The client, a major commodities company, is known nationwide for funding both non-professional and professional sports. In 2016, the client decided to build a large sports complex with an ice rink in the Leningrad region intended for the company’s employees and people living nearby. Unlike other facilities, this one is also designated for the top management and the CEO who is also an avid hockey fan, so a separate area was allocated for these VIP visitors. Our team did well during the tender for the lobby design of this centre, so we were engaged for the interior design project for the VIP section of the complex.

The section we worked on had the following organization: a helipad and a reception desk on the roof with a separate lift and a reception area, a billiard room, an office, and a meeting room for urgent matters on the third floor. The second floor was entirely given to a hockey team and had a locker room, showers, a sauna, a hammam, and a lounge. The interior for this part of the complex had to combine functionality because hockey is an intense and difficult sport, and a certain level of comfort to satisfy the perspective clientèle.

The athleisure style the name of which is a combination of ‘athletic’ and ‘leisure’ was a source of inspiration for us in this project. When sports evolved from mere physical activity into an essential part of our life, even global haute couture brands launched sports-themed or sportswear collections. We thought, that this was also true for a sport centre that could be both luxurious and classic. The final interior design has no specific Japanese attributes but it speaks elegant and chic like Oman Hotel in Tokyo. The interior exposes you to a variety of textures from mirror-like shiny ceilings reflecting the landscape behind the panoramic windows to uneven handmade tiles in spa zone and a bit coarse leather of the sofas, it is all balanced and harmonised through a reserved colour palette and dramatic geometry. The second floor and the third floor are connected by a column of several layers of graphite glass that both reflects and absorbs light. Fun fact: you can watch a hockey game from almost every room, including the billiard room and even the sauna!

Unfortunately, the client encountered problems with contractors at the implementation stage. These issues have not been resolved yet and the project remains on hold.

Year 2018
Team