-I am Mayor Luzhkov. - Which Luzhkov are you talking about?

Public Talk: Moscow and Its Creators — Who Designs the City

Participants:
Sergey Kuznetsov — Chief Architect of Moscow
Dmitry Likin — Architect, Co-founder of Wowhaus Bureau, Chief Artist of the First Channel
Anna Trapkova — General Director of the Museum of Moscow (moderator)


Time and again, I’ve observed people outside the architectural field, attending professional arch-events and listening spellbound to the speakers. This is no coincidence. The process of creating architecture encompasses technical, artistic, social, economic, and political aspects. Each project is unique and presents new challenges that shape the architecture. The constant work in such conditions hones the authors' approach. Take, for example, when the Chief Architect of Moscow, Sergey Kuznetsov, presents with Dmitry Likin, co-founder of Wowhaus Bureau, at a public talk.

I once received an answer to a question I hadn’t asked during such a presentation. While traveling to the office along Malyy Tolmachevsky Lane, I’ve been observing the assembly of the new Tretyakov Gallery building. Recently, the scaffolding was removed, revealing its monumental contours. Across from it, crews have been passionately reconstructing a historical building — not the Winter Palace, but a solid example of Baroque. These two facades, mere steps apart, represent different eras. On one side, a modern brick vent facade with massive window panels; on the other, handcrafted moldings over real bricks. It’s a proper contrast, and I like the idea and image of the Tretyakov Gallery. But there’s a sense of imitation from the plastic on the facade, especially when compared to the reconstruction of cornices and moldings on the building opposite. The problematics are clear, now about the theses I heard at the public talk, which might provide some thoughts and formulate an answer.

• Speed

A different era and mode of thinking. Bricks have been 'licked' for centuries, then in a short period, there’s a hyper-expansion of the city’s fabric. You either accommodate people or there’s no growth.

• Rationalism

In the balance of objects like the Mayakovskaya metro station, one side holds a cultural masterpiece, the other the lives of many people.

• Heritage

Masterpieces must be preserved, but not everything can be recognized as such. Moscow is a megacity, and sometimes things have to be demolished. It’s also important to know there has always been 'bad' architecture.

• Culture of Conflict (as a distinctive feature

Moscow is a 'monstrously diverse salad' - this is good and must be preserved.

• Scale of Issues

There’s noise now about the resonant Badaevsky on legs, but in 10 years, a 200-story building next to it will make it seem lost. And so with the sculpture Clay No. 4 — a good project that can stir emotions. By the way, the preservation of the historical part of Badaevsky was approached with utmost care.

• Innovation and Lost Technologies

It’s not scary when old technologies are lost, it’s scary when there are no new ones. Contemporaries can come close to Michelangelo’s paintings but not surpass. Great masters of their time have set a high bar, and we need to invent something new so future generations will say: Cool! How did they think of that?

PS Special thanks to the speakers for their humor and irony. As one of our readers says: "a delight for the ears." And to Anna for guidance in moderating.)