Moscow to host the 21st International Festival Zodchestvo-2013

Deputy Mayor for Urban Development and Construction Marat Khusnullin has opened the 21st International Festival Zodchestvo-2013, which will focus on issues of national landscape. The festival is being held on the 23 and 24 of December at the Gostiny Dvor Exhibition Centre.

Mr Khusnullin welcomed participants and guests of the festival on behalf of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. He called 2013 a landmark year for Moscow in terms of architecture and construction. The Moscow Government organised a series of international contests that were attended by top domestic and international professionals. “The future park in Zaryadye is one of the most important and promising projects. It should reflect the diversity of Russia’s national landscape,” Mr Khusnullin said, adding that events such as this festival will make it possible to find new ideas for daily efforts to turn the city into a comfortable place to live.

Mr Khusnullin made special mention of the projects of young architects, which are on display at the festival’s exhibition. He said it is necessary to hold an architectural contest for the design projects of the metro stations that are under construction and will have exits to parks and boulevards. “Their fresh thinking will bring in interesting solutions to Moscow metro’s architecture,” he said.

Also taking part in the ceremony were President of the Union of Architects Andrei Bokov, Moscow Chief Architect and First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Urban Development and Construction Sergey Kuznetsov, President of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences Alexander Kudryavtsev, Moscow Government Minister and Head of the Department on Cultural Heritage Alexander Kibovsky, and Director of the Alexei Shchusev State Museum of Architecture and the Festival Supervisor Irina Korobyina.

Every year a review contest of architectural works is held as the festival’s main event. Architectural companies and architects present their projects, models and photos of buildings, the best of which will be awarded. The company that has created the best works of architecture will receive the Russian national prize — the Crystal Daedalus — in the category of buildings. The festival’s Grand Prix — the Tatlin Prize — will go to an architect for the best project. The award ceremony will take place on 24 December.

The festival features thematic architectural regional displays and exhibitions of new materials, equipment and technology staged by construction companies and producers. The festival will also include several round table discussions, lectures and workshops by the best architects of Russia and the world.