Construction in nowadays is not limited to stadiums it is even harder to procure construction contracts. for the 2014 Olympic Games and the World Cup in 2018. In Eurovision: Russia, A10 and Bart Goldhoorn explore Project Russia There are grand plans around : Skolkovo, a huge the status quo of architecture in today’s Russia. ‘In general, TEXT: BART GOLDHOORN area for high-tech research and activity that is set to architects are attracted centrally administered regimes become the Russian equivalent of Silicon Valley, plus a new because with the security of power and money, the prob- financial centre west of the and a huge expansion to ability of realizing a project is high. This notion also applies PROJECT RUSSIA was founded in 1995 by Dutch architect Bart has been Bart Goldhoorn. From then on, the magazine the south where, among other things, the Russian govern- to Russia, but there it does not work quite in the same Goldhoorn and is published in Moscow every three months. has been directed by Aleksei Muratov. ment intends to relocate. However, what has thus far been way. Again, the absence of a system of checks and balances It is the main source of information on Russian architecture, Since virtually no books on Russian architecture realized are primarily the luxury villas and penthouses to arbitrariness. If one looks at recent history, it seems urbanism and design – not only for architects and designers have been published in recent decades, either in Russia of new billionaires and cheap housing for the masses. It is that the strongest projects are realized in open societies throughout Russia, but also for foreign readers, as editorial or abroad, PROJECT RUSSIA is more than just a journal – difficult for young architects to manoeuvre amidst these with a strong democracy, such as Barcelona or Berlin.’ texts are written in both Russian and English. it also is a series a monographs offering a selected reading developments. Without an established network, they are To discover how quality emerges despite this apparent PROJECT RUSSIA also publishes PROJECT International – a of the recent history of Russian architecture. This edition finding it problematic to realize projects and, as a result, contradiction, continue reading the following pages. Russian-language publication on foreign architecture – and of Eurovision aims to present an overview of the main I+U (Innovation and Urbanism), a publication sponsored tendencies in Russian architecture today. Apart from this, by the Skolkovo Foundation. Each issue of PROJECT RUSSIA there are a number of themes in its eighteen-year history has a specific theme, and features projects, texts and that deserve extra attention as well. analytical material relating to that theme. By now it has published 67 issues. Until issue no. 37, its editor-in-chief Info www.prorus.net

2 NIZHHNY NOVGOROD (ISSUE 4, 1996) This city, located 400 km east of Moscow, can be considered the architectural capital of 1990s Russia. Though one can discuss the extent to which the changes in Russia have been beneficial to its people, the increase in autonomy of the provinces from Moscow has been a very positive development. This is especially the case in architecture. In the Soviet era, local architects were only allowed to adapt projects that were designed in Moscow. For them, the political changes meant a real liberation that led to a joyful postmodernism, representing a freedom of expression they had obtained after a decades of a diet of concrete boxes. They were helped by the outdated construction norms and cheap labour, which allowed them to apply 19th-century con- struction techniques – just brick, stucco and paint. The style 4 Russia at the brink of the capitalist revolution: A castle-like of the buildings is completely eclectic; in the same year, an archi- dacha constructed from concrete panels cast with a mould in the tect might build an Art Nouveau bank building and a contem­ shed of the owner; an outdated belief in technology combined porary housing project. with aspirations towards a bourgeois future.

1 KOSMOS (ISSUE 15, 1999) Russia On the cover we see a view from the window of the museum in Kaluga, birthplace of the god- father of space travel, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857 – 1935). Long before the Bolsheviks came to power, Russia had a special relationship with the cosmos. Still, the heydays of Russian space travel only began in the 1960s. The contributions of architects were marginal, but intriguing. This issue features beautiful watercolours of the inte- riors of the Soyuz capsules by Galina Balasheva, the architect at the engineering institute respon- sible for the development of Soviet spaceships, and Igor Kozlov, who worked on projects for the interiors of experimental craft meant to travel to Mars in the 1970s and ‘80s. These designs were well ahead of their time.

