Lilia Aronova. Sergey Estrin: “Ceilings give an absolute freedom for imagination” | archi.ru, 10.11.2015
Completed works on Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue ceiling was a good excuse to talk to Sergey Estrin about functional possibilities and ideological character of ceiling as interior culmination element.
The Synagogue has been completed ten years ago, yet some internal works has been carried out from time to time all these years. The ceremonial hall has been unfinished all this time, apart from the skilight in the shape of Star of David on the ceiling. Now around it there are curved beams of MDF veneered with maple. They have symbolic meaning they remind of clouds as the ceiling itself represent the sky. At the same time the shape makes the access to utilities more manageable. The ceiling with all its intricacy did not cost much. As it should be in a synagogue. Everything is built on community money.
The great advantage of the ceiling as such is that it is always opened to view. It is impossible to block the view to it with furniture, people do not walk on it. Also while moving along a premises we have a change to observe a ceiling from different perspectives. Therefore it is one of the most dramatic elements, and probably one of the major ones we use in interior.
Ceiling is one of the ways to arrange culmination for passing through a property. For example when coming from dark room to lit space, or from small to spacious. Ceilings work very well there creating an emotional contrast.
Russian text by Lilia Aronova for archi.ru
