Svody Roundup: Moscow's Most Technological Workshops

Contents:

• About the architecture of "Svody"
• About the workshops
• About the designers in the previous set of residents

Working on a laptop has its advantages, but sometimes you want to do something more tangible and creative. The question is, where can you do this if not at home? We decided to visit Svody, the V-A-C Foundation's art production center, to find out what opportunities it offers for designers and creative professionals.

The Director of the Svody Art Production Center is a key figure in charge of organizing and managing the creative processes. His responsibilities include coordinating the work of a team of artists and designers, as well as monitoring the completion of projects on time and in accordance with high quality standards. The Svody Center creates unique artistic objects and solutions, which requires its director not only to possess profound knowledge of art but also to possess effective management skills. The director's professionalism and creative approach contribute to the center's development and the attraction of new clients, which in turn strengthens its position in the artistic production market.

About the architecture of Svody

The Svody building was erected in 1867 on the initiative of the industrialist Smirnov to create warehouse space for storing wine and vodka products. From the time of its construction until the revolution, it served as a warehouse. After the revolution, the building became the property of GES-2, where it began to be used for administrative purposes.

In the 1950s, the vaulted architecture of the building was hidden behind a three-story superstructure in the Stalinist Empire style. By the 1990s, the building had undergone significant changes, becoming a five-story structure with a nondescript barrack-style exterior. Despite the external changes, the administration and management of GES-2 continued to operate there. In the post-Soviet era, in the 1990s, it also housed a bathhouse and a restaurant, as was typical for that period. The V-A-C Foundation acquired the GES-2 building with the intention of transforming the surrounding area into an open public space for Muscovites. This was intended to be a true gift to the city, where residents could enjoy strolling. In 2017, renowned architect Renzo Piano visited Moscow and began surveying the area surrounding GES-2, considering the possibility of demolishing some of the barracks. When the architects entered this unremarkable late-Soviet structure, they were surprised to discover a beautiful vaulted red brick building hidden within. During the renovation, numerous surrounding buildings were demolished to make room, but the decision was made to preserve this unique structure.

One of the foundation's key areas of work is artistic production. When planning the use of the V-A-C building, its curators concluded that creating another exhibition space was impractical, as the red brick did not meet the requirements of modern exhibitions. Instead, they decided to revive the spirit of production that existed here before the Revolution. As a result, it was decided to organize workshops for artists and house them in this historic building. This will allow for the creation of new art while preserving the unique atmosphere and heritage of the site.

The restoration was carried out with great care and took three years. Every brick was removed, cleaned, and returned to its place. The insulation between the bricks was restored by hand. The vaulted architecture of two floors was preserved, and the solid wooden gates that previously stood at the entrance to each vault were replaced with glass structures. This work allowed not only to restore the historical appearance of the building, but also to improve its functionality and light transmittance.

Currently, the building has two floors: the first and the underground. These floors house eight workshops, which provide the opportunity to work with a variety of materials. We provide space for creativity and experimentation, but we do not process stone or glass due to the associated challenges, such as high temperatures and contamination. Our workshops are ideal for working with a variety of other materials, making them a versatile space for realizing creative ideas.

The 14 "Svody" studios are arranged in two rows, and we are located at pedestrian level.

As people pass by the "Svody" studios, they can observe artists at work in their studios and examine the equipment used. We are committed to transparency and openness, but access to the spaces is restricted. This is due to the presence of dangerous machines and equipment, which only trained specialists are allowed to operate.

The basement of our facility houses a long corridor containing key creative spaces. Here you will find a silkscreen studio, a photo lab, a recording studio, and a video engineering room. These spaces provide ideal conditions for the implementation of various artistic projects and professional activities in the fields of graphics, photography, and multimedia.

The Director of the "Svody" Art Production Center is responsible for organizing and coordinating all processes related to the creation and implementation of artistic projects. He ensures high-quality execution, manages creative teams, and collaborates with partners. Budget planning and deadline monitoring are important parts of his job. With her professional experience and deep understanding of art, the director contributes to the development of the Center and the popularization of artistic production.

About the workshops

When planning the organization of the workshops and choosing the necessary equipment, we held several roundtable discussions with artists, architects, and designers. During the discussions, we discovered their preferences and wishes regarding the tools and materials they would like to work with. This allowed us to better understand the needs of creative professionals and create a space that meets their requirements.

We engaged international experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, and the Royal Academy of Arts. Their experience and knowledge helped us select modern and up-to-date equipment, which allowed us to improve the quality of our projects and meet international standards in the field of art and technology.

Thanks to consultations with specialists from MIT, our metalworking and carpentry workshops are equipped with modern computer numerical control (CNC) machines. These devices are computer-controlled, significantly increasing precision and efficiency. We have a milling and engraving machine capable of processing sheet materials up to 15 centimeters high and up to 1.5 by 3 meters in size. This large work surface allows for a variety of tasks, including milling and engraving, opening up new possibilities for creativity and production.

Fab labs located in institutes or coworking spaces often feature a variety of equipment. However, what makes us unique is our ability to work with large surfaces. Unlike standard machines, which are significantly smaller, our CNC milling and engraving machine takes up almost 60 square meters. This allows us to implement larger, more complex projects, ensuring high precision and quality of material processing.

Our metalworking shop is equipped with a Kuka robotic arm, a multifunctional manipulator that can be programmed to perform a variety of tasks to meet the needs of artists and designers. We have two pre-installed, easily interchangeable attachments. The first attachment is designed for milling and engraving. It functions similarly to a CNC router, but has the unique ability to process materials up to 2 meters high. Unlike a traditional CNC machine, which is limited to working with materials up to 15 centimeters high, the Kuka robotic arm opens up new horizons for creating sculptures and art objects of impressive dimensions.