2 FREE PLAN (ISSUE 20, 2001) When Russian developers built apartments for the wealthy elite in the 1990s, the first thing the new owners would do upon re- ceiving the keys was send in a team of workers who would tear down all the interior walls. They would then start building a new, custom-designed layout. Obviously, clients would not accept that they should live in a standard apartment – they considered them- selves to be unique individuals for whom there must be a custom- made interior. Developers eventually understood that it was no use DAVID GRINLY DAVID to build any interior walls if they would be taken out anyway, and began to offer apartments without interior walls, advertising them as ‘Free Plan’. Thus the question of user participation, an impor- tant theme for idealist architects in Western , was resolved by the market. The result: Russia is at the forefront of a develop- ment that is only now gaining a foothold in Western Europe. Not surprisingly, interior design is a booming business, making Russia one of the prime markets for the European furniture industry. Guest edited by a leading 1 national THE MICRORAYON (ISSUE 25, 2002) organi­zation An aspect from the Soviet past, but one that has remarkably survived the political and economic changes: the in one of tradition of building housing projects assembled from large concrete panels produced in factories. This practice the European is still very popular in Russia today, and its advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Developers are glad to have countries. the opportunity to order ready-made products with a fixed price and construction time rather than engage in a Within a time-consuming and unpredictable design process with an architect. As a result, the majority of housing projects range of built today consist of apartment buildings that were designed decades ago. themes, they strive to give deeper insight into the current state of architectural affairs.

 

2  PERM (ISSUE 56, 2010) 

           CITY STRUCTURE MAP   In 2007, the governor invited the Dutch firm KCAP to develop a 

      masterplan for this city of over one million inhabitants. Currently,                      

       Russian planning practice comprises a continuation of Soviet   

                                                  modernist principles combined with American-style sprawl. In this                               

      

                                        context, it was a revolutionary step that led to a unique project.                                                                                                              Worldwide, there are few examples where the principles of                                                                                              

postmodernist urban planning were applied to an existing city  



    

                                                                                                                                                                             so comprehensively and on such a scale. The result is contem­                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  porary urban planning based on densification rather than green-                                                                                                                                                                                                             

  

               

  field development, advancing green zones as the backbones         

   

               

           

 

                                              

    

   

   



    

  



     

     of urban structure, and preserving urban qualities developed over         

                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            time. Aside from the masterplan, another progressive strategy                                                                                                                                               was the initiation of many international architecture competitions.                   Well-known architects took part and some impressive results     

 

 were produced. These projects have had a lasting effect on the    dialogue surrounding the future of Russian .

38 A10 # 51 Eurovision: Russia Eurovision: Russia A10 # 51 39 The Wild East What has happened in Russia is a reflection of the transition from a communist to a capitalist society. Where once the community was very important, the collective has now disappeared from all political, social and spatial processes. There is no longer a govern- ment that controls things. Developers and private individuals call the shots. This is especially disastrous for the quality of urban planning. Optimistic factors, according to Bart Goldhoorn, are the new possibilities for architectural education and a young gen- eration of spatial professionals who are slowly but surely making a change in course.

RUSSIA — TEXT: INDIRA VAN ‘T KLOOSTER, PHOTOGRAPHY: LARS VAN DEN BRINK

Indira van ‘t Klooster: You came to Russia in 1993. What network is very important. Many architects learn the trade attracted you at the time? from father to son. This has everything to do with the hierar- Bart Goldhoorn: What interested me was the question of what chically structured society. A small breakthrough is that Sergei effect the transition from communism to capitalism would Kuznetsov, former partner of SPEECH, recently became the have on architecture and urbanism. What makes this question Chief Architect of Moscow. Himself only 37 years old, Kuznetsov quite interesting is that you have here a system of governance is not as enamoured with foreign contributions from archi- that can change from one day to another, but the buildings tects, but simply wants to give young Russian architects a remain. This means that, even with respect to planning, no chance. Moreover, he realizes the importance of quality public change has taken place – a replacement of old with new regu- space and urban planning. This ensures renewal.

