Days of History Festival

Days of History Festival: SUNDAY / May 26 / 13:00 – 20:00 / Hermitage Garden (Moscow)
Organized by Архнадзор & Москва, Которой Нет

MelnikovsHouseBook3

Starting at 15:00
1. presentation of the book “The Melnikovs’ House: Konstantin and Viktor” by Egor Egorychev
2. screening of a film-tour of the Melnikov House, conducted by the architect’s son, the artist Viktor Melnikov
3. an exhibition of photographs of the house, which were specially provided for this purpose by different photographers

– the book costs 250 rubles but this time you will have a chance to donate as much as you see fit
– Egor and Ekaterina will explain the creation of fund to conduct an independent examination of foundations and supporting structure of the house
– the fund already exists at the site: http://www.melnikov-dom.ru/ and payments can be made by WebMoney and Яндекс.Деньги (the fund will exist until enough money is collected for the independent examination)

ALL PROCEEDS
from the sale of the book, as well as other donations will go to the organization of an independent geological examination of the foundations and supporting structures of the building.

Read more about the event HERE.

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Melnikov House in the news

Melnikov House
May 13, 2013

As promised in Melnikov House Update,
an archive of articles about the Melnikov House since April 2013:

in ENGLISH

03/04/2013 HERITAGE ALERT: Melnikov House, Moscow
http://docomomo.be/2013/04/03/heritage-alert-melnikov-house-under-threat/

10/04/2013 12:42 Architectural Masterpiece in Moscow Under Grave Threat, Preservationists Say
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/architectural-masterpiece-in-moscow-under-grave-threat-preservationists-say/

12/04/2013 Melnikov House at risk of collapse, warn architects and heritage experts
http://www.dezeen.com/2013/04/12/melnikov-house-at-risk-of-collapse-warn-architectural-heritage-experts/

22/04/2013 19:50 A modernist landmark at war
http://themoscownews.com/local/20130422/191460679/A-modernist-landmark-at-war.html

23/04/2013 Famous Architects Petition to Save the Melnikov House
http://www.archdaily.com/363621/famous-architects-petition-to-save-the-melnikov-house/

23/04/2013 Muscovites petition to save architectural monument
http://rbth.ru/society/2013/04/23/muscovites_petition_to_save_architectural_monument_25343.html

30/04/2013 21:00 Time short for the cylindrical Melnikov House – the home built on sound ideals

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/visualarts/architecture/article3752183.ece

16/05/2013 Melnikov campaigners take petition to Moscow mayor
http://calvertjournal.com/news/show/960/melnikov-house-petition-moscow-mayor

in RUSSIAN

04/04/2013 Провал грунта и… культурной политики

http://www.archnadzor.ru/2013/04/04/proval-gurnta-i-kulturnoy-politiki/

05/04/2013 23:53 Сражение за Дом Мельникова
http://archnadzor.livejournal.com/210181.html

12/04/2013 12:17 Дом Мельникова в “Нью-Йорк” Таймс
http://archnadzor.livejournal.com/212425.html

14/04/2013 Международный щит
http://www.archnadzor.ru/2013/04/14/mezhdunarodnyiy-shhit/

15/04/2013 11:45 Акция “Тревожный сигнал” стартовала в защиту дома Мельникова в Москве

http://ria.ru/moscow/20130415/932654812.html

15/04/2013 17:54 Работы на месте дома Мельгунова не влияют на дом Мельникова – эксперты
http://riarealty.ru/architecture_heritage/20130415/400198244.html

15/04/2013 Международные организации просят Путина сохранить “Дом Мельникова”
http://realty.rbc.ru/articles/15/04/2013/562949986591302.shtml

15/04/2013 18:19 Путина попросили вступиться за дом архитектора Мельникова в Москве
http://finam.info/news/putina-poprosili-vstupitsya-za-dom-arhitektora-melnikova-v-moskve/

16/04/2013 14:54 Международные организации требуют защитить дом Мельникова на Арбате
http://www.aif.ru/realty/news/353962

17/04/2013 11:05 Дом Мельникова разрушается, но не из-за строительных работ: застройщик

http://regnum.ru/news/cultura/1649515.html

17/04/2013 17:52 Кто несет ответственность за состояние дома Мельникова?
http://www.realestate.ru/news/27501/

17/04/2013 И в круглом доме нашлись острые углы
http://www.trud.ru/article/17-04-2013/1292417_domu_melnikova_ugrozhajut_strojki_na_arbate.html

