RE-valorization – re-discovery of various mass-housing concepts with strong social foundation and a deep study, finding still unknown values and achievements of different architecture and planning approaches.
RE-vitalization – re-using and re-thinking 20th century mass-housing experience and relevance to modern living standards and possibilities of re-configuration to new functions.
RE-storation − reconstruction and restoration concerns including modern architecture specifics i.e. reinforced concrete and experimental materials, prefabricated parts etc..
Introduction to the course: This course gives a wide overview of the architectural solution of the residential development in Moscow of the 20th and 21st centuries. Following an introduction to the history of architecture and the urban development in Moscow during the century of experiments will be surveyed with special reference to the works of Russian Avant-garde.
Students will gain the opportunity to explore Moscow urban fabric and study key problems and opportunities specific to modern metropolis. This course will combine theoretical studies delivered through lectures and fieldwork in the urban environment in Moscow heading to producing own or small team design project. Students will improve their visual representation skills, spatial analysis proficiencies as well as public presentation competency.
Course Leader: Nikolai Vassiliev, Ph.D., MGSU “Architecture” Chair associated professor, DOCOMOMO Russia Secretary General
The course aims to offer a deeper understanding of the typology, construction practice and social policy of the residential development through 20th century.
Target group: The course addresses students of any subject, especially Architecture and Urban Studies and related subjects, such as Transport Engineering, Urban Sociology, History, Design or Fine Arts. Basic sketching, and graphical tools skills are required. An elementary knowledge of architecture and architectural history is welcome but not necessary.
Description: This course gives you the opportunity to explore Moscow with contemporary and urban design. This course will combine theoretical studies delivered through lectures, fieldwork and concept design workshops in the urban environment in Moscow. Guided tours provided during this course will introduce you the brightest examples of solving the housing problem in Moscow during the 20thcentury, through all challenges including modern architecture social concepts and industrial construction progress. Starting from Russian Avant-garde with its experiments on residential buildings typology towards of Soviet Modernism mass-produced prefabricated ‘architecture industry’. You could introduce to the history, social policy and economy of this tense century from 1917 till nowadays, to know and to see the Housing Renovation program which started in 2017. You will work both individually and as part of a group, which gives you the opportunity to meet, to learn and exchange new ideas on architecture, residential development and economy.
During the course you will have opportunities to visit such places as:
1. Sokol one of the first cooperative residential settlement in Moscow, founded in 1923 as garden-city.
2. Narkomfin building – one of the most known example of Constructivist architecture “Transitional type” housing (between individual and commune). Le Corbusier visited Narkomfin construction back in 1930 and used much in his famous Unité d'Habitation later.
3. experimental districts of New Cheryomushki (9, 10 and 11th) – the first-born of a prefabricated block and panel house construction sites of late 1950s.
4. and many more like constructivist worker settlements and post-war ensembles.