lations – but rather a superimposition of new rules on top of IvantK: In the field of architectural education, are signifi- Russia the old system. Recently, a new law was passed in which many cant developments underway with the arrival of the Strelka old rules were abolished, but in practice these are still used. To Institute (postdoc, research) and MARCH (an independent affect change you must go to a judge, but who would do that if masters course)? it is known that the judge is not autonomous? In Russia you can BG: That’s right. The Moscow Architectural Institute (MArchI) is see how power, politics and capital are interconnected in very very conservative, having teachers without conceptual train- raw form, and that the rule of law with a separation of powers ing who never actually worked in practice. The Strelka Institute is a prerequisite for urban planning to function well. is funded by an oligarch and is a postgraduate school that IvantK: What is the state of urban planning at the moment? focuses on research, with many foreign instructors. The most BG: For the functioning of a society negotiating is necessary, but recent architectural programme (New Moscow School of Archi- that is very difficult in Russia. There is simply no tradition. This tecture, or MARCH) was established last year by Eugene Asse. Russia applies not only to government or the private sector, but also to It is organized in collaboration with the Metropoli- residents. As a result, urban planning is entangled with rules. tan University. The significance of this course of study is that Everyone stands their ground and nothing happens. Moscow it is a direct competitor of the state school. Asse works with has a huge traffic problem; the city is beyond congested. But practitioners such as Alexander Brodsky, Sergei Skuratov and new roads are not built, because all the vacant land is claimed, Vladimir Plotkin. either by commercial parties, as potential building land, or IvantK: How would you describe typical Russian architecture? because it is intended to become green areas. Moscow has BG: What is really special in Russia is that there is a strong clas- 21 square metres of green space per inhabitant – much more sical current, something which has never ceased to exist. The than other global cities. But that green is protected. And behind Neoclassical architecture of the 18th century that we also know it stands an army bureaucrats keeping watch over the green. from the period of Stalin has continued to develop up to the pre- IvantK: Are foreign examples also taken into account? sent day, and some agencies can carry out that style really well. BG: Yes. But that does not always solve things. Take, for in- At its foundations is a firm belief in classicism. It is much more stance, the contest recently organized by Russian and foreign than a postmodern game of columns and shapes. A second 2 Bart Goldhoorn agencies regarding the urban development of Moscow. One approach seeks inspiration in the imperfect, the do-it-yourself (b. 1963) was would expect the foreign contributions to offer something architecture of the dacha, the marginal. Alexander Brodsky is trained as an architect in innovative and perhaps turn things upside down, but they can its main representative. This style can be explained as a reac- Delft. Now he only offer Western clichés. Then they declare, ‘The car is passé, tion to communism, wherein people do not want to be part of a operates mainly as researcher we should put more emphasis on public transport.’ They say social structure – whether it be communist or capitalist. and curator this in a country that has known nothing but public transport IvantK: Does not today’s international approach to new for several exhi- bitions in both for 70 years, about a city that is completely congested while building also fit with that? the car use is less than half that of other European cities (and BG: Obviously there are interesting art projects. Agencies like and Russia. In 1995, he public transport use is double). But instead of responding, Skuratov and Project Meganom make really beautiful things, founded the ‘We’re going to lay down a new road system outside the resi- but it is part of an international architectural style, wherein Russian archi- tecture maga- dential neighbourhoods like we did in the 1960s in Europe’, it is few elements are typically Russian. Or it could be the elite zine PRO­JECT proposed that public transport would solve the problem. Why? architecture. Housing that costs more than €15,000 per square RUSSIA, for which he is Because these roads should be directed through green areas, metre is no exception in some areas. still the owner/ and green is ecology and therefore sacred. It is grist to the mill IvantK: It is noticeable that the tone of PROJECT RUSSIA is publisher. In 2008, he was of the bureaucrats, who see green as their property. In short, critical and business-like. Do you notice any effects from co-founder Russia is very interesting because it offers a vastly different the all the topics it has put on the table? of the Moscow Architecture perspective on contemporary issues. BG: I do, but it has taken fifteen years. Now that a younger gen- Biennale. Within IvantK: What should one do as a young architect in Russia? eration of architects is coming to power, one that grew up with the framework­ of the Inter­ BG: In Russia, there are few architects per capita, so the out- PROJECT RUSSIA, I hear our message repeated more often. So at national Archi­ look, once you are in the network, is good. Foreign architects the moment I’m a bit more hopeful than several years ago. Those tecture Biennale 2009, are not yet working there, so there is much demand for good in their 40’s are now attaining important positions. This is also he developed architects. The Russian state’s architectural training is poor, the generation that has grown up behind the cover, having relied ‘Block City’ as an alternative so the few architects who are outstanding are really busy. But upon our magazines as the main source of information through- to mass hous- before you can get there, it takes a while. The instinct of clients out their professional lives. To change an existing generation is ing in emerging economies. is that an experienced architect can do better. In addition, a difficult, but it is possible to shape the younger generation.

40 A10 # 51 Eurovision: Russia Eurovision: Russia A10 # 51 41 Paper architecture So-called ‘Paper Architecture’ opposed official Soviet cul- projects, which are then executed by professional builders. This ture, which, in essence, represented a modernist ideology means that other architects produce their ‘marginal’ works in stating that scientific and technological progress could an educational context, in exhibition design, or in parallel to a solve all societal problems. Promoting classicist architec- more serious practice. ture is one way to react, but there are other ‘Paper Archi- One of the settings for such works is Arch-Stoyanie. Since tects’ who took a different course. Their architecture does 2000, this organization has built land art projects in a small vil- not deal with technology or social issues explicitly, but lage 300 km south of Moscow. Artists and architects are invited is personal, informal and folksy. It is an architecture that to conceive ideas for projects, which are subsequently real- is unfinished, imperfect, spontaneous and temporary. It ized with the help of the local population. Here many Russian represents Russia as it is presented in YouTube clips: reck- architects have been able to realize what cannot be built in less, irresponsible and somewhat foolish, but also funny, the city. The freedom offered by the vast Russian landscape is smart and touching. an ideal context for the existence of a parallel practice, similar to the dacha culture that existed in the Soviet era. Exemplary of this kind of architecture is the work of Alexander Sergey Malakhov and Eugenia Repina, from Samara, have Brodsky, who is currently probably the most famous Russian been researching popular building culture for years. Their