18/04/2013 23:32 Строительство на Арбате разрушает памятник авангарда – дом Мельникова

http://www.m24.ru/videos/16960

19/04/2013 13:20 Дом Мельникова гибнет: кто виноват?
http://izvestia.ru/news/548912

23/04/2013 15:13 Белый дом в форме цилиндра в состоянии войны
http://fwnews.ru/kultura-2/belyj-dom-v-forme-cilindra-v-sostoyanii-vojny

24/04/2013 15:22 Дом Мельникова: негосударственный, ничей
http://sovsekretno.ru/articles/id/3554/

13/05/2013 10:27 Выставка проектов на концепцию музея в Доме Мельникова откроется 15 мая
http://www.riarealty.ru/architecture_news/20130513/400380752.html

15/05/2013 19:03 Музей архитектуры собирает подписи в защиту Дома Мельникова в Москве
http://ria.ru/culture/20130515/937526775.html

15/05/2013 19:30 В Москве открылась выставка проектов благотворительного конкурса на концепцию музея “Дом Мельникова”
http://www.tvc.ru/AllNews.aspx?id=3d335073-54f0-4374-be02-924487d5ea58

16/05/2013 Знаменитые «соты» покрылись трещинами, дом архитектора Мельникова разваливается на куски.
http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/593458/

16/05/2013 16:15 Как превратить Дом Мельникова в музей
http://izvestia.ru/news/550384

16/05/2013 18:05 По Дому Мельникова объявлена международная тревога
http://radiovesti.ru/article/show/article_id/92165

16/05/2013 Каким будет музей «Дом Мельникова»
http://www.afisha.ru/article/muzei-v-dome-melnikova/

in OTHER languages

13/04/2013 Defensa de la casa Melnikov
http://tectonicablog.com/?p=65791Desde

27/04/2013 Una vida / La casa Melnikov
http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/2013/04/27/una-vida-la-casa-melnikov/

29/04/2013 16:05 Menunggu Hancurnya Gedung-gedung Bersejarah Dunia….
http://properti.kompas.com/read/2013/04/29/1605053/Menunggu.Hancurnya.Gedung-gedung.Bersejarah.Dunia.

16/05/2013 Lucha en el claro del Callejón Krivoarbatski (notas sobre la transformación de la casa Melnikov)

http://www.croquizar.com/lucha-en-el-claro-del-callejon-krivoarbatski-sobre-la-transformacion-de-la-casa-melnikov/

(this is not a complete list… if there are other articles to add to the list,
please leave the link to the article in the comments)

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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:
Фамилия – last name
Имя – first name
Отчество – middle name (optional)
and Контактный e-mail, is e-mail!

Click “Отправить” – send, check your inbox, and click on the link to confirm. Easy as that!

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Melnikov House Photo Campaign

“I’m interested in helping, but don’t know what I can do.”

I’ve been hearing this more and more often lately, and in general there’s a real revival of interest in the Russian avant-garde and a desire to do something about its preservation. As mentioned in the previous post, Right Place, Right Time, I was fortunate to be at the right place, at the right time. That afternoon, while watching the events unfold, I also observed several people come by and take pictures of the Melnikov House. So here is my idea of how people can help and it’ll be fun too!

Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013

Those that are in MOSCOW, I invite you to stop by the Melnikov House and take a picture. Hint: to see the back of the house you need to walk through the archway in the neighboring building (if facing the Melnikov House on Krivoarbatsky Lane, the archway is on the left). Then send this picture to theconstructivistproject@gmail.com with “Melnikov House Photo Campaign” in the subject line, I will collect the photos and create an album on The Constructivist Project Facebook page where everyone will have a chance to enjoy the photos. Please indicate how would you like to be credited, for example – name and occupation, or you can remain anonymous. Would be good to include the date and time of the photo as well.

Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013

Having numerous people come visit the house to take pictures will keep the spotlight on the Melnikov House. It will show there is public interest in the fate of the house, and allow for the constant monitoring of the situation with the neighboring construction site (who knows who else might be at in the right place, at the right time).

Not only will this be an opportunity to show your support of the house (literally, with a PHOTOGRAPH), but it can also be an opportunity to show off some photography skills and creativity in capturing the Melnikov House according to your perception of it. There are many photographs of the house, so it might be an interesting challenge to show the Melnikov House in a unique way. Anyway, it should be fun!

So, if you find yourself near Arbat and have any type of camera on you (phone, iPad, point and shoot, DSLR, etc), go visit the Melnikov House and TAKE A PHOTO!

