Architectural forms made of toothpicks and modeling clay were created by young visitors of "The Birth of Scale" exposition

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The educational programme within the framework of the architectural exposition "The Birth of Scale" at the National Centre RUSSIA continued on May 6 with a children's workshop titled "Spatial Constructions: In the Footsteps of Shukhov and Fuller." An exciting journey into the world of outstanding engineers was led by teachers from the Moscow-based School for Young Architects "Slonopotam."

The source of inspiration for the workshop participants was the elegant hyperboloid towers of Vladimir Shukhov and the famous geodesic domes of Buckminster Fuller.

"Our main goal is to spark every child's interest in creativity. Using the creative legacy of engineers Shukhov and Fuller as an example, the children used their imagination and created their own works with toothpicks and lightweight modeling clay. This is a great way to develop spatial thinking and compositional skills. Each child came up with a completely unique piece: some designed a building, others — even an entire city," said architect, GUZ graduate, teacher, and specialist in designing public and educational spaces Yelizaveta Nikitina.

The process of creating light and imaginative structures from simple 'building materials' was greatly enjoyed by the young participants of the workshop.

"I made lots of different little things at the workshop, and I really enjoyed everything. In the city I created, there’s a museum and courtyards with residents, and on the roof of the most complex building, there’s a cable car," shared Yelizaveta, a young guest of the National Centre RUSSIA, describing how she brought her ideas to life.

The architectural exposition "The Birth of Scale" at the National Centre RUSSIA reveals the grandeur of Russia through its architectural legacy. The exposition features both objects from the National Centre RUSSIA itself and those provided by museums and private collectors from across the country. Among them are architects’ tools from different eras, drawings and models, and building prototypes — some successfully constructed, others remaining as innovative concepts. A dedicated section presents the future of Russian architecture, showcasing children’s creative studios, student workshops, and works by young architects.

Partners of the exposition "The Birth of Scale" include DOM.RF, the Ministry of Construction of Russia, Gazprom, the A. V. Shchusev State Museum of Architecture, the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, the Yakov Chernikhov Architectural Charity Foundation, and the HSE School of Design.

You can join a guided tour of "The Birth of Scale" exposition and attend workshops from the educational programme "Children’s Architectural Studios" free of charge by registering in advance on the website of the National Centre RUSSIA at russia.ru. Current information about the workshops can be found in the "Events" section.