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Competitive basis and the block principle

29 May 2014

The 4th Moscow Architecture Biennale and the 19th International Exhibition ARCH Moscow opened in the Central House of Artists (CHA). This year, they showcase the practical implementation of the principles of the capital’s new urban doctrine — urban blocks and the practice of architectural competitions.

ARCH Moscow 2014

The Architectural Biennale for the first time on such a scale shows the general public what is meant by “urban blocks,” about which the chief architect Sergey Kuznetsov has been speaking about for some time. Located on the third floor of the CHA, the Biennale’s central exhibition project, “Blocks,” demonstrates our quest for a national version of the universal principle of blocks.

How else it can be is featured in special projects: for example, Project Baltia magazine presented the exhibit Nordic Block which is dedicated to the urban block which is typical in the Nordic region, the project “New York. Indicator-city” with the “strangest” blocks in which you can build high-rises, an exhibit of blocks of leading architectural schools of Holland, and others.

ARCH Moscow 2014

Russia is seeking its version — and already is quite confident.

Unlike in the West, where the average width of the block is 60 m, the width of a Russian block is 80-90 m, although the inside is ruled by the same principle.

Interesting variants are a result of our regulatory restrictions. For example, the Ostozhenka bureau presents a very busy block in the “Akvareli” residential complex in Balashikha: it does not look like a traditional block, in fact it is one house-block. Inside the architects found an original solution to make courtyards: they increased the normal width of the building to 30 m on account of working out new types of sections, and now from the stairwell a person comes out immediately into an open space.

Curator Bart Goldhoorn

Curator Bart Goldhoorn believes that the return of blocks to Moscow is not just the chief architect’s preference, but also historically logical.

Russia is following Europe, which already underwent this in the 1970s — 1980s; now, when surveying projects are carried out and houses with a plot are planned — the block city, according to Bart Goldhoorn, should be formed of its own accord. This process, however, is difficult; here, for example, the typical sectional housing construction that is familiar to us is not suitable — the building is universal, whereas all the plots are different. However, the search continues.

Occupying the central place on the second floor, is the second big project of the Biennale — “Competitions,” curated by Elena Gonzalez. According to the chief architect Sergey Kuznetsov, competitive architectural practice in recent years is a breakthrough.

Sergey Kuznetsov

Thanks to competitions a whole layer of good architecture, which for a long time had been “in a smoldering confrontation with the official,” finally got a chance to express itself.

Here the competitions for specific urban sites are on display (like the retail and entertainment center on Kutuzovskiy avenue or the one on Khoroshevskoye road), large urban planning concepts as “Minsk-City” or “Moscow River” as well as “social” concepts as the curator Elena Gonzalez call them — those initiated “from below,” such as the competition for the reconstruction of Triumfalnaya Square and the redevelopment of the boulevard in Troparevo-Nikulino.

Most of the competitions were initiated by the Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning of Moscow. Within the framework of the “Competitions” project, the Committee presented its own stand — the history of competitions — from antiquity to the present day. Through this exposition Biennale visitors can learn that the competitive architectural practice was known to the builders of the Greek Acropolis.

ARCH Moscow 2014

In addition to these central projects a lot of great and interesting ideas are presented at the Biennale: for example, on the third floor the blocks theme is described by the examples of Usachyovka and Shabolovka constructivist housing settlements whose identity is formed by landmark avant-garde buildings. Here an ice ShukhovTower stands — a call to save the “melting avant-garde” and to join the campaign in defense of the monument.

Samara’s block theme is presented by the former chief architect of the city and the famous urban activist Vitaly Stadnikov, who find ways of reviving low-rise historic buildings. Andrew Asadov suggests “to play” with blocks by joining the interactive project “Living City”: here, anyone can try their hand at creating an experimental settlement with the elements of a “city construction set.”

ARCH Moscow 2014

ARCH Moscow again revived ARCH Directory in which 33 architects selected by curators represent their buildings and personal statements on the Biennale. During the exhibition, as always, will be awarded the prize “ARCHIWOOD,” “Architect of the Year” named, and the nominees for the next “Building of the Year.”

It’s also worth mentioning the “ArchiGraphicArts” exhibition, an international online competition of architectural drawing, and as well as remind that in addition to the large-scale exposition, the Architectural Biennale also presents approximately 70 events in a framework program, which can be found on the official website.


Images: mka.mos.ru


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