architect. Brodsky’s work has been exhibited abroad many main invention is the Post Project: a way to present existing Marginal times, and his last exhibition was at the Architecture Centre buildings (often dachas) as well-conceived projects by means in Vienna. His success abroad means that he is actually one of of drawings, models and fictional stories about the creation of the few architects that has managed to carve out a successful the house by its owner. These buildings have a surrealist qual- practice with this kind of architecture. In order to make a liv- ity, since they were literary constructed of objet trouvés – the ing, architects are expected to produce exact drawings of their leftovers of the Soviet economy. Russia

3 Half Bridge of Hope by Timur Bashkaev, Arch-Stoyanie (2006)

3

Russia The Pompeian House by Mikhail Belov, Moscow (2005) Sincere classicism

It was in the 1980s that Russian (then Soviet) architects became world famous by winning a series of competitions, mostly organized by Japanese architecture magazines. This was the heyday of postmodernism, and the beautifully drafted projects with their abundance of literary refer­ 3 Shed by PROJECT MEGANOM, Arch-Stonyanie (2006) ences were a perfect expression of the postmodern nostal- gia for the past and rejection of modernist technology. The movement was called ‘Paper Architecture’, partly because these projects came about as a result of the impossibility Classical for Russian architects to actually get anything built.

In recent decades, this situation has changed. There is now a market for architecture in Russia, and some of the ‘Paper Architects’ have actually gotten the chance to realize their work. If postmodernism in the West has left its traces primarily in urban planning and in so-called ‘commercial architecture’, these architects appear to be genuine believers in the eternal value of classicist architecture. They are the bearers of a long neoclassicist tradition that existed in Russia both before and after the 1917 revolution – Stalinist architecture did not pop up just like that. With its fine craftsmanship, this architecture appears much more sincere than its neoclassicist counterparts in Europe and the United States. If Moscow and most other Russian cities are eclectic, in this neoclassicist tradition has an even more solid base: its huge historical centre comprises an exemplary neoclassicist New Town. Paradoxically, this is a burden for local architects, who feel oppressed by the perfection of the historic city. Still, their architecture is not so much a classicist state- ment but rather an attempt to translate classicist elements

into contemporary architecture. YURI PALMIN 3 Original (top), drawing (middle) and model (bottom), Post Project: 3 Restaurant 95 degrees by Alexander Brodsky, Info www.ilyautkin.ru 3 House on Levshinski Lane by Ilya Utkin, Moscow (2003) Jack’s House by Sergei Malakhov and Evgeniya Repina (2000) Moscow region (2000)

42 A10 # 51 Eurovision: Russia Eurovision: Russia A10 # 51 43 International orientation Until the 1990s, information on foreign architecture was Olga Aleksakova of Buromoscow is also a repatriate. For barely available in Russia. For a long time, and nowadays years she worked with OMA after finishing her studies at Delft even still, the work of many Russian architects bears the University in the Netherlands. Back in Russia, she founded her traces of this backwardness. But now the younger and own architectural practice in Moscow. She primarily works in more progressive architects have caught up with foreign mass housing, and operating from within the prefab industry developments, designing projects that are completely on she has been able to bring some remarkable innovations in a par with foreign examples. Occasionally, they even manage sector that is usually completely off limits for architects. to surpass their foreign counterparts due to the high budg- If architecture is making dreams become reality, the most ets available when it comes to buildings for the rich elite. interesting works in Russia are by Sergei Skuratov. Though he is of the same age as some of the Paper Architects, he was Some of these architects are only partly Russian. Educated never interested in simply making drawings. He has always and having worked in Europe, they decided to return now that been building, making him one of the most experienced Russia is becoming a more interesting market. Sergei Tchoban, architects in Russia. This has led to a virtuosity that, in combi-

