The archipelago of friendship and creativity was created by participants of the workshop at "The Birth of Scale" exposition
The programme of educational events within the architectural exposition "The Birth of Scale" at the National Centre RUSSIA continued on May 11 with the workshop "Island Cities." The creative class for young guests of the National Centre RUSSIA was conducted by teachers from the Moscow creative studio SLONOPOTAM.
Before the creative process began, children and teachers together considered what kind of world they wanted to create, and then each brought their own island to life, connecting it to the "neighbouring" ones in a large shared archipelago using imaginative bridges and roads.
The workshop became an interweaving of architecture, play, and imagination, teaching participants to think on a large scale, take into account the needs of "clients," and work as a team to create a common model of the future.
"Many children find it easier to express their ideas in volume, so we often offer them tasks that involve model-making. I believe that the main task of a teacher is to encourage a child to fantasise, develop an interesting idea, invent a new project, and the materials for this can be the most unexpected. Along with familiar paper and cardboard, at today’s workshop the children used pins, toothpicks, and even polystyrene foam. This allows them to become more creative and bold in the realisation of their ideas," said Vera Gapon, the lead of the workshop, architect, co-founder of the SLONOPOTAM creative studios, graduate of MARCHI and the Milan NABA Academy, prize-winner of architectural contests.
Each island in the archipelago was endowed with its own legend and acquired unique features, defined by the trajectory of the creator’s thought.
"My main idea was that everything on my island should break the usual laws of physics, but at the same time hold together, not collapse, and look beautiful. I even specially cut some blocks unevenly so that they looked more unusual. Of course, in our time this would be very difficult to realise, but in about 10 years’ time, I think it will already be possible," assumed Denis, a workshop participant from Moscow.
The architectural exposition "The Birth of Scale" at the National Centre RUSSIA reveals the grandeur of Russia through its architectural legacy. The exposition includes both the National Centre RUSSIA's own objects and those provided by museums and private collectors from across the country. Among them are architects' tools from different eras, drawings and models, models of buildings both successfully constructed and remaining as innovative ideas. As a separate section, the future of domestic architecture is presented — children’s creative studios, student workshops, and works by young architects.
Partners of "The Birth of Scale" exposition include DOM.RF, the Ministry of Construction of Russia, Gazprom, the State Research Museum of Architecture named after A. V. Shchusev, the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, the Yakov Chernikhov Architectural Charitable Foundation, and the HSE School of Design.
You can become a participant of the tour of "The Birth of Scale" exposition and attend workshops as part of the educational programme "Children’s Architectural Studios" free of charge by pre-registering on the website of the National Centre RUSSIA at russia.ru. Current information about workshops is available in the "Events" section.
