Events digest: highlights of the week at the National Centre RUSSIA
From July 28 to August 3, the National Centre RUSSIA became the main venue for landmark events in the field of architecture and urban planning. Our digest features the key moments of this eventful week, including the closing of a large-scale exposition, international discussions, and educational lectures.
Final day of "The Birth of Scale" exposition
On July 30, the main architectural exposition of the season, which had been running at the National Centre RUSSIA for several months, officially closed. The exposition showcased a unique collection of models and archival materials, demonstrating the evolution of Russian architecture from early Russian wooden architecture to modern urban planning solutions.
Architect and chief curator of the exposition Andrei Chernikhov shared some details of the preparation:
"The exposition covers 2,000 sq. m and consists of two main types of displays: architectural models and facsimile copies of architectural graphics. We began working on the layout of the project at the end of November, and the contract was signed at the end of December. In fact, the entire exposition was created in just 1.5 months — an incredibly short timeframe. When everything was ready, I could hardly believe the result. I suppose it's a real record. To realise the project, around 70 completely new models were produced by 17 model workshops in Moscow and St Petersburg, working exclusively on our orders."
Panel discussion "Architecture of the Future: Trends and Forecasts for 2050"
As part of the exposition’s closing programme, a key discussion was held with leading international experts. The moderator was Anton Nadtochiy, co-founder and chief architect of the ATRIUM studio.
Architect Andrei Chernikhov highlighted in his speech:
"Neuroscientists say that the modern human cannot withstand these speeds. Today, predicting the future is more than naïve. And the same applies to the architecture of the future. I like the words of the philosopher who said that the future cannot be predicted — it can only be invented. Remembering the great utopians of the early 20th century — Bruno Taut and the Russian avant-garde — we can say that it was an era of inventors of the future. That, in my opinion, is precisely what we are lacking today."
Nadia Tromp, founding director of Ntsika Architects (South Africa), added:
"I think contemporary architecture is facing certain challenges, which also bring new opportunities. In