for instance, is an architect from Saint Petersburg who moved nation with high budgets, makes it possible for him to realize Ambitious to in 1990 and became a partner in an established some housing projects that are remarkable even by Western architectural practice in Berlin. After 2000, he started to work European standards. in Russia again and became very successful; in both Moscow The same can be said of the works of Yuri Gregorian and his and Saint Petersburg he has realized a large number of pro- office, PROJECT MEGANOM. Though his works are less spec- jects. With his firm, SPEECH, he is the leading architect for the tacular then those of Skuratov, they have a more subdued Skolkovo development and other major projects. In addition, quality and a more pronounced, proper identity. Being involved his partner, Sergey Kuznetsov, was recently appointed Chief in the Strelka Institute as its programme director, Gregorian is OLYMPSTROY Architect of Moscow. This success is not only expressed in an closely connected to the international architectural discourse. 3 Overview of the 2014 Winter Olympics site abundance of state-of-the-art architectural projects, but has His works therefore appear absolutely adequate in an interna- also enabled him to produce an impressive collection of archi- tional context. tectural drawings for which he is now constructing a private museum in Berlin. Info www.speech.su, www.skuratov-arch.ru, www.buromoscow.com Grand projects The international media (and not only the professional cancelled for budgetary reasons, the project is headed for com- side) regularly informs the world about Russia’s latest pletion with the Hypercube by young Russian architect Boris grand projects, many of them initiated by the government. Bernaskoni, just finished, and a university complex by Herzog With oil money flowing in, no expense is spared to create the & de Meuron due to be realized after that. Russia prestigious projects that are intended to (re)instate Russia One project surpassing all others in grandeur is the extension as one of the world’s leading powers – the most obvious of Moscow towards the south-west, which is intended to relieve example being the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in the city of the traffic congestion currently paralyzing its economic Sochi. With a budget of almost 40 billion euros, its costs are development. For now the project mainly involves an extension of more than double those of the 2012 Summer Olympics in the administrative borders of the city. However, since living with- London (15 billion) and 10 billion higher than Beijing in 2008 in the city lines entitles inhabitants to all kinds of benefits, this (30 billion). But as is often the case with Olympic projects, the has an immediate effect on real estate prices. This also means lavish budget does not result in very valuable architecture, that the development of the city will be concentrated in this area. 3 Granatny 6 housing by SPEECH, Moscow (2004) as most venues feature mainstream sports architecture. In addition, the federal government is considering moving a por- Russia tion of its operations to the new area, with the goal of kick-start- This is quite different from another grand project: the Skolkovo ing a shift of economic activity away from the centre of the city. In Innovation Centre. Set to become a Russian Silicon Valley, this a competition held in the second half of last year, nine Russian project aims to use architecture as a showcase for its innova- and foreign teams were invited to develop proposals for this area, tive purpose. This includes a university, laboratories, buildings the development of the Moscow agglomeration as a whole, and for high-tech start-ups and housing for up to 30,000 people the city proper. How the area will develop is as yet unclear, but it working in the area. The line-up for the project is impressive: will certainly be a focal point of activity for years to come. OMA, Herzog & de Meuron, SANAA and David Chipperfield, among others. Though projects by OMA and SANAA had to be Info www.sochi2014.com, www.sk.ru Global

3 Business centre by nps tchoban voss, St Petersburg (2012) 3 Kommunarka housing by Buromoscow, Moscow region (2011)

3 Model of the central area of the Skolkovo development

3 Skolkovo Innvation Centre Masterplan, Arep-Ville and 3 MosFilm Tower by Sergei Skuratov Architects, Moscow (2008) 3 Central Market Hall by PROJECT MEGANOM, Moscow (2010) Michel Devigne (2011) 3 Hypercube, Boris Bernaskoni (2013)

