Links | Blogs
Preservation foundations, Russian architecture, museums, exhibitions, blogs:
more places on the web to explore architecture and Constructivism.
Moscow Architecture Preservation Society (MAPS)
“The Moscow Architecture Preservation Society (MAPS) was set up in May 2004 following the demolition of two major Moscow landmarks: the Moskva Hotel, Voyentorg department store and the fire in the Manezh.
The initiative group of MAPS consists of young architects, historians, heritage managers and journalists from different countries. We work in close cooperation with preservationists, architects and historians within Russia and abroad to raise awareness about the present destruction of the city’s historical buildings. Through these contacts, we are working to give Russian preservationists and Muscovites a greater international voice. We invite international experts to advise on more sustainable approaches to the historic built environment.
MAPS believes that every effort should be made to preserve certain buildings. Through such work MAPS hopes to convince the Moscow Government, developers and architects that the unchecked demolition of old Moscow is not in the city’s long-term interest.”
RKM Save Urban Heritage
“The EU-sponsored project RKM_Save Urban Heritage intends to demonstrate that avant-garde architectural heritage can be a powerful agent for stimulating not only economic development, but also the social and cultural growth of communities.
RKM aims to create a replicable model for the safeguarding, valorisation and promotion of architectural heritage and urban fabric in the cities of Moscow and Kiev, building awareness amongst administrations and key stakeholders of the value of such a cause in terms of economic and cultural development.”
MOSKONSTRUCT
“Moskonstruct aims to work within this complex scenario, introducing a series of initiatives, whose primary objective is that of raising public awareness of the cultural and heritage value of Constructivist architecture and their importance to the collective memory of the entire Russian nation. The challenge is that of managing to unite the logic of the free market with the needs of city planning and heritage conservation.
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Based on the assumption that these works of architecture, in addition to being a fundamental point of reference for 20th century European culture, are also a symbol of Russia’s urban identity, Moskonstruct intends to encourage new methods of interpreting these spaces by favouring their conscious re-appropriation by local citizens and government administrators. ”
АРХНАДЗОР (ARCHNADZOR)
АРХНАДЗОР (ARCHNADZOR) is a site (in Russian) dedicated to the surveillance and protection of architecture in Russia, featuring current news of architecture related events.
Russian Avantgarde Heritage Preservation Foundation
“Russian Avantgarde Heritage Preservation Foundation is a nonprofit organization implementing projects in the cultural and architectural fields.
The Foundation Mission is:
– saving masterpieces of the Russian architecture, advancing preservation of the heritage;
– providing an open access for the society to the best achievements of the Russian and world architecture, archives of masters, unique publications on architecture;
– developing modern architecture.”
The Shukhov Tower Foundation
“The activities of the Shukhov Tower Foundation for the development of science, culture and art are aimed at the promotion of scientific and engineering achievements, the traditions of education, culture and art, at the realization of social projects and the preservation of heritage of the Great engineer, inventor and scientist Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov.”
Melnikov House
“The house and studio of Konstantin S.Melnikov in Krivoarbatsky Lane in Moscow is believed to be the peak of that renowned architect’s creative work.
All over the world the building is known as Melnikov’s House – it is properly seen as one of the main symbols of the 20th century architecture and a kind of an icon for the world culture in general.”
Narkomfin Charity Foundation
A site dedicated to the the Narkomfin House, by architect Moisei Ginzburg, 1928-1930.
Архитектура России (Architecture of Russia)
Архитектура России (Architecture of Russia) is a site with the goal of “creation and development of intellectual, informational resources on Russian architecture,” which indeed features a wealth of resources (though more info found in the Russian version of the site).
СОВАРХ – проект советская архитектура (SOVARCH – soviet architecture project)
СОВАРХ (SOVARCH) is an electronic database (in Russian) of the architecture built in the USSR and other socialist countries during the period of 1917-1991. It includes a directory of buildings, with historical info, address, and photos.
Citywalls
Citywalls.ru is a site catologuing architecture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The extensive list of buildings features many photographs (old and recent) and information on the building. The catologue can be searched according to street, architect, style, or historical period (making the search for Constructivist buildings in Saint Petersburg quite easy). Unfortunately the site is only in Russian.
Schusev State Museum of Architecture, Moscow, Russia
“The Schusev State Museum of Architecture is the first in the world specialized museum of architecture. It was founded by the initiative of the Union of Soviet architects in 1934. Its collections reflect thousand years of Russian architecture’s history; they are indeed a national treasure…”
Russian Utopia A Depository, Museum of Paper Architecture
http://www.utopia.ru (link to the archive)
“The Russian Utopia is represented by a compact depository of 480 architectural projects from the last 300 years of the Russian history that have never been carried out. They constitute but a fraction of the pool of ideas with a claim on the architectural reorganization of engsia – a collective Russian dream.
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All materials have been classified according to author, typology chronology and representation. The full list of projects shown (and preserved) can be found in the exhibition catalogue.”
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Today, at the beginning of the third millennium The State Museum of architecture has taken up an active attitude. Now it is intended not only to realize traditional museum programs but also to turn the Museum into an up-to-date centre of research and arts. Among the new directions of its work is an organization of architectural contests and conferences, promotion of the restoration of architectural monuments and foundation of museums of the outstanding Russian architects. ”
Фотографии старой Москвы (Photographs of old Moscow)
Фотографии старой Москвы (Photographs of old Moscow) is a constantly updated database of old Moscow photographs (architecture, cityscapes, daily life) organized by location of where the photograph was taken.
proeto.net – constructivist database
Proeto.net is a constructivist database that lists avant-garde exhibitions around the world, and provides bookmarked links for artists (“Artists from the avant-garde, mainly from the beginning of 20th century: from Russia to Czechoslovakia… from Cubism to Constructivism.”), movements, Modern furniture, and posters.
Exhibition: The Lost Vanguard
The exhibit The Lost Vanguard showcases the photographs of Richard Pare, who has been documenting Russian Modernist architecture for over a decade. More info about Pare’s involvement and work with the Russian avant-garde can be found in the interview here: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/mar2008/pare-m06.shtml.
Alexandr Rodchenko Retrospective at MOMA, NY
The accompanying interactive exhibition catalog to the first U.S. retrospective of Alexandr Rodchenko at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.