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Right Place, Right Time

On Friday, April 26, 2013, I was at the right place, at the right time.
Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013
I was looking forward to an afternoon of photographing the Melnikov House, Vesnin Workers’ Club, Narkomfin Building, and the Planetarium for an announcement about an upcoming excursion, “The Lost Vanguard” organized by Москва Которой Нет and led by Egor Egorychev (author of the book “The Melnikovs’ House: Konstantin and Viktor“). Melnikov House was the first stop and I arrived around 3pm and began taking photos. I didn’t leave the Melnikov House area until almost 9pm.

While I was taking photos, I noticed someone peer through an opening in the 3 story structure directly next to the backyard fence of the Melnikov House. So I stuck around to see what would happen next. Some wooden planks were pushed out of the opening and onto Melnikov House property. Then another construction worker came out, climbed on to the fence, and hopped down into the Melnikov House backyard. That was interesting. I already had my camera in my hands, and took a few pictures.

Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013

Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013

Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013

I also shot some video. And continued watching, from a distance. The worker on the ground, saw that I was filming. But they continued doing what they were doing, and I continued filming.

Then I made some phone calls. I asked, “Is it ok that there are construction workers walking about the backyard like that?” and to inform that they had brought out wooden planks and it looked like they are planning on building something, on Melnikov House territory. The bottom line was, did they have approval for all of this?? This information was relayed to members of Archnadzor.

Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013

While waiting for the members of Archnadzor to show up to confront the workers, I continued watching them, and they occasionally looked in my direction. Considering I was going to have to wait for some time, I went and got some ice-cream, and continued watching the events unfold. I made it clear I was curious what they were up to and had nothing else better to do on a beautiful Friday afternoon then to continue watching them.

Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013

At 5:18pm, a member of Archnadzor showed up and confronted the workers. Then we went to the police station, that just so happens is located right next door. Unfortunately, the police were not convinced that something was happening illegally. So we went back to watch the workers. We asked if they had approval for this and could we speak to their manager? They answered in broken Russian, they would get the manager. So we waited. Then another Archnadzor member showed up, followed by Egor who I also had called earlier asking if he knew about any plans to build something in the backyard. So we waited for the manager to show up. While waiting, a policeman seems like he had a change of heart and came to have a look at what was happening. He yelled at the workers, who were still hanging around not really working, but not removing the partially built scaffolding as we demanded. This is a summary of what he told them: “Don’t you know this is a monument? You are on private property, protected by the government. You are not allowed to enter illegally and need to remove the scaffolding from the Melnikov House territory.” That got the message across and the workers disappeared.

MelikovHouse6_4-26-2013_nm

At that point everything that could be done had been accomplished (the workers had left the Melnikov House territory, and stopped their work) so the members of Archnadzor left. But Egor and I stuck around, we were still waiting for the manager to show up as promised by the workers. Every now and then, a worker would appear, take a look, see us still there, and disappear. They were looking to see when we would leave, so they could continue their work. The representative from the construction site finally came out around 6:30pm. Here is a summary:

Тo the question of why the workers illegally entered the territory of the Melnikov House and were setting up scaffolding there, the developer answered, “what, she can’t spare two centimeters of the plot? We will align the fence for her!” To the question of why this wasn’t agreed upon with Ekaterina, the developer had nothing to answer.

The impression I had of his reaction to our questions, was that he found it ridiculous that we were making such a big deal out of all this. He said it was only temporary scaffolding after all and didn’t have any effect on the house. And he said he’d call Ekaterina right now, as if threatening to prove us wrong. But getting approval should happen BEFORE work is started. And of course Ekaterina would not give them approval to walk on the Melnikov House territory, as it is their construction work that is worsening the situation with the ground, and in effect, destroying the house. When the developer left, workers continued glancing if we were still there, they went about their business doing other things, Egor reminded them we are waiting for the scaffolding to be removed from the Melnikov House territory, and finally it seems they got word from their boss to move the scaffolding so it was only on the other side of the fence, making for some very narrow (maybe about 2 or 3 ft) scaffolding, but not on Melnikov House property. I should note that they did this all without stepping foot on Melnikov House property this time. It was nearly 9pm when we left.

Melnikov House 
April 26, 2013

It was really pure luck that I happened to be there photographing the Melnikov House when I witnessed something that didn’t make sense. What were the workers doing on government protected, private property?? Would they really risk trespassing when this construction work already has such a negative reputation? (For example, the heavy-handed demolition work in August 2012) Also, more and more people are paying attention to what is happening with the Melnikov House now (thanks to the Docomomo US article, ICOMOS Heritage Alert, and a petition by famous architects). Even if this construction project has all of its paperwork in order and therefore from an official standpoint is able to continue with their work, the Melnikov House is suffering because of their actions. This experience just shows how irresponsible that construction work is.

