Nikolai Shumakov: “By 2020, Moscow above and below ground will breathe freely”

The Moscow metro has found itself in the center of attention — because of the unprecedented pace of construction, and as result of competitions for the concept design of stations.
About the benefits of such competitions, and on the prospects of underground life and the main architectural intrigue of the metro, spoke Nikolai Shumakov, a member of the Architectural Council of Moscow, the chief architect of Metrogiprotrans, president of the Union of Moscow Architects, academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, and professor at the International Academy of Architecture, Moscow Branch.

You are a member of the competition jury for the development of the concept of architectural design of the Solnstevo and Novoperedelkino stations. What would you like to see in the participants’ projects?
It is clear that I, like any other Muscovite, above all would like to see highly professional projects going in line with global trends, supporting and strengthening the tradition of Moscow underground architecture, and I believe in a brighter future. In Moscow over the past decade in addition to frankly poor sites, truly high-end underground architecture sites have also emerged: the central portion of the Lublinsko-Dmitrovskoy line, Strogino, Volokolamskaya, Pyatnitskoe Shosse, Alma-Atinskaya, Novokosino, Zhulebino, Lermontovskiy Prospekt, Borisovo, Shipilovskaya, Zyablikovo, Delovoy Tsentr, Bitsevskiy Park, and many others. Therefore, I am expecting joy and delight from the competition and hope for high-quality projects.

And what can you say about the recently announced competition for the design of the Tulskaya station?
First of all, it should be noted that the competition was announced by the Government of the Tula region, and with the support of the Government of Moscow and the Moscow metro. The essence of competition is the decorative design of the existing Tulskaya station with the theme of samovars, rifles, gingerbread, etc. This is a first in the history of the Moscow metro.
There are a lot of restrictions for the contestants because the station is in operation, and to be able to get a lot done will be quite difficult for artists. Arches cannot be painted, work cannot be performed in the track areas, nor above the escalators — and a lot of other things are not allowed. The task is difficult. But I think that the outcome of the contest will be interesting, the station will get a second wind and begin to live a new life and by new rules. All residents of Tula will be delighted to come to the Tulskaya station and be proud of themselves and their hometown.

Do you consider wider expansion of the competitive practice in the design of the metro stations relevant?
I must say that the so-called architectural design of metro stations is one of the components of the project of the entire station complex, moreover a small component. The project as a rule is long-term, multi-faceted, multi-level, technically and technologically complex, and the architect is involved at all stages of the project. Therefore, to address the issue of the interiors by a different group of authors that is not associated with the overall process is not quite correct. On the other hand, seeing the weakness of some of the current metro architects, it is reasonable to try to entrust the design of this section to the winners (hopefully first-rate professionals) and get an agreeable project. The results of the current competitions will show how to proceed further and whether to continue to hold such events.

Many stations were designed by you personally and under your direction. Are there ones among them that you would call the best from an architectural design point of view?
I see all the Moscow metro as a single organism — 300 km of tunnels with occasional flashes of light, the stations. The intrigue of the site is precisely in traveling through the many kilometers of a black tunnel —of tubing, cables, rails and cross ties — and the unexpected appearance of a fabulous, inexplicable space — the station. This combination gives me an infinite sense of celebration and happiness. So I do not single out individual stations out of the metro complex as a whole. The metro system is good in its entirety — notably from the architectural design point of view.

But there is also above ground transit — for example, its active construction is planned in the suburbs.
Of course, the decision to build above ground or light rail transit in the suburbs is absolutely correct. The design and construction of the Butovskaya line showed that if we want to build rapid transit quickly and cheaply — it is necessary to go that route.
Recently, the designers of the Moscow metro have often resorted to consulting with foreign colleagues. What, in your opinion, would be a good idea to learn from them?
Our metro has a significant deficiency — poor integration into the citywide structure. The metro system lives as if by itself. It is connected to the city with inadequate lobbies, with underdeveloped underground passages and few stairway exists to the street level. Underground space — even as a concept — is absent. Transport interchange hubs are only beginning to be designed. Therefore, the conclusion is simple: it is necessary to design and build sophisticated underground spaces and transport interchange hubs and actively integrate them into the metro.
That is, ultimately you support the existing construction plans?
Most importantly — active metro construction is going on in Moscow. If all the plans for the metro are met, then by 2020, Moscow above and below ground will breathe freely and will begin to live a full life. Above all, I must repeat, is that design and construction should be performed by professionals.
- Tags:
- Nikolai Shumakov |
- metro and transport |
- interview |
- competitions |
- Solnstevo |
- Novoperedelkino





