A Letter to the Mayor

In order to save a unique monument of history and culture ‘House and Studio of architect K. S. Melnikov’ we ask you, dear Sergei Semenovich, to immediately stop all construction work in the area of the protected zone of the Melnikov House and to create an independent group of experts to determine the current state of the monument and assess the negative impact of the work in the area of the protected zone on the house.

^May 15, 2013: The Shchusev State Museum of Architecture has written a letter to Moscow Mayor Sobyanin to SAVE the MELNIKOV HOUSE!
See the letter in Russian on the museum’s site and SIGN it here:

http://www.muar.ru/opros/

Below is a translation of the letter:

APPEAL TO THE MAYOR OF MOSCOW S.S. SOBYANIN
TO SAVE THE MELNIKOV HOUSE
 
Dear Sergei Semenovich,

A monument of history and architecture, cultural heritage site “House and Studio of architect K. S. Melnikov”, located at the address: Moscow, 10 Krivoarbatsky Lane (hereinafter – the Melnikov House) was built in 1927-1929 by architect Konstantin Melnikov, as a representative residential building, and is one of the most unique works of world architecture.

At present, the world-famous masterpiece of the Soviet avant-garde architecture is threatened with destruction.

According to the current legislation of the Russian Federation in the protected zone of cultural heritage new constructions are not allowed. Despite this, in the protected zone of the Melnikov House construction work is going on, which has caused irreparable damage to the monument of architecture. In 2004, construction was completed on the administrative and residential complex at the address: Moscow, Krivoarbatsky Lane, 6, bldgs 1 and 2 and 8, bldgs 1 and 2, which was carried out in violation of the Town Planning conclusion 573/4-ГЗ from 04.05.1995, fire and health regulations, without calculating the impact of the construction sites on the neighboring buildings with the karst-suffusion of soil and other violations. The above construction works, including installing in a nearby building underground parking, have led to the displacement of soil, change in the distribution of ground water and the formation of voids under the Melnikov House. The results of the construction, includes the formation of cracks and soaking the foundations in the House Melnikov.

In addition, the previous leadership of Moscow approved the construction of the retail and entertainment center with underground parking on the site of houses located on Arbat St., 39, bldgs 1 and 2, and 41, bldgs 1 and 2. As part of this project was demolished the building at the address: Arbat St., 39. In 2012, JSC “StroyMontazhTsentr-2000” demolished mansion of the XVIII century, located at the address: Moscow, Arbat St., 41. Despite attempts to stop the demolition of the estate and the revealed violations in issuing building permits, demolition of the mansion continued.

Currently on the site at the address: Moscow, Arbat St., 39, bldgs 1 and 2, and 41, bldgs 1 and 2, the preparatory works are in progress to start excavation work on the pit for underground parking. The construction of this multi-functional complex are the following organizations:
Customer JSC “Trust OIL” (tel: 8-495-730-35-25);
Project Organization, LLC “Senab Project” (tel. 8-495-650-20-29);
Technical Customer “SKT PRAM” (tel: 8-499-255-33-65);
General Contractor Company “StroyMontazhTsentr-2000” (tel. 8-495-995-51-54).

Given the existence of shifting karst-suffusion of soil in the plot where the Melnikov House is located, it is necessary to take urgent action to preserve the cultural heritage of the “House and Studio of architect K. S. Melnikov,” whose condition in recent months has deteriorated sharply.

In order to save a unique monument of history and culture ‘House and Studio of architect K. S. Melnikov’ we ask you, dear Sergei Semenovich, to immediately stop all construction work in the area of the protected zone of the Melnikov House and to create an independent group of experts to determine the current state of the monument and assess the negative impact of the work in the area of the protected zone on the house.

At the bottom of the letter -> http://www.muar.ru/opros/, fill in your name:
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and Контактный e-mail, is e-mail!

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