44 A10 # 51 Eurovision: Russia Eurovision: Russia A10 # 51 45 Dutch disease HOW DOES IT WORK? The term ‘Dutch disease’ refers to the 1970s, when the Dutch 1. An international system of standards for Block City: the size of urban housing blocks is defined. economy got an enormous boost from gas revenues, but got For each country, region and climatic zone, into trouble when this led to inflation because the influx of an individual set of sizes is developed. 2. When designing masterplans for housing Mass housing after socialism money was not accompanied by an increase in productivity. The areas, a certain percentage of urban blocks same seems to have been happened in the last decade with is laid out according to standard sizes. 3. Architects design projects according In 2009, Bart Goldhoorn was invited by the International space. The iron curtain moves away from the buildings to housing. Rising prices for housing paid the process needed to to these sizes, meaning that these projects Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) to contribute to demarcate property borders. What used to be public space design, approve, calculate and build each project individually. can be applied in a number of locations simultaneously. the OPEN CITY exhibition, the theme being ‘collectivity’. is split up between parking lots, gated compounds, shop- But simultaneously, housing production stagnated, produc- 4. Since demands of clients can vary, Already confronted with the difficulties of introducing ping malls and schoolyards. The freedom of movement of tion costs increased, and the time needed to develop a project architects develop projects that have built- in options. Western European housing concepts in Russia, he decided the Soviet city transforms into a city of blocks where build- rose to seven years. The Designer City appears to be a product 5. Once a project has been built once, it is Learning from Learning to take this as an opportunity to reconsider the question ings are separated from public space by fences, gates and of a booming housing market. It is doubtful if this model is sus- evaluated and optimized for future use. 6. A realized project gets certified, meaning of mass production in architecture. Together with security guards. tainable in Western Europe, let alone if it can be promoted as a that it does not need to be submitted again Alexander Sverdlov, he developed the concept for ‘Block model for mass housing in other countries. for approval when built somewhere else. 7. All projects are brought together in a cata- City’ outlined below. logue from which clients can choose. Copying 8. In order to build a project, a client buys a license from the architect. In 2010, Goldhoorn had the chance to test this concept in a Although buildings are assembled manually on the con- 9. While Block City projects are being competition he organized for a Russian developer. The brief struction site, most building elements nowadays are produced constructed, custom-designed projects are developed for non-standard sites. concerned a New Town of 40,000 inhabitants. Standard block in factories. This is the case in the Designer City as well as in sizes were defined. Four foreign practices were asked to de- the Modular City. The advantage of the Modular City is not that sign a masterplan wherein 80 per cent of the blocks would it comes out of a factory, but that only one module has to be have standard sizes. Simultaneously, an open competition designed, engineered, calculated and approved, after which for the design of an urban block was announced. As a result, the process can be repeated endlessly. This is cheap and fast. 210 projects were received by the organizers, creating a cata- 3 Iron curtain II: 3 Iron curtain III: For the same reason, building the Designer City is expensive Securing private property Demarcating land ownership logue of projects from which a wide variety of cities could and slow. be composed. State of denial For far too long, efforts to make buildings cheaper have In 2011, the Block City concept and competition were the The Pruitt-Igoe housing complex in St. Louis (USA), was de- concentrated on construction costs. Now it is time to see how subject of an exhibition at the Louisiana Museum of Modern molished in 1972, only sixteen years after completion. Though the design process itself can be made more effective. The an- Art, near Copenhagen. This exhibition later travelled to , this event was meticulously documented at the time, it only swer is simple: by copying successful housing projects, so that Moscow and Perm. Currently, a block standard is being devel- became known worldwide in 1976, when Charles Jenks used it the research and development costs of designing the project oped for the extension of Moscow towards the south-west. to declare ‘the end of Modernism’. In the subconscious of ar- can be shared by producing more copies. chitects and planners, however, it is primarily a symbol of the

1. MODULAR CITY end of modular mass housing. Held responsible by society for Russia In 1954, Nikita Khrushchev banned Stalinist Classicism and the social problems in mass housing projects, the architectural demanded a radical industrialization of the construction in- intelligentsia took this opportunity to file it away as a ‘his- dustry, causing what is probably the biggest revolution ever in torical mistake’. The traumatic experiences with mass housing the field of architecture. Not only the production of buildings, made the subject taboo in professional discourse. but also their design was industrialized. Architectural studios were renamed Scientific Research Institutes for Design. They A worldwide phenomenon developed projects that could be built anywhere in the Soviet The reality is that modular mass housing is not a phenom- Union. Housing blocks would thus have identical floor plans enon of the past; it continues to be the most efficient way of everywhere, even if they were constructed in different ways. providing people with cheap housing worldwide. But in the Originally, the basic element of mass housing districts meantime, the world has changed. As in Russia’s transition 3 From custom-designed architecture to ready-made projects by introducing 3 Modular City Russia an urban block standard was the standard building. Over the years, it evolved into from communism to capitalism, cities in the developing world the so-called ‘section’: a module consisting of a stairwell are experiencing the combination of the worst aspect of the The Block Standard with the apartments it serves. In contrast to the build- capitalist city with the worst of the communist city: gated com- Since they are made to fit one particular site, it is more diffi- ing, the module offered the possibility of designing a vari- munity meets modular mass housing. cult to apply tailor-made projects on different sites than modu- ety of urban configurations while retaining the advantages of lar projects. This is a problem that is common to many fields of mass production. production. If your product does not fit everywhere, you have fewer possibilities of selling it. And if you sell less, production Capitalist revolution costs for each product will be higher. This is why standards Inequality arrives in the former Soviet Union as a utopia. are introduced: standards for clothing and shoe sizes, for The free market is welcomed as a liberalization. Suddenly you bolts and fittings, but also for all kinds of media like DVDs or can buy anything you want around the corner instead of hav- computer software. ing to hunt for hours to find a shop selling what you are looking In order to make elements compatible, the standard fixes for. You can decorate your apartment according to your own one characteristic of a product while leaving the others un- taste. Actually, the interior is where the largest transformation touched. Paradoxically, instead of limiting choice, this permits of the Soviet city takes place. From this perspective, the explo- diversity. Even if a product is very specific, the standard means 3 Cairo 3 Mumbai sive growth of the number of cars is nothing more than the it can find enough buyers to make production viable. extension of the private interior into public space. Rather than The introduction of a standard for the size of urban blocks a means of transportation, the car serves to avoid confronta- will do the same for the architecture of mass housing. Projects tion with other people. In the post-socialist city, individuality made for one site will be compatible with other sites, so they 3 Designer City replaces collectivity, diversity replaces uniformity, and private can be repeated without losing quality. Architects will offer space replaces public space. ready-made projects on a market for mass housing. This will

