In November, an educational space designed by architect and co-founder of the UTRO studio, Olga Rokal, opened at the Tsaritsyno museum-reserve. The project’s primary goal was to transform a compact space into a versatile workshop with areas for hands-on activities, aesthetically organized storage for craft materials and tools, and place for rotating museum exhibits, ranging from antique porcelain to modern wood carving displays.
The hallmark of the new space is its adaptability. All the furniture in the workshop was custom-made to facilitate learning and creativity. It was designed to align with the grandeur and aesthetic of Bazhenov's original architectural style while also being functional and inspiring.
“This project holds special value for us. As a collaboration with such a significant cultural institution, we aimed to make the space truly unique, embedding it with cultural and educational meaning,” says Olga Rokal, architect, educator, and co-founder of UTRO and the educational project MESTO. “The workshop is designed to spark curiosity and a desire to create, primarily through its unconventional yet functional furniture.”
The workspace is easily adjustable to accommodate various workshop formats. Olga designed unique tables crafted from light plywood with vibrant metal fittings. These tables can be arranged into a single round table or lined up in a wave-like formation for collaborative work. The concept for this zone was inspired by the image of a knight’s table, symbolizing mystique and collective action.
The storage system for materials and tools was conceived based on the carpenter’s cabinet principle, where tools and materials are neatly organized in both the doors and drawers of the unit. The sculptural cabinets lining the workshop walls are the standout feature — they invite close examination. Like the tables, the cabinets are made of light plywood with perforated doors, contrasting with the neo-Gothic vaults and infusing the space with the spirit of a craftsman’s workshop.
The design of the cabinets draws inspiration from 19th-century carved Wootton desks and sewing tables of the same era, all of which feature surfaces that double as storage spaces. Olga sought to recreate this effect, where the interior of each cabinet amazes the observer. Opening a door reveals a world of craftsmanship, immediately inspiring creativity. One cabinet houses ceramics tools, another metalworking and jewelry-making supplies, while the largest cabinet contains weaving looms.
The perforated surfaces of the walls make the space easily adaptable for any museum exhibit. The objects can be hung across all surfaces, including the cabinet doors. Additionally, small decorative “secrets” are hidden throughout the space on doors and panels, offering glimpses into the stories behind the Tsaritsyno exhibits.