Thanks to attending several seminars of the Archnadzor school (Школа Архнадзора), I had an idea what to look for and how to react. And I’m looking forward to the content from these seminars to be available online, so others will have access to this information. You never know when it can come in handy! And all of this experience has given me a great idea of how to respond to the question that I keep hearing more and more often: “I’m interested in helping, but don’t know what I can do.”
-> See Melnikov House Photo Campaign.

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Happy Heritage Day!

April 18 – International Day for Monuments and Sites (aka Heritage Day)
On this International Day for Monuments and Sites...
Melnikov House

“The International Day for Monuments and Sites was proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on 18 April 1982 and approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983. The aim is to promote awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage of humanity, their vulnerability and the efforts required for their protection and conservation.” [Thanks Wikipedia]

READ: “Подарки к Дню наследия” (Presents for Heritage Day) by Archnadzor

And on the neighboring street of Arbat shakes another world famous monument – the Melnikov House. Nearby, on the site of last year’s demolition of an old Arbat house, a pit is being dug and construction work goes on. The Moscow City Government has allowed this construction of a 4-5-story multi-functional complex in a protected zone with all the necessary papers. International and domestic experts shout out loud, and Moscow City Hall is silent. Happy Heritage Day to you, experts! (translation)

(Considering the situation in Moscow, it’s the developers, the investors, those getting away with demolishing buildings of heritage, those getting away with building in “government” protected areas, that are celebrating…)

WATCH: “Construction on Arbat is destroying a monument of the avant-garde – the Melnikov House”

International scientific committee for the protection of heritage sites [ICOMOS] launched action “Heritage Alert”. Its goal – to stop the construction work near the famous Melnikov House on Krivoarbatsky alley. A Russian avant-garde masterpiece, built in the 20s of the twentieth century, has already started to crack and, according to experts, may collapse if excavation will continue next to it. (translation)


(in the video you get to see а representative of the developer “Trust-Oil” denying being responsible for any damage to the house. Again claiming, “the house does not fall in the zone of influence” & “the house has not had proper maintenance in 83 years.”)

READ: ICOMOS Heritage Alert

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Diagram, Melnikov House, and Karsts

Diagram of the area surrounding the Melnikov House
Updated 3.27.13

This diagram shows the Melnikov House surrounded by parking garages and construction sites, as well as a history of sinkages. Because the territory of the Melnikov House is surrounded by underground garages, when the parking garage for the multi-functional complex is built, its walls will act as a dam, blocking the groundwater that flows under the house in the direction of Arbat Street. Having no outlet, the water will accumulate within the territory of the Melnikov House, causing further subsidence. (This is simply stated, see below for a more technical report of the geophysical condition of the territory and an analysis of the Melnikov House structure)

2006, geophysical survey conducted by Education and Science Ministry of the Russian Federation, Moscow State Construction University

RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL REPORT
Survey of Structures, Foundations and Soil Footing Condition for House – Monument to Architect Konstantin Melnikov Located at the Address: 10 Krivoarbatsky Lane, Moscow

The Purposes and Objectives of the report:
The survey has been carried out due to the damage occurring in the building fabric.
The objective of the survey was to ascertain the technical condition of the building component structures, determine the soil composition at the foundation footing and in the land plot surrounding Melnikov’s house as well as to provide recommendations on strengthening the soils at the footing.

The last item listed in Findings:
24. Due to the design solution for the building surveyed never providing for its functioning at possible emergency loads in the high geological risk area, any construction in the vicinity of the building surveyed, including the construction in the plot adjoining the site from the Arbat Street side of the multipurpose shopping mall planned by Trust-oil Company can provoke intensification of the soil settlement and the surface caving which will be an unfavorable and inadmissible factor for Architect Melnikov’s house preservation. In addition, it should be noted that the construction of the multipurpose shopping mall with extensive underground structures is planned for the karst-prone area where the Carboniferous age primary deposits subside sharply. Development of subterranean spaces in such areas is inadmissible due to hazard of subterranean slides occurring in the overlying mass of water-saturated sand Quaternary deposits.

READ the report in full here: http://www.melnikovhouse.org/pdf/survey_engl.80402.pdf

“karst-prone” -> prone to cave-ins or sinkholes
(see “Allowable risks of construction in karst-prone regions” by V. V. Tolmachev HERE for more info on karsts, hint: click on the “Look Inside” link)

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Сражение за Дом Мельникова

Melnikov House, studio
Еще фотографии и оригинальный текст на английском языке: Docomomo US
Текст на русском в формате pdf.

