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An unusual architectural project completed for an award-winning team of pilots, athletes, and creatives.
Generally, when we think of architecture, residential spaces first spring to mind, followed by public buildings like museums or iconic cultural institutions. However, not all architectural projects fit neatly into these categories. Take the AEROTIM Hangar, for example. Designed by FILD-founder Dan Vakhrameyev for Timur Fatkullin, who leads an award-winning team of pilots, athletes, and creatives, this building was developed as a multifunctional space that not only serves as a hangar and maintenance area for light aircraft but also as a meeting point for the AEROTIM crew.
Located somewhere in Ukraine in an undisclosed area, the hangar looks like an unassuming industrial building at first glance. Think concrete, cement boards, steel, and glass. Stepping closer, however, and one discovers the genius of the design: aviation-inspired details and a raw material palette with warm accents.
A zinc-lined, full-width gate provides access to the hangar. When opened, the gate offers unobstructed access to aircraft while connecting the interior to the outdoors. Above, polycarbonate panels allow natural light to enter the building. The main space features a full-height hangar hall for light aircraft and a series of maintenance, storage and repair areas. On the second floor, there are meeting areas for the crew as well as beds for rest.
Inspired by industrial and aviation aesthetics, Dan Vakhrameyev chose large-format Cement Bonded Particle Board (CBPB) for the walls. Visible joints give a nod to the rivets found on aircraft fuselage. The interior structure features exposed steel trusses and technical systems as well as a corrugated metal roof. The team also used the same CBPB panels for the doors, shelves, and worktables, creating a cohesive aesthetic throughout while ensuring sustainable material use.
On the second floor, the crew station boasts a glass façade that provides uninterrupted views of the hangar below. Apart from the meting area, this level also houses an office, sleeping space, leisure area, and a changing room with showers. A kitchen with wood cabinets and furniture adds a touch of warmth and balance to the industrial aesthetic. Red-brown accents and vintage chairs add a touch of color and style to the interiors.
Lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing both the design and the functionality of the AEROTIM hangar. Linear LED lights accentuate the rhythm of the exposed trusses, while spot accent lighting illuminates certain areas, including the aircraft, the stairways and the crew’s shared spaces. In the meeting space, a custom luminaire made on-site from aluminum offcuts offers precise task lighting. Photography© Andriy Bezuglov.
