motorsport center

Natalya Khomutova

Project idea

The motorsport center near the village of Tunoshna in the Yaroslavl region is an architectural project aimed at addressing the systemic gap in the country's sports and cultural infrastructure. Motorsport in Russia faces an apparent contradiction: on the one hand, there is a vibrant and resilient community of people who embrace racing as a genuine culture, but on the other hand, there is a lack of infrastructure to support this culture. The existing race tracks are closed to the general public and focus solely on professional sports. Car museums exist in isolation from live sports practice and are static collections that have nothing to do with what happens on modern tracks. There is no bridge between the history of cars and current racing culture. This project aims to build that bridge.

Project description

The project of the motorsport center near the village of Tunoshna is a comprehensive architectural solution that covers several interconnected levels: urban planning, volumetric and spatial, and interior.

At the level of the master plan, the territory is organized around two independent track circuits. The main circular track covers the perimeter of the site, while the training track is located inside the infield area. This solution ensures the simultaneous operation of both circuits without crossing the flows: competitions on the main track and training races can take place in parallel, which is crucial during major events. The functional zoning of the territory is based on the logic of separating public and service areas. The paddock with team boxes is located in the northern part, along the boundary of the site, with direct access to the pit lane. In the space between the two circuits, in the infield area, there is an open concert venue with stands that face both the stage and the track. The service complex, which includes administrative, technical, and storage facilities, is located in the southern part and has its own independent entrance system. In the northern part, there is a camping area for participants and guests of multi-day competitions. The parking and entry infrastructure is organized along the perimeter of the site, with separate flows for spectators, participants, and technical personnel. The entire free space between the facilities is landscaped with groups of trees, which serve as visual landmarks, soften the scale of the open track spaces, and create buffer zones between areas with different usage modes.

The main building is a long, horizontal structure with curved contours, stretching along the main track. Its structural foundation is formed by a system of parallel load-bearing ribs that run through the entire structure from the ground to the roof. The ribs are not hidden behind the cladding, but are intentionally visible from the outside, creating a distinctive ribbed silhouette that resembles a tense exoskeleton. The building's design is a synthesis of three sources: the biomorphic aesthetic inspired by Hans Rudolf Giger's work, which emphasizes the blurred lines between the organic and the mechanical; the fluidity of aquatic creatures like rays and sharks, whose forms are entirely influenced by their environment and movement; and the structural logic of racing cars, where form and function are seamlessly intertwined. The building is not divided into walls, roofs, and foundations; it is perceived as a single plastic form in which planes flow into each other. From the outside, it appears as a closed shell with no obvious entrance, which creates the first intentional architectural gesture: the user is forced to search for an entrance, and when they find it and cross the threshold, the space suddenly opens up. The contrast between the impenetrable exterior and the multi-tiered, bright, and spacious interior is a fundamental structural technique. The large facade openings do not function as ordinary windows, but rather as gills or technological cuts, elements of a living mechanism through which the building breathes light. The cream-white shell changes its character throughout the day: in the morning, it is austere, at noon, it flashes under the direct sun, and in the evening, the low rays elongate the shadows and give depth to the form. At a distance of 80 to 100 meters, the details fade away, and the volume becomes a unified sculptural mass, resembling a smooth rock, a dune, or a wave rising, which is particularly important for viewing from the Volga panorama.

The interior space is designed as a single continuous route, rather than a set of isolated rooms. Each transition, such as a ramp, bridge, or staircase, contributes to the overall rhythm of movement and change of experience. The route begins with a descent to the lower level, where a lecture hall, simulators, and a children's area are located. The simulators serve not as an attraction but as an introduction: they transform the conversation about technology into a physical experience before the first exhibit. The first large hall is the highest in volume. The curved shell creates an airy atmosphere. The first level features cars from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, some of which have been raised, changing the perception of their proportions. The second level is dedicated to the Soviet industrial automotive industry, featuring trucks, buses, and conveyor-based machinery. The balconies provide a bird's-eye view of the large vehicles, emphasizing their mass as a result of their design rather than their size. In the center of the level, there is a restaurant, providing a pause where the impact of the exhibition can be appreciated without losing sight of the museum environment. The ramp above the first hall forms one of the key scenes of the route: from it, early cars are perceived differently, and the figures of other visitors add a sense of living time. The next hall is dedicated to the post-war and Brezhnev period. The space here is intentionally made more cramped: the lowered ceiling and narrow aisles reproduce the spirit of the era of standardization and mass production. After that, there is a sharp turn: the hall of motorsport. Rally cars, racing prototypes, and Dakar vehicles. There is no chronology; only the mode of extremity. A spiral platform and harsh contrasting light reveal the aggressive structural logic of the bodies. Then comes the hall of the 1990s and 2000s. It may be more modest in appearance, but it is one of the most emotionally powerful: for many visitors, it is no longer a story, but a personal memory. The final section of the tour takes place at the exit. The white surfaces, sterile environment, and modern technology create a sense of nostalgia. However, the final impression is not nostalgic, but rather an open question about what lies ahead.

