Erick van Egeraat

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Erick van Egeraat presents competition design for the European University in St. Petersburg

Thursday, 12 September 2013

On September 9th Erick van Egeraat presented his entry into the design competition to renovate and extend the European University in St. Petersburg.

The EUSP is housed in a historical landmark building known as Small Marble Palace, located in the historical city centre of St. Petersburg. The building has a complex history of functional use, extensions and adaptations. The competition calls for an upgrade of the buildings and spaces that respects heritage, adapts the building to contemporary education requirements, and to bring it in line with its ambition to act as a centre of gravity of knowledge within and beyond Russia.

This assignment reflects a worldwide increase in attention for the re-use and improvement of existing urban areas and buildings. Erick van Egeraat proposes a series of gentle interventions in the building, to reveal and enhance the qualities of the existing monument. Removing a series of walls that were not part of the original palace, create a clean and flexible layout. Large, elegant spaces allow for informal break out spaces, meeting areas and flexible study areas. Two courtyards form the heart of the new university: A covered courtyard is the main reception, and an outdoor green courtyard will be open for all to visit, adding a high quality public space to the city. The roof café, situated at the fourth floor, related with the library and the large conference hall, offers an excellent view over the roofs of St. Petersburg to the river Neva.

Invited contestants include the architecture firms of OMA, Wilmotte and Speech. After careful consideration, the jury has awarded the entry by Wilmotte with the first prize.

The invitation to take part in this competition underlines the recent success of Design Erick van Egeraat to provide excellent designs for educational buildings and its professional attitude towards revitalization of historical monuments. In 2013 the Sberbank Corporate University, the University of Leipzig and the renovation of the Erasmus University College in Rotterdam are opening their doors.