Над широко известным и прославленным Домом Мельникова, построенным в 1929 году по проекту архитектора Константина Мельникова, нависла непосредственная опасность. Наталья Меликова, магистр искусств и недавняя выпускница Академии художеств университета Сан-Франциско, пишет из Москвы о грозящих дому опасностях, где в настоящее время она работает по своему проекту, посвящённому архитектуре русского авангарда.

Что происходит с Домом Мельникова в настоящее время

В течение многих лет, судьба Дома Мельникова широко освещалась как в российских, так и зарубежных средствах массовой информации, при этом основное внимание уделялось семейным спорам и запутанной ситуации с правом собственности на это знаменитое здание. Несмотря на табличку “Охраняется государством”, контроль за его охраной находится не на должном уровне. И что интересно, даже в данных, указанных на табличке, содержится ошибка: там говорится, что Мельников жил в этом доме с 1920 по 1974 годы, в то время, как участок земли был предоставлен ему не раньше, чем зимой 1926 года, а строительство дома было завершено лишь в 1929 году! Несмотря на то, что дом имеет статус “Памятник архитектуры и истории”, до того, как будет определён собственник данного объекта недвижимости, предпринять каких-либо действий по его охране затруднительно. Но исторический памятник — есть исторический памятник и его необходимо охранять независимо от того, кто является его собственником.

Физическое состояние дома сильно ухудшилось вследствие грубо проведённого в августе 2012 года сноса близлежащих строений по адресу Арбат 39-41, что само по себе является возмутительным деянием. А теперь уже видны неопровержимые (но не признаваемые) последствия ведения строительных работ, которые идут полным ходом, несмотря на жалобы соседей и наложенные на строительную компанию штрафы. В результате проведённых строительных работ над зданием сейчас нависла серьёзная опасность разрушения. Но, несмотря на всё это, основное внимание по-прежнему сосредотачивается на вопросе права собственности на дом и дебатах вокруг определения концепции музея “Дом Мельникова”.

Пятого марта я встретилась в известном доме-мастерской архитектора Константина Мельникова с его внучкой – Екатериной Викторовной Каринской. В настоящее время Екатерина Викторовна живёт в этом доме, обеспечивая его физическую сохранность и следя за тем, чтобы все условия завещания Виктора Константиновича Мельникова были исполнены. (сноска 1). Я попросила её рассказать, в каком состоянии сейчас находится Дом Мельникова, и как сказываются на доме ведущиеся рядом с ним строительные работы.

Екатерина Викторовна: [По-моему] все это делается для того, чтобы дом просто уничтожить. Снести его нельзя – это будет такой резонанс очень нехороший. Поэтому [дом] подкопали с двух сторон, пошли [разрушительные] процессы в грунтах. Сейчас ставят плотину [трехэтажный подземный гараж], чтобы [дом] уже сам упал. А как сам упадёт, скажут: «Ну что вы хотите, старый… Ну уже жизнь закончилась, умер». Участок освободится. Можно еще один многофункциональный-никому-не-нужный-центр построить. Потому что я понимаю, ради чего губят дом. Ради того, чтобы построить совершенно ненужную вещь какую-то.

Ясно, что строительные работы будут вестись и дальше, и, так или иначе, что-нибудь будет построено (ведь в данном случае речь идёт об очень дорогой недвижимости в центре Москвы). Поэтому, я спросила Екатерину Викторовну, есть ли на её взгляд какой-либо путь, позволяющий избежать полной катастрофы. Не колеблясь, она сказала, что наибольшую угрозу для физического состояния дома представляет запланированное строительство трёх-уровневой подземной парковки при многофункциональном центре, непосредственно прилегающим к участку Дома Мельникова. В течение многих лет прямо под домом протекают грунтовые воды, в результате чего в нескольких местах произошло проседание земли до 30 сантиметров. Как следствие, передний фасад неуклонно оседает, а оконные стёкла трескаются. Стены подземного гаража будут уходить под землю на глубину 20 метров, создавая эффект плотины: они перегородят ток подземных вод, что приведёт к подтоплению Дома Мельникова. Это создаёт самую непосредственную опасность для дома.