Another attachment for the robotic arm Designed for 3D printing, it can create sculptures up to 2 meters tall. This technology allows for the realization of complex design projects and unique art objects, opening new horizons in the world of 3D printing.

The metalworking workshop houses a laser engraving machine capable of processing various materials, such as leather and paper, and producing high-quality engravings. Welding tools are also available, expanding the possibilities for a variety of projects and the creation of unique pieces.

The textile workshop on the ground floor has two areas: weaving and sewing. The weaving area houses looms that allow for the creation of unique textiles. The sewing area is equipped with professional sewing machines, allowing for working with a variety of fabrics and creating high-quality clothing and accessories. This workshop is ideal for both beginners and experienced craftsmen who want to develop their skills in textile production.

In weaving production, our outstanding solution is the jacquard semi-automatic digital loom. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that, unlike traditional jacquard looms, which are fully programmable for automatic weaving, our machine automates only the warp-lifting stage. This allows us to achieve high precision and weaving quality, combining traditional methods with modern technology. This approach allows us to create fabrics with unique patterns and textures, satisfying a wide range of customer requests.

Work on this machine begins with the preparation of the image that the artist plans to transfer to the fabric using a computer. Each element of the pattern corresponds to a pixel in the digital work. The software is then adjusted to the machine's parameters. When a signal is received, the warp-lifting process begins, and the weaving or knitting process of the next row begins. This ensures the precise reproduction of the intended image on the fabric.

The desired threads are lifted, and the artist then controls the thread responsible for the color and pattern. This opens the door to experimentation with color and materials. The artist isn't limited to just thread; they can also use fishing line, straw, and other materials. Imagination in this process can truly be limitless. Experimenting with different textures and shades allows for the creation of unique works of art that attract attention and inspire.

This loom is unique in Russia. Weaving professionals are eager to try it out, leading to a significant waiting list.

Our ceramics studio, located next to the textile workshop, features pottery wheels and a sculpting space. We are proud to have a large kiln capable of accommodating objects up to 80 centimeters tall. This allows artists to create and fire whole pieces, which significantly expands the possibilities for creativity and the implementation of unique projects.

On the first floor of our establishment there is a 3D printing room equipped with modern 3D printers. We offer a standard set of printers that support both liquid photopolymer plastic and PLA spool plastic. This allows our users to create a variety of 3D models and prototypes using advanced printing technologies.

In our silkscreen printing workshop, we strive to create a space where artists can come and experiment with different techniques on their own. We use only water-based inks, making the printing process safer and more environmentally friendly. Our studio's maximum print size is 1.2 meters by 0.9 meters, allowing us to work with large canvases. Our silkscreen printing machine is suitable not only for printing on paper, but also for working with fabric, which expands creative possibilities.

Our photo lab specializes in hand-made analog printing, offering high-quality services for professionals and photography enthusiasts. We have two rooms: a darkroom and a lightroom. The darkroom houses two enlargers—a large horizontal enlarger and a medium-format vertical enlarger—allowing us to work with a variety of photo formats. We process photo paper up to 1.8 x 3 meters, enabling us to create large-format prints. Our lab is equipped with a Colenta color processor, and for black-and-white printing, we use trays, ensuring maximum quality and control at every stage of the process.

We present to you our recording studio, which stands out among others due to its spacious premises. We can record orchestras of up to 30 people, which allows us to create rich and high-quality musical compositions. Our studio features a grand piano, ideal for recording classical music and jazz. We also have a separate room specifically designed for recording vocals and drums. This ensures high-quality sound and comfortable conditions for musicians.

The composer's room is a compact space that houses a variety of equipment, including synthesizers, DJ turntables, and computers with music software. This space is ideal for musicians who want to experiment with sound and record their compositions. Additionally, the space features a video editing room for video editing and color correction. The creation of such a space promotes the development of creative ideas and allows musicians and videographers to implement their projects at a high level.

About the designers in the previous recruitment of residents

Designer Grigory worked in the first recruitment of ColLab Afonin, who created a unique chair as a gift for his sister, spent six months developing the model and prototype, paying close attention to every step of the process. Grigory carefully selected the wood and researched the correct fit to ensure comfort and aesthetic appeal. Creating a comfortable chair is a complex and multifaceted process. An incorrect backrest angle can make it uncomfortable to sit in. If the seat is insufficient, many users will simply not be able to fit in the chair, and making it too wide will also cause discomfort. Furthermore, the height of the armrests is crucial; they must be optimally positioned for comfort. Proper ergonomics of the chair play a key role in creating a product that meets user needs. By the end of his involvement, the designer had truly achieved impressive results in creating a comfortable chair. He paid particular attention to ensuring the user experience was as comfortable as possible. However, there was not enough time to complete the upholstery. Nevertheless, the chair frame was refined, and this was a significant step forward. We are pleased that the author was satisfied with the results.

Program participants are not tasked with completing the project they submitted. If they wish, they can continue working on it, but they also have the opportunity to experiment with new ideas. All designs created within the "Vaults" program remain the property of their authors. It is up to the authors to decide how to use the objects they create.

As part of the ColLab project, we are presenting the thesis of students from the textile department of the Stroganov Institute. The students are restoring fabrics from the unique Stroganov collection. These fabrics are intended for use in interior design. They have discovered rare patterns that are currently not developed or produced. Using a jacquard loom, the students plan to restore these patterns and create modern interpretations of them. This project not only preserves historical heritage, but also introduces innovations into contemporary textile design.