Learning from stimulate competition, innovation and diversity. The Iron Curtain In the Soviet city there were only two categories of space: 3. BLOCK CITY public space and space occupied by buildings. As a result, you In the Block City, the products of the Designer City are could move freely in the space between and around buildings. made affordable for a larger population: the growing middle 3 Seoul 3 Teheran Paradoxically, the existence of an impenetrable border around class in developing countries. Architects, knowing they can the country as a whole made it possible to live without borders 2. DESIGNER CITY realize their project on more than one site, are able to spend within the country. Capitalism means diversity, and one of its consequences more time on research and development. Increasingly so­ When capitalism arrives, it becomes clear that freedom has is the introduction of borders. In the Modular City this leads to phisti­cated technologies can be applied, tested and improved. a price. Public space is infested with its residue: a chaotic mix of the emergence of housing compounds surrounded by fences Well designed projects will be repeated at the cost of poorly criminals, street vendors and parked cars. Churchill’s metaphoric and security guards. In the traditional European city this is designed ones. Urban development will become a fast Iron Curtain is replaced by a real one. In order to protect their not the case. Fences are not needed here because the building and predictable process. Block City projects can be applied newly acquired wealth, people reinforce the barriers between itself creates the boundary between public and private. Build- im­mediately while tailor-made designs are developed for private space and the outside world. Entrances to apartments are ings fit their site because they are tailor-made. This means specific sites. Moreover, since block sizes are known inad- equipped with steel doors, windows barricaded with gratings. that they need an author, and that they automatically become vance, development of housing blocks can start before As the principles of private property are further en- unique. Thus a Designer City is created: a city consisting of con- mas­terplanning has been completed, reducing development forced, a new category of space is introduced: private open textual, personal, tailor-made buildings. time dramatically. 3 Block City

46 A10 # 51 Eurovision: Russia Eurovision: Russia A10 # 51 47 Foreign architects With only 0.8 architects per 10,000 inhabitants, the num- attention and then dropped when it appears to be too compli- ber of architects in Russia lies far below the average in cated (and expensive) to realize their buildings. countries like (19), Germany (6) or even Romania (at There have been, however, some notable achievements in 2.5, the lowest in the EU). Moreover, architectural educa- Russia. Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat, probably the most tion in Russia is generally underfunded and of poor quality. well-known foreign architect here, has recently built some This does not mean that Russia does not have good archi- outstanding works in Siberia after some of his Moscow pro- tects – they are just very few in number. Thus there is po- jects were handed over and reworked by NBBJ, an American tentially a great deal of work for foreign architects, espe- firm. David Adjaye has built a business school near Moscow for cially if one considers that real estate prices in Russia are a group of oligarchs – a remarkable achievement, though eas- quite high. This is particularly the case in Moscow, which ier to comprehend if one realizes how many billionaires were has the highest office leases and prices for residential involved in the project. Shigeru Ban has recently constructed a 3 PUBLIC SPACE INSTALLATIONS, VOLOGDA (2012) In the city of Vologda, located between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, an initiative of young architects challenged the idea that developments in the world. Currently, ‘Class A’ office space pavilion for the Garage Centre for Contemporary Art, financed investments in public space are only being made in Moscow. In a genuine bottom-up initiative, they selected five locations in the in central Moscow leases for around 760 euros per square by Roman Abramovich, owner of the Chelsea Football Club. city centre, raised money from local businesses, and built wooden installations that enable people to actually use public space instead of just moving through it. metre per year; so-called elite apartments in the city Still, this does not mean that there is no hope. Oil prices are centre cost more than 15,000 euros per square metre. That up again after the 2008 crisis and many projects are currently said, it is remarkable how few projects by foreign architect under construction. This includes a museum in Gorky Park by have been realized in Russia. OMA, the Skolkovo University building by Herzog & de Meuron, and a villa by Zaha Hadid. Most successful foreign offices are from Turkey, Serbia, Can- Future ada, or the United States. Substantial and significant real- Info www.dsai.ca, www.adjaye.com, www.erickvanegeraat.com ized works by architects from other countries are scarce. In this respect, the story of the Mariinsky Theatre extension in Saint Petersburg is telling. Intended to be the first project by a starchitect in Russia, it was built following an open compe- tition in 2003, in which a selected number of famous foreign architects took part. The winner was Dominique Perrault. Now, ten years later, it has finally been realized, but without Per- rault, who was removed from the project halfway through the design process. The building has no resemblance to Perrault’s 3 ARCH MOSCOW NEXT! AND THE AVANTGARDE AWARD 3 PAVILION IN GORKI PARK,