Melnikov House, crack in the studio

Ещё одна обеспокоенность вызвана утверждением, что Дом Мельникова (находящийся на расстоянии 37 метров от стройплощадки) не находится в зоне воздействия строительных работ. Однако, в действительности это не так, о чём свидетельствуют вновь появившиеся трещины (см. выше фото). Ответственность за происходящее с Домом Мельникова не признаётся, а те, на кого возложена обязанность по проведению мониторинга его состояния, в официальных отчётах заявляют, что “всё в порядке”. Но всё обстоит как раз наоборот, и новые трещины ясно и наглядно указывают на то, что Дом Мельникова оказывается в пределах зоны влияния строительных работ. Вот что сказала Екатерина Викторовна в своём интервью Николаю Васильеву 6 февраля 2013 года об отсутствии должного документирования этих трещин:

У меня с августа или июля ведут наблюдение за этими трещинами, кто-то фотографирует, результаты мне не дают, сказали, что дадут отчет за какой-то период. Отчет вроде бы написали, отдали заказчику. Заказчик «Траст-Ойл», руководитель которого сказал, что Дом Мельникова это бельмо на глазу Москвы, которому не место тут.

Нет никаких причин для обрушения этого старого здания, если только в этом не будет кто-либо заинтересован. В Москве предостаточно новых бизнес-центров, роскошных квартир и многофункциональных комплексов. Необходимо, чтобы до начала рытья котлована под подземный гараж было принято распоряжение о временной приостановке работ, что дало бы специалистам время заново произвести оценку проекта и последствий воздействия строительных работ на архитектурный памятник.

The Constructivist Project (Конструктивистский Проект). Воздать должное искусству и архитектуре авангарда!

Работа по теме Дома Мельникова является продолжением моей дипломной работы по фотографии, посвящённой объектам русского авангарда в Москве. The Constructivist Project включил в себя как фотосъемку архитектуры авангарда с её динамичными формами и другими характерными чертами, так и пропаганду необходимости её признания и сохранения, как имеющей историческое значение. Мой интерес к Дому Мельникова и русскому авангарду основан исключительно на моей любви к этому городу и его архитектуре! Совсем недавно я перебралась с солнечного побережья Калифорнии назад в мой любимый родной город Москву, чтобы продолжить фотографировать и помогать сохранять архитектуру авангарда. Мне хочется, чтобы то, что я люблю фотографировать, было бы возможно в будущем созерцать и другим: и Дом Мельникова, и Шуховскую Башню, и Здание Наркомфина, и типографию журнала “Огонёк” Эль Лисицкого.

В январе этого года, я посетила Дом Мельникова, сопровождая группу аспирантов Факультета архитектуры, планирования и охраны архитектурно-исторических памятников Колумбийского университета Нью-Йорка, которые приезжали в Москву в рамках учебного курса “Soviet Avant-Garde. How to preserve an experiment?” (“Советский авангард. Как сохранить эксперимент?”). Аспиранты представляли разные дисциплины – сохранение исторических памятников, архитектура, история искусств – и было интересно наблюдать, какое любопытство и интерес у них вызывало всё в этом доме с его чрезвычайно продуманными архитектурными решениями. Все в этом эффективном и экономичном доме необычно: конструкция здания, организация пространства, функциональность и т.д. В своей книге Melnikov: Solo Architect in a Mass Society (Мельников: самостоятельный архитектор в массовом обществе), Фредерик Старр охарактеризовал дом как “одно из наиболее смелых, проблематичных, своеобразных, но в то же время, по своему символических сооружений эпохи НЭПа в России”.

Признавая, что я не первый человек, влюбившийся в Дом Мельникова и русский авангард, хочу выразить надежду, что мои усилия и The Constructivist Project позитивно скажутся на его будущем!

Дополнительные посты из The Constructivist Project вы можете читать в будущих выпусках Docomomo US e-newsletters. Между тем, вы можете выразить свою поддержку и следить за ходом The Constructivist Project на Facebook и Twitter. Присылайте ваши вопросы и/или комментарии. Пишите на адрес: theconstructivistproject@gmail.com.

Хотелось бы также поблагодарить Екатерину Викторовну Каринскую, Егора Егорычева (автора недавно вышедшей книги Дом Мельникова: Константина и Виктора) и Николая Васильева (искусствоведа и члена DOCOMOMO Россия) за предоставленную для данной статьи информацию. И, конечно, большое спасибо всем оказавшим поддержку The Constructivist Project!

Сноски:
1. Должен быть создан музей, посвящённый как отцу, так и сыну. Дом является обьектом музейного показа и сама экспозиция должна находиться в других помещениях. Дом и архивы должны стать собственностью государства, и в музей должен быть свободный доступ всем желающим.

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The Fight for the Melnikov House

Check out “The Fight for the Melnikov House” in the March 2013 Docomomo US e-newsletter. Original text with more photos HERE.