Thus, the scope of the solution covers the entire cycle: from the organization of the track infrastructure and functional zoning of the territory to the plastic development of the main volume and the construction of the interior space as a consistent dramatic experience.

Technical information

The technical specification of the project is based on the functional program of the motorsport center and covers all key parameters of the facility, from the track infrastructure to the structural and engineering characteristics of the main building.

The track infrastructure includes two separate circuits. The main circuit runs around the perimeter of the site and is designed for official competitions. The training track is located inside the infield area and operates independently of the main circuit, allowing both circuits to be used simultaneously without traffic congestion. The track surfaces are made of asphalt concrete with friction additives, which meet the requirements for competitive tracks. The tracks are equipped with drainage systems, barrier fences, gravel traps, and safety zones in accordance with the regulations of the sport.

The paddock with team boxes is located in the northern part of the track and has a direct exit to the pit lane. The boxes are designed as modular sections that can be transformed to meet the needs of teams at different levels. Each section is equipped with technical inputs, including electricity, compressed air, water supply, and sewage systems. The pit lane is separated from the main track by a concrete barrier and has markings in accordance with safety requirements.

The infield area includes an open concert venue with stands that face both the stage and the track. The stands are designed to accommodate spectators for both concerts and races. The stands are made of prefabricated metal with wooden decks, and they have designated evacuation routes and accessibility for people with disabilities.

The service complex in the southern part of the site includes administrative, technical, and storage facilities. It has its own entrance system that is separate from public traffic. In the northern part of the territory, there is a camping area with engineering facilities, such as power supply points, water pumps, and sanitary blocks. The parking infrastructure is organized along the perimeter of the site, with separate areas for spectators, participants, and technical personnel. The parking areas are covered with compacted gravel or asphalt concrete, depending on the intensity of use. The territory is landscaped with groups of trees that serve as visual landmarks and buffer zones between the areas.

The main building is an extended horizontal volume with curved contours, elongated along the main route. The structural basis of the building is formed by a system of parallel load-bearing reinforced concrete ribs that pass through the entire volume from the foundation to the roof. The rib spacing is determined by the functional requirements for the exhibition halls and technical rooms. The exterior shell is made of cream-white composite panels with a smooth texture, providing a controlled perception of the shape under various lighting conditions. The roof is an exploited roof with an inverted cake, integrated drainage gutters and a snow retention system.

The facade openings are large-format, non-standard configuration, glazed with a structural double-glazed window with a sunscreen coating. They perform the functions of both natural lighting of the interior and visual connection with the track. The entrance group is solved without a pronounced portal: the threshold is marked by a change in the floor level and the nature of the coating, which creates a deliberate contrast between the closed shell on the outside and the open space on the inside.

The interior of the building is organized into several levels connected by ramps, bridges, and staircases. The lower level includes a lecture hall, a simulation area, and a children's area. The ceiling height in this level ranges from three to four meters. The first large exhibition hall, which is the highest in volume, is designed to accommodate large-scale exhibits that can be lifted and suspended at the second-level height. The second level combines exhibition areas dedicated to the Soviet automotive industry with balconies overlooking the lower halls and a restaurant area. The motorsport hall is highlighted by a separate structural volume with harsh directional lighting and a spiral observation platform. The final hall, dedicated to modern technologies, features a sterile white finish with neutral diffused lighting.

The building's engineering systems include supply and exhaust ventilation with heat recovery, a climate control system with zoning by exhibition halls, a fire alarm system and an automatic fire extinguishing system, a structured cabling network for multimedia equipment, and a system for monitoring and controlling the building's engineering systems. The building's electrical supply includes a backup power source to ensure continuous operation during large events. The building is accessible to people with limited mobility on all levels and in the outdoor areas of the complex.

Documentation

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