Aerotim Hangar, between technical precision and collective identity

Designed by +kouple, with interior development and concept by Dan Vakhrameyev, Aerotim Hangar is conceived to accommodate aircraft maintenance, operational functions, and shared living. The project originates from an initiative by Timur Fatkullin, aerobatic pilot and founder of Aerotim – a multidisciplinary Ukrainian collective bringing together athletes and creatives specializing in aerial acrobatics, freestyle motocross, and skydiving.

The building takes shape as a spatial device capable of responding to technical requirements while simultaneously constructing a shared identity for the team.

Aerotim Hangar: a clear spatial organization

The volume is arranged across two levels that communicate both visually and functionally. The ground floor hosts the operational area – a large, double-height hall for the storage and maintenance of sport aircraft, where the entire load-bearing structure is left exposed: steel trusses, corrugated metal roofing, technical ducts, and systems remain fully visible.

Access is provided through a full-width gate clad in raw zinc sheet, with a vertical opening that allows aircraft to move freely without obstruction. Natural light enters through a polycarbonate strip in the gable, enhancing the readability and depth of the space.

The second level accommodates the Crew Station, an environment designed for preparation, coordination, and rest. It is distinguished by a continuous frameless glass façade, a design solution that echoes and celebrates the idea of flight: an elevated observation point offering a continuous view of the operational space below.

A central sliding window maintains a direct connection with the activities on the ground floor, amplifying the perception of scale. The space includes a central table for flight briefings, a relaxation area, office, sleeping area, changing room with showers, and a kitchen. The layout maintains a clear functional distinction, while ensuring perceptual continuity between different areas.

A rigorous industrial aesthetic

The formal language is deliberately essential, based on exposed surfaces and raw materials. The dominant material is Cement Bonded Particle Board (CBPB) – a cement-based fiber panel selected for its durability and ease of replacement – which clads the walls and is consistently used for doors, worktables, and shelving.

The joints between panels are left visible, executed with a detail inspired by aircraft fuselage riveting, reinforcing the connection with aeronautical culture and giving the space a recognizable industrial character.

The palette is predominantly monochromatic, interrupted by red-brown accents and wooden inserts that introduce a warmer tone within the Crew Station. Lighting follows the logic of construction: LED lines integrated into the metal structure provide uniform illumination, while targeted light points define the various functional zones.

Backlit image banners, integrated into the walls, narrate the culture, aspirations, and achievements of the collective, adding a subtle narrative layer to the space. Furniture and technical elements –including components made from aluminum profile offcuts – contribute to an overall material coherence.