Designed by the Russian avant-garde architect Konstantin Melnikov and completed in 1929, the well-known and highly praised Melnikov House currently finds itself in imminent danger. Natalia Melikova, a recent MFA graduate student of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, writes from Moscow about the threats to the house in her ongoing project on Russian avant-garde architecture.

Melnikov House SOS

Melnikov House, what’s going on right now

For many years now, the fate of the Melnikov House has received a good amount of coverage by Russian and foreign media, but the focus has been on family disputes and on the tangled ownership of this famous house. Though there is a plaque at the front of the house saying “protected by the state”, there is a lack of accountability. And interestingly, the plaque itself contains factual errors, saying Melinkov lived there from 1920-1974, but the plot of land was reserved for him at the earliest in the winter of 1926, and the house was not completed until 1929! Even with the status of an “architectural and historical monument,” actions to protect the house cannot be taken until there is a sole owner of the property. Regardless of ownership, a landmark is a landmark and it needs to be protected.

The physical deterioration of the house has been exacerbated as a result of August 2012 heavy-handed demolition of neighboring buildings (Arbat 39-41), a scandalous affair on its own. And now there are undeniable (but unrecognized) effects from the construction work, which is going on full speed ahead despite complaints by neighbors and fines against the construction company. Due to this construction work, the building is in serious danger of collapsing. And yet, arguments over the ownership of the house and the debate over the still-to-be-conceptualized Melnikov museum continue to take center stage.

On March 5, I met with Ekaterina Viktorovna Karinskaya, Melnikov’s granddaughter, at the iconic cylindrical house-studio of the avant-garde architect. Karinskaya currently resides in the house in order to protect the physical building and make sure that Melnikov’s wishes are executed in full (Footnote 1). I asked her about the current situation of the Melnikov House, and specifically, what impact the nearby construction work is having on the house.

Karinskaya: All of this is being done in order to simply destroy the house. They cannot just knock it down because it will draw a widely negative response. So, they have dug from two sides, setting off processes underneath in the soil. Now they will build a dam, so that the house would crumble down by itself. And once that happens, they will say ‘well, what did you expect, [the house] is old … it’s over now, it’s dead’ … The plot of land will be vacated, and then another multi-functional-not-needed-by-anyone center can be built.

Clearly the construction work is going to continue and something is going to be built inevitably (this is highly valuable central Moscow real estate after all). But under these circumstances, I asked Karinskaya if she saw a way out of avoiding total disaster. Without hesitation, Karinskaya said that the greatest threat to the physical condition of the house is the planned three-level underground parking garage for the multi-functional center in the lot directly behind the house. Groundwater has flowed directly under the Melnikov House over the years and caused the ground to sink in several places (as much as 30 cm). As a result, the front facade is steadily sagging and the glass is cracking. The walls of the underground garage would go to a depth of 16 – 20 meters (52.5 – 65.6 ft), having the effect of a dam: the walls would block the path of the groundwater and flood the Melnikov House. This she says is the most imminent threat to the house.

The other major concern is the claim that the Melnikov House (at 37 meters from construction site) does not fall into the zone of influence of the construction. This however seems to be on the contrary as new cracks have appeared (see photos above). Responsibility for what has been happening to the Melnikov House has been denied, and those tasked with monitoring the condition of the Melnikov House state in official reports that “everything is okay.” On the contrary, everything is definitely not okay and the new cracks provide clear, visible proof that the Melnikov House is in the zone of influence.

Here is what Karinskaya had to say about the lack of proper documentation of these cracks during an interview with Nikolai Vassiliev on February 6, 2013:

Since August or July, these cracks have been monitored. Somebody photographs them. The results are not given to me; they said they would give the report in some time. The report appears to have already been written and given to the client. The client is “Trust-Oil,” whose leader said the Melnikov House is a thorn in the side of Moscow—it has no place here.

There is no reason this old building should fall down, unless someone wants it to. Moscow has plenty of new business centers, luxury apartments, and multi-functional complexes. What needs to happen, before they start digging the pit for the parking garage is a temporary stop work order to give experts time to reevaluate the project and the construction effects on the landmark.

The Constructivist Project. Celebrating Russian avant-garde art and architecture!

Activism for the Melnikov House is an extension of my master’s photography thesis promoting the Russian avant-garde based in Moscow. The Constructivist Project has come a long a way from photographing avant-garde architecture based on its dynamic visual qualities to also promoting its recognition and preservation because of its historic significance. My interest in the Melnikov House and the Russian avant-garde is based purely on my love of this city and its architecture! Most recently, I moved from the sunny coast of California to be back in my beloved native city of Moscow to continue photographing and promoting the preservation of avant-garde architecture. And what I love to photograph, I would love for others to be able to enjoy for years to come, which includes the Melnikov House, Shukhov Radio Tower, Narkomfin Building, and Lissitzky’s Ogonyok Printing Plant.

