Piuarch to Design Ekaterinensky Congress Center in Krasnodar, Russia

Milan-based architecture firm Piuarch—founded in 1996 by Francesco Fresa, Germán Fuenmayor, Gino Garbellini, and Monica Tricario—has won a competition to design the new Ekaterinensky Congress Center in Krasnodar, Russia. The 2,840-square-meter building will be located on the green bank of the Kuban River, featuring a dual character: an organic, flowing facade facing the river and a more rigorous elevation oriented toward the city. The envelope uses generous glazing and oxidized copper partitions to create metallic reflections, making the center appear as a luminous lantern along the river at night. The three above-ground levels include a flexible congress hall with soundproof movable walls, a bar, and a restaurant spanning over 500 square meters on the top floor. Two underground levels house parking, technical rooms, and service areas, with a podium-like volume at street level. The central hall-foyer is designed to facilitate connections between functional zones. Construction start details have not yet been announced. Piuarch has previously worked in Russia, China, and Algeria, and also designed the Enel Pavilion for Expo Milano 2015.