All-Russia Exhibtion Center and “the national economy”

In the year of its 75th anniversary, the All-Russia Exhibition Center (VVC) completely became the property of the capital, and now Moscow authorities must decide how to manage this “national economy” in the near future. On March 26 the Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin, Deputy Mayor Natalya Sergunina, Chief Architect of Moscow Sergey Kuznetsov and Head of the Department of Culture Sergei Kapkov went to the All-Russia Exhibition Center to orient themselves.

According to the laws of the market

Looking around the center, the mayor of Moscow came to the disappointing conclusion that “the territory of VVC has now become a big Moscow market, and not the best.” So the first thing the authorities are planning to do is to take down or transfer to the ownership of the city, all illegally constructed venues at VVC (they are predominatly retail). Although so far it’s not clear what the legal organizational form the new management company will have, according to Natalia Sergunina, the Deputy Mayor for Economic Policy and Property and Land Relations, at the moment the city owns 100% of shares of the joint-stock company that manages the VVC.

VDNKh is coming back?

This March at the the MIPIM- 2014 real estate exhibition in Cannes, the Head of the Department of Culture Sergei Kapkov said that a competition for the concept to develop VVC will be announced. Earlier, however, the chief architect of Moscow, Sergey Kuznetsov said that before preparing the concept of development, it is advisable to work out the functional content.

“We need to identify the ideology of this place and then work on a detailed concept,” explained Kuznetsov.

On this account, a sudden thought came to the government.

“Perhaps it would be correct to call it not VVC, but rather VDNKh, returning to the former name,” suggested Sergei Sobyanin.

The idea was supported Sergei Kapkov: “Returning to the name VDNKh, we will create a park dedicated to the success of the Russian Federation in certain industry sectors, thus continuing the story planned here by predecessors-architects. This exhibition will be modern, with modern exhibits.”

There already is one potential exhibit for “VDNKh 75 years later” — at the same MIPIM exhibition, it was suggested to put the new model of Moscow at the VVC territory, which was the “main feature” of our exhibition stand. After completion of the model (so far only 70 meters of more than 900 expected meters is ready), it will almost certainly fall into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world, so the exhibit will be more than worthy.

Inherited legacy

But of course, the most burning question is not even the name and function of the future VVC, but the fate of 46 sites of cultural and architectural heritage located on its territory. As the chief architect of Moscow Sergey Kuznetsov explained, of course no one plans to demolish anything, admittedly neither are planned any large-scale construction projects. Most of the monuments in 75 years have been 75% worn out, so going forward — definitely restoration.

“Who will perform it and with what finances will be known after we define the functionality of each building. Therefore, we have to develop a functional, and not an architectural, concept for the future development of VVC.”

A suggested procedure according to Kuznetsov is this: find a sponsor of a particular subject (say, space or automotive), they invest in the project of the specific pavilion and occupy it on the rights of a tenant, paying for continued maintenance. To invest in the restoration of an “ownerless” building hardly makes sense, because abandoned it again very quickly will come into disrepair.

Upcoming plans

Despite some hazziness of the future of VVC today, it is already definitely known that the first improvement and putting in order works will begin this summer. In addition to “cleaning” out illegal retail outlets, repair of roads is planned, networking traffic and organization of pedestrian areas. So that by the month of August when anniversary celebrations are planned, Muscovites would be able to see the first positive changes.

Sergei Kapkov is convinced that this is more than realistic. In addition, he reported that the territories of VVC and the Ostankino park complex, whose reconstruction will be completed in July 2014, may be combined. To do this, a corresponding project will be prepared together with the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The Moscow government is confident that it is quite possible to return VVC/VDNKh to former world fame. At mininum — to the of love of the capital’s residents.