This past January, I made a special trip to the house accompanying students from the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University who came to Moscow as an extension of the course “Soviet Avant-Garde. Preserving the Experiment.” The students were from various disciplines (historic preservation, architecture, art history) and it was interesting to observe their curiosity and interest in all the details of this extremely well-thought-out house. Everything about the highly effective and economical house is noteworthy: construction, organization of space, functionality, etc. In the book Melnikov: Solo Architect in a Mass Society, S. Frederick Starr described the house as “one of the most daring, problematic, idiosyncratic, yet, in its way, emblematic structures of the NEP era in Russia.”

While I recognize I’m not the first person to fall in love with the Melnikov House, and the art of the Russian avant-garde, I hope my efforts and those of the Constructivist Project can make a positive impact on its legacy!

Footnote:
1. Such as ensuring that a museum is made dedicated to both father and son, that the house and archives become property of the state, and that the museum will be free to the public.

I would like to thank Ekaternina Karinskaya, Egor Egorychev (author of the recently published book, The Melnikovs’ House: Konstantin and Viktor), and Nikolai Vassiliev (art historian and member of Docomomo Russia) for providing the information for this article. And of course, a big thank you to the supporters of The Constructivist Project!

Questions and/or comments? Write to theconstructivistproject@gmail.com

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Melnikov House Museum

The contest-consultation on the creation of the MELNIKOV HOUSE MUSEUM was recently announced by the Shchusev State Architecture Museum and Project Russia.

Below is a translation of the contest description on Shchusev State Architecture Museum’s site found HERE. DEADLINE to register for the contest is MARCH 25.

“Architect Konstantin Melnikov dreamed that one day the house he built in the late 1920s, for himself and his family, will become a museum. This was the will and his son, the artist Viktor Melnikov, devoted his life to preserve the house and left a corresponding will.

The Shchusev State Museum of Architecture, in the operational management of which was transferred the ownership of half of the house, has initiated a not for profit contest-consultation with invited architects on the concept of a museum in the Melnikov House. Organizers also leave open the possibility of participation to the public of professional architects and university architectural students, to all who care about the fate of the legendary house.

The purpose of the contest – gathering ideas about the creation of the museum, as well as attracting public attention to the problem of preserving the Melnikov House.

The organizers of the creative competition expect from the participants a professional and human vision of the future of the museum. The main question of competition: how to preserve the authenticity of the house, its unique atmosphere, organized with access to his visitors and providing the minimum required service infrastructure.

The format of the contest-consultation plans for the absence of a single winner. The jury, which is to be attended by representatives of government, professional and expert communities, and the granddaughters of the architect Melnikov will select five best qualified projects and comment on their choices. The authors of these projects will be brought to the working group for the creation of the museum.

The results of the contest will be published in a catalog, and an exhibition will be organized in the Shchusev State Museum of Architecture. The best of the projects submitted by participants of the open competition will be selected by the jury for display at the exhibition and publication in the catalog along with the projects of the invited architects.

To participate in the contest, it is necessary to fill out the registration form and send it to the address schusevmuseum@gmail.com no later than 25 March 2013. Terms of the competition and the registration form are attached.”

Some things to consider:

1. “concept of a museum in the Melnikov House” is misleading. The museum cannot be inside the Melnikov House; the museum would be a separate building, and the house itself would be toured in small groups of 5, at most 6 people at a time. So “Melnikov House Museum” is really: Melnikov House, & Museum (of works by both Konstantin and Viktor Melnikov).

2. “The purpose of the contest – gathering ideas about the creation of the museum, as well as attracting public attention to the problem of preserving the Melnikov House.” Considering the intensity of the construction work next door and the damage it is doing to the physical condition of the house, the PRIORITY should be to stabilize the situation. Perhaps the competition should be re-worked as a contest to solve the structural and geological issues the Melnikov House is facing?

3. It is good news that the contest has been announced, and maybe it will indeed attract more attention to the precarious situation of the Melnikov House. Here’s to positive thinking!

And here’s to positive doing: let’s spread the word – We <3 the Melnikov House!
I LOVE MH
I LOVE the Melnikov House
Feel free to share the above image, if YOU, too, LOVE THE MELNIKOV HOUSE.
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