Home. Memories

Kyiv-based studio balbek bureau created an art project for the Vernadsky Research Base in Antarctica. The ‘Home. Memories’ installation located on the island of Galindez is inspired by the image of a traditional Ukrainian house. The project was commissioned by the National Antarctic Research Center and implemented with the support of the Silpo retail chain. The construction was handled by the Wonder Workshop bureau.

巴爾貝克建築事務所（balbek bureau）位在烏克蘭基輔，這次為南極的維爾納茨基研究基地（Vernadsky）規劃了一個名為「家。回憶」的藝術裝置，這個位於加林德斯島（Galindez）上的裝置，靈感來自於傳統烏克蘭房屋溫暖、舒適的形象。該專案是由國家南極研究中心委託，並由當地的零售連鎖店 Silpo 推動發起並執行，建築施工部分則由奇幻工作室（Wonder Workshop）負責。

In November 2021, balbek bureau was tasked to repurpose a defunct fuel tank at the Ukrainian Vernadsky (former British Faraday) research base. The installation, intended as a visual treat for the station staff and tourists, had to be easily assembled, resistant to severe weather conditions, and safe for more than 3,500 penguins living on the island. Envisioning the station as a 'home away from home' for the polar researchers, the architects designed an installation based on a composite image of a Ukrainian rural house. A thin detailed frame around the tank resembles a pencil sketch: as if someone, reminiscing, draws their childhood home from memory.

在2021年11月，巴爾貝克建築事務所被委託重新規劃烏克蘭維爾納茨基研究基地上廢棄燃料箱的外觀及功能，希望透過這個裝置，能為站點研究人員和遊客提供視覺上的饗宴，它必須易於組裝，能夠抵禦嚴酷的氣候條件，並且保障島上超過3,500隻企鵝的生活安全。規劃團隊將研究站設想為研究人員的「另一個像家一樣的地方」，建築師們根據烏克蘭鄉村房屋的屋頂、煙囪和獨特的窗戶結合了廢棄燃料箱周圍的細節框架，綜合起來作為圖像的裝置，看起來像一支鉛筆素描：仿佛有人從記憶中，畫出他們童年的家園。

To accompany the installation, balbek bureau created a mini exposition with souvenirs from Ukraine, including a sample of the UNESCO-listed Kosiv painted ceramics and a lump of coal from the Donetsk region embedded in resin. The exhibition was later expanded with the help of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

為了配合巴爾貝克團隊所設計的這個裝置，策劃舉辦了一個小型展覽，展出來自烏克蘭的紀念品，包括被聯合國教科組織列入世界遺產的科西夫彩繪陶瓷，以及來自頓涅茨克的煤礦嵌入環氧樹脂。後來，得到了烏克蘭文化資訊政策部的幫助，因此而擴大了這個展覽。

The disassembled structure was delivered to the Vernadsky base in the spring of 2022, but the mounting was postponed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In February 2023, balbek bureau's CEO, architect Slava Balbek and the Wonder Workshop head Dmytro Zinoviet arhead let Dmytro Zinoviet arhead the project.

最初預計2022年春季，將這個分解的結構運送到維爾納茨基研究基地，但由於俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭，安裝時間被迫延期，最終，在2023年2月，由巴爾貝克團隊的總裁——建築師斯拉瓦．巴爾貝克（Slava Balbek）和奇幻工作室負責人德米特羅．濟諾維耶特（Dmytro Zinoviet）兩位開始執行這個專案。

“The art installation, designed a year before the invasion, took on a new meaning. For millions of people forced to flee their hometowns and villages due to Russian aggression, returning home became their biggest dream,” shares balbek bureau's CEO Slava Balbek, “ Still, we believe that the war will end in our victory, and Ukrainians will create new memories from the safe haven of their home. And all the way in Antarctica, for researchers and tourists alike, our house will continue to stand strong, a true memento of Ukraine.”

「這個藝術裝置是在入侵前一年設計的，但它現在被賦予了全新的意義。對於因俄羅斯的侵略而被迫逃離家鄉和村莊的數百萬人來說，『回家』成為了他們最大的夢想」，斯拉瓦．巴爾貝克分享道：「儘管如此，我們相信戰爭將以我們的勝利而告終，烏克蘭人將從他們家園，也就是這個安全的避風港裡創造新的回憶。在遙遠的南極洲，不論是對於研究人員或是遊客來說，這個裝置將繼續屹立不搖，成為具有紀念意義的存在」。

Design Studio | balbek bureau @balbekbureau

Photography | Slava Balbek  @balbekus