Gazprom Neft Offices – Saint Petersburg
Stemming from a need for a technological hub in Saint Petersburg, Gazprom Neft created Zifergauz as a space to pioneer digital exploration, robotics and other innovations for the oil giant.
VOX Architects designed Zifergauz as a futuristic space to house the technologies used by Gazprom Neft in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Zifergauz is a technological space for teams of industrial digital transformation developers. Here robots are assembled, drones programmed, equipment 3D printed, neural networks trained, industrial gadgets and telemetry sensors created and blockchain services for wireless networks developed. All these technologies are used at Gazprom Neft for digital geological exploration, plants automation, remote drilling management, logistic robotics and even for the company’s own icebreakers’ equipment.
The interior scenario is based on the idea of continuity from the past to the future. Built in mid-19th century the building organically combines its historical architectural legacy and cutting-edge functionality of the futuristic technical centre. Zifergauz is designed to embrace digital reality and advanced ideas. It stands at the site where under Peter the Great history took a new turn and the great Russian fleet saw its early days. The building was designed to vertically store the timber delivered for the needs of the Admiralty shipyards.
The key idea of the project is to generate more free space, to make the interior visually lighter. This new concept is conceived as an attempt to go outside the brick margins of the building, which are just too tangible, frozen in time, and to fill the monotonous dark enfilades with fresh air and creative energy.
Design: VOX Architects
Photography: Daniel Annenkov
