The MOPs We Choose: Between A Detailed Technical Task And A Creative Approach

Architects say that they have more offers to work with common areas in residential complexes. And if it is important for some customers to meet the budget and stay within the framework of a unified design when designing MOPS, then others welcome creativity and do not skimp on wood-burning fireplaces and authentic works of art

“The aesthetic appeal of common areas is as important a component as functionality. So important that now developers are separately ordering the development of MOPS projects by architectural bureaus that specialize specifically in the design of public interiors. And often it is the design of the entrance groups that becomes the “feature” of the project,” Elena Tarasova, commercial director of Plus development, emphasized in the first part of the material on MOPS.

And according to the architects themselves, do they really have more offers to work on common areas? From their point of view, is it worth paying increased architectural and design attention to MOPS in residential complexes? What techniques are most often used in the design of mops, are the concepts of “trend” and “fashion” applicable to them?

Yulia Tryaskina, architect, co-founder and partner of UNK Group

“The frequency of orders for the design of mops and lobbies, of course, depends on the activity of the residential construction market. The more new houses are built, the higher the demand for specialists who can make these spaces not only functional, but also attractive. Developers, as a rule, set very specific tasks for architects and designers. They want the MOP to be not just a part of the building, but an organic part of it, harmoniously fitting into the overall concept. It is important that it be convenient for residents, functional and repair-suitable and at the same time stylish and modern. Customers want their MOS to look so that it does not become outdated and in ten years, it will be on trend. However, sometimes customers do not formulate their wishes correctly, which leads to not the most successful solutions. Some are trying to make the MOP an extension of the apartment, not taking into account that this is a public space with special features. Architects working with MOPS have specific knowledge. They already understand how to organize human flows, how to emphasize the functionality of the space, how to create a fashionable design that will not lose its relevance for a long time. And if the MOP should be part of the overall concept of the building, part of the “pie” that the developer creates, then architects in this case are like confectioners — they fill this “pie” with meaning and emotions, making it not only beautiful, but also tasty, juicy, satisfying consumer expectations. And yes, the MOP is the part of the building that should be given special attention. Despite the fact that many perceive it as just an entrance, it is much more — it is a buffer between the “public” and “personal” space of the house, and it is on it that a large functional load falls. There is a “meeting” of many streams here: residents, guests, service personnel walk, the postman delivers correspondence, couriers deliver orders, and even an exit from the parking lot is often present. That is, a MOP is a whole microcosm of a large house, and the impression of the whole house depends on its architectural and design solution. It is also important to take into account that the MOP needs to be made not only beautiful, but also practical: safe, comfortable, and easy to operate. Its design should be harmonious and correspond to the general style of the building. For example, if the house is in a modern style, then the MOP is designed with a minimalistic interior, clean lines and bright accents. Based on my work experience, I can say that it is necessary to pay increased attention to the architecture and design of the MOP, because the MOP is the hallmark of the building, and it should create a pleasant impression among residents, guests and potential buyers. As in any emotional project, we are influenced by both trends and fashion here. But first of all, the architect’s task is to capture the “language” in which the building speaks to the space and the observer, and then translate it into the appearance of the interior. Therefore, the trend has been and will be only the excellent taste of the architect and his deep understanding of the product. You can draw Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and classics if there should be Art Deco, modern or classic in this place and for this building. All these styles will be relevant if they express an idea that is significant to society. Therefore, it is more legitimate to talk not about general trends, but rather about the trend for a particular place. Somewhere old money is needed, someone, on the contrary, needs bright PUGs, because they have a drive in their project, young families, children and all these bicycles with scooters. In some projects, it is assumed that there will be fewer children, then there are different conditions and a different design of mops. Design simply solves the problem, and whether it solved it well or poorly is the responsibility of the architect, and then the developer. If done properly, when you enter the space of the MOP, you feel it as a buffer zone between the apartment and the city, between the personal and the public, between the silence and the noise of public life.”

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Andrey Korenkov, co-founder of the Core architectural Bureau

“Due to the fact that most of the new construction consists of apartment buildings, the developer’s need for the design of MOPS for new residential complexes is quite high. The proportion of such requests in our bureau also confirms this. For developers, one of the most important criteria is, of course, the budget, so the main task is always to implement the project within the stipulated cost per square meter. Also, quite often there are certain requirements for the materials used in the project — their operational and technical properties, availability for purchase in large volumes and, of course, aesthetic qualities are taken into account. Extraordinary requests, unfortunately, come much less frequently. Firstly, this usually concerns premium segment housing, of which not so much is being built in relation to budget-class housing. There is a high cost per square meter, and, accordingly, it is possible to apply unique design solutions. Secondly, many companies are afraid of extraordinary solutions due to the fact that they are afraid of being misunderstood by the end user (or even by builders who will have to implement such a solution) and unify the design. Although, in our opinion, a unique and extraordinary design can serve as an excellent tool for creating added value for a product. Is it worth paying increased architectural and design attention to MOPS at all? Definitely worth it. MOPs are precisely the spaces that the end consumer, the home buyer, interacts with on a daily basis. Due to the high competition in the real estate market and the formed customer’s view of the design of the MOPS themselves can be an important factor in choosing to buy a certain object. But regarding the techniques, it would be difficult to single out something specific, since this is the approach and personality of the architect. For example, we always approach each object individually, solutions are born precisely in the design process, based on the analysis and tasks set by the customer. Fashion and trend are certainly applicable to design, usually it concerns some kind of material, color or design technique. At the same time, there are quite a lot of trends, and each architect sees them in his own way. Nowadays, terrazzo or tiles imitating it are quite common in projects (with a low budget). This is a rather interesting trend, since we can often find real terrazzo in Soviet buildings of the Modernist era, that is, this trend is no longer temporary, but verified and well-established. In the future, in our opinion, the relevance of such solutions will only grow, since it is their application that gives rise to a design “timeless”, not outdated, verified.”

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Sergey Karlison, Chief Architect of the ITEM design workshop

“Today, stylish MOPs are one of the most popular tools for creating a positive impression not only about a house or complex, but also about the developer and the project as a whole. MOPs solve practical and aesthetic problems, as well as bring direct profit, increasing the investment attractiveness of real estate. Therefore, architects now receive orders for the design and construction of MOPS with almost every project. At the same time, there are customers with a detailed technical task: they clearly know which lamps, door trim and the color of engineering hatches the space should contain. There are customers with a request for a more creative approach, search and original solutions. In our practice, there were unexpected twists: real fireplaces in the hall, built-in upholstered furniture with non-flammable finishes, sculptural decoration, massive aquariums with live fish. We also observe a bright trend in the development environment: MOPs make the project more interesting if the filling of residential or commercial premises is initially provided for simplified. To create a memorable impression, designers use all kinds of techniques, styles and materials. For example, real paintings, murals, velvet curtains, designer furniture and lamps, expensive natural materials, sculptures and other art objects appear in the halls of residential complexes and business centers. Another trend in the design of MOPS is the creation of a common space with the house territory: the interiors of the entrance groups are visually combined with the space of the courtyard through the use of a single theme, as well as color solutions and materials. Full-fledged public spaces such as children’s rooms, coworking spaces, master class rooms and art studios are also appearing as part of the MOPS. Public places that were previously used simply for transit receive their own function and an independent important role.”

A special and very important addition to the topic is the lighting of common areas.