concept, having been actualized by a murky conglomerate of Arch Moscow NEXT! is a biannual exhibition promoting new TSYMAILO LISHENKO & PARTNERS (2012) Russia talents in architecture and design, alternating with the Moscow The summer café is one of the many new pavilions and instal­ subcontractors, among which is a Canadian firm responsible Architecture Biennale. As part of this exhibition, PROJECT RUSSIA lations in Gorki Park. These include a temporary exhibition for the architecture. This happens very often with projects by started the Avantgarde Award together with Sergei Gordeev. pavilion by Shigery Ban, an enormous ice rink, a boardwalk The competition selects the best young architect in Russia, similar along the Moskva River, sports facilities and a building well-known architects: they are initially hired to attract media to Prix de Rome in the Netherlands. for teleworkers. Russia

3 Skolovo School of Management by David Adjaye, 3 Vershina Trade and Entertainement Centre by Erick van Moscow (2010) Egeraat, Surgut (2010) 3 SHKOLA PAVILION IN MUSEON PARK, IGOR CHIRKIN (2012) 3 STRELKA INSTITUTE BUILDING, WOWHAUS (2010) This pavilion was constructed in May of 2012 as a prequel The Strelka Institute is located on an island in the middle of the to the opening of the new MARSH school of architecture. During Moskva River, not far from the Kremlin. It is part of an old factory the summer, lectures and workshops were organized here by complex that is waiting to be transformed into luxury apartments. the school, which opened in October. The pavilion was designed Until then, the institute occupies some old buildings around a by Igor Chirkin, who received the Avantgarde Award in 2011, courtyard. A terrace, served by a café underneath, is built atop and now also the winner of an open competition for the design of one of the buildings looking out over the Moskva River. It is of this building. one of the most popular spots in the city.

Imported New opportunities Notwithstanding the lack of good architects, it is not easy founded by Eugene Asse in 2012. For decades, Asse had been a for young architects to get to the point where they can professor of architecture at the Moscow Architectural Institute actually build in the city. Many of them work for wealthy (MArchI), but despite educating a steady stream of talented 3 Chess and Billiard Club by Erick van Egeraat, individuals on projects involving interior design and pri- young architects, he was considered a dissident in this strong- Khanty-Mansiysk (2011) vate villas. Others cater to the booming demand for shop hold of academism. Offering a masters degree from the and restaurant design. London Metropolitan University, the school is bound to attract the most talented students from the state schools, forcing But this is changing. On the cover of PROJECT RUSSIA 53, published these to finally revise their outmoded educational systems. in 2009, we see portraits of the 24 participants of the Avantgarde Changes are not only taking place within the architectural Award, which chooses the best young Russian architect today. profession. After years of neglect, city officials now understand Among them is Sergey Kuznetsov, a 32-year-old architect from that the quality of public space is an important factor in every- Moscow. He was appointed Chief Architect of Moscow this year. day urban life. The government has begun investing in parks, This is an extremely significant development, since one of the a policy which has proven to be quite successful. Gorky Park, main reasons clients tend to choose older architects is because for years barely used, has seen a huge surge in popularity since they are better connected and can easily get building permits. commercial attractions were dismantled and public facilities The foundation for the future of Russian architecture is ed- constructed in their place. ucation. There are two important new initiatives in this regard. Most significant is that many young people have become Firstly, the Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design, interested in questions of urbanism. For them, the public realm founded and sponsored by a Russian oligarch, opened its doors is a space independent from state power and commerce. It is three years ago. It offers postgraduate courses in architecture where they can build a new collectivity to replace that which 3 Mariinsky II Theatre concept by Dominique Perrault (2003) (top) 3 Capital Towers concept by Erick van Egeraat (left) and and the final design by Daimond Schmitt Architects (2012) (below) the final design by NBBJ (right) and design. Then there is MARSH, a new school of architecture was so radically shattered in the breakdown of communism.

48 A10 # 51 Eurovision: Russia Eurovision: Russia A10 # 51 49