Meeting place Baikonur – new neighbourhood centre by ADG group

Baikonur Cinema was built in 1983 and became a favourite spot for several generations of residents of the district. But over time, the building became obsolete and was shut down as it was no longer safe and did not meet fire safety requirements. Thanks to the reconstruction, it has been given a second lease of life.

Today Meeting Place Baikonur is an example of modern architecture. The central glass facade of the building lets in a lot of light and creates the effect of openness to the city. The concept of the renewed Baikonur was proposed by Amanda Levete, a Stirling Prize-winning British architect known for London's Sky Hub and Bangkok's Central Embassy building.

This peaceful and cozy neighborhood centre will become the new place-to-be for locals with a variety of edutainment activities and leisure facilities. It is a hybrid space with public lounge areas intended for lectures and master classes for all ages, a food hall with numerous gastronomic concepts, spacious kids' entertainment areas and proximity shopping. The size and tenant mix of the centre is tailored to people living in walking distance of the centre and is decided based on an opinion survey of people living nearby.

Meeting Place Baikonur has 30% community programme derived from Otradnoe district it serves. Acting as an urban oasis, this centre is the third place to live between work and home — place to gather, socialise, meet and play. New neighbourhood centre has everything to become a comfortable space for the local community by providing a place where people can spend time with their families, bring children to educational classes, watch movies, do sports, attend a lecture or a workshop, buy fresh food and goods they need for everyday life.