660 glass prisms as the focal point of the vast entrance area.
Thus, this stylish and unusual art object will not only serve a decorative function but will also fill the entire room with light, add color, and visually enlarge the space. This is intended to emphasize the tower's grandeur while making its lobby as airy, interesting, and dynamic as possible.
The glass installation designed by UNK takes center stage in the lobby's interior. Each of the more than 2,000 prisms will rotate around its axis, and the designers chose a special optical glass, K9 Crystal, to form them. This is due to its properties being similar to crystal.
Over 5,000 LED lights and asymmetrical lenses will be installed inside the art installation. Their light, like the natural sunlight streaming into the Grand Tower's lobby through the enormous panoramic windows, will be refracted by the multiple facets of the glass elements, reflected by hundreds of lenses, and create absolutely unique patterns on the floor, ceiling, and walls of the space. As you can imagine, the rotating prisms and the changing amount and angle of sunlight at different times of day and in different weather conditions will constantly change the pattern, creating a vibrant and always unique decor for the lobby.
The installation's total weight is estimated at 65 tons, and its height matches the entrance hall's ceiling—13 meters. The art object's width will be 2 meters. However, the visual lightness of the structure eliminates any overwhelming psychological impact on visitors to the building.
Yulia Tryaskina, one of UNK Group's partners, explained that the designers strove to create a space that would remain relevant for many years to come and become an integral part of the tower. Therefore, they decided to prioritize glass and light as timeless design elements. At the same time, the lobby's panoramic windows make the installation visible even to those outside, which, according to the designers, will make it a key decorative element not only of the skyscraper itself but also of the surrounding areas.
Such an extraordinary installation will undoubtedly enhance the Grand Tower multifunctional complex, which will house not only office space but also residential units. The complex, consisting of two towers located on a shared stylobate, will also boast well-developed infrastructure and an impressive parking lot once completed. Completion is scheduled for 2022.
The eco-friendliness of glass closely aligns with the core concept of the Grand Tower project. This tower is the first in Russia to be awarded LEED Gold certification, and it is destined to become the most energy-efficient building in the country and a landmark for all of Europe. The LEED building certification program is recognized worldwide and is designed to demonstrate the energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of buildings.
