Part 3
Photo: GORK
Geo: Samara, RU
In the conclusion of the mini-series about Samara (part 1 and part 2), I will touch upon the topic of old wooden low-rise buildings. I don’t know how it is for you, but since childhood, I have felt that wooden architecture—with its colorful trim, gabled facades, and lace curtains behind wooden frames—is something familiar and dear. Time goes by, and such houses are becoming rarer in cities (in Moscow, you see them once every six months—if you’re lucky).
Samara is unique in this respect: wood on the facades of the historical part of the city still poses serious competition to plaster-brick structures. Moreover, people live in these houses: you peek into an archway, and there’s a courtyard with a table, chairs, and men playing chess. I remind you that we’re talking about the city center with a population of 1.15 million!
In the previous part, we searched for identity, and I believe that the wooden architecture of Samara should rank high on that list. However, there’s a catch: in a "mysterious and random" way, dilapidated houses with unique facade decorations burn down like clockwork. The locations of these incidents typically coincide with dominant street points. I suspect that the ashes will remain covered by a dirty tarp for several years before they are demolished—replaced by something dull and tasteless. A nightmare for the administration of Suzdal.
Learn to work with heritage and maintain it properly—only then integrate and scale up new constructions. New architecture should fill new territories beyond the old city. Future generations will thank you. The trend towards history will always be relevant—it's a matter of approach. Restoration is difficult and expensive, but for pragmatists, let me say: patience and investment will pay off when the urban legends of Samara start being talked about from all corners of the country, and people will want to come, see, and touch it all with their own hands. The potential of the city is fantastic.
P. S. Ivan Nikolaevich—those hooligans burning wooden monuments should be held accountable, but it’s crucial to stop this irreversible process as soon as possible.
@gorkjournal
3D · Render · Photo · Archviz · GORK
Photo: GORK
Geo: Samara, RU
In the conclusion of the mini-series about Samara (part 1 and part 2), I will touch upon the topic of old wooden low-rise buildings. I don’t know how it is for you, but since childhood, I have felt that wooden architecture—with its colorful trim, gabled facades, and lace curtains behind wooden frames—is something familiar and dear. Time goes by, and such houses are becoming rarer in cities (in Moscow, you see them once every six months—if you’re lucky).
Samara is unique in this respect: wood on the facades of the historical part of the city still poses serious competition to plaster-brick structures. Moreover, people live in these houses: you peek into an archway, and there’s a courtyard with a table, chairs, and men playing chess. I remind you that we’re talking about the city center with a population of 1.15 million!
In the previous part, we searched for identity, and I believe that the wooden architecture of Samara should rank high on that list. However, there’s a catch: in a "mysterious and random" way, dilapidated houses with unique facade decorations burn down like clockwork. The locations of these incidents typically coincide with dominant street points. I suspect that the ashes will remain covered by a dirty tarp for several years before they are demolished—replaced by something dull and tasteless. A nightmare for the administration of Suzdal.
Learn to work with heritage and maintain it properly—only then integrate and scale up new constructions. New architecture should fill new territories beyond the old city. Future generations will thank you. The trend towards history will always be relevant—it's a matter of approach. Restoration is difficult and expensive, but for pragmatists, let me say: patience and investment will pay off when the urban legends of Samara start being talked about from all corners of the country, and people will want to come, see, and touch it all with their own hands. The potential of the city is fantastic.
P. S. Ivan Nikolaevich—those hooligans burning wooden monuments should be held accountable, but it’s crucial to stop this irreversible process as soon as possible.
@gorkjournal
3D · Render · Photo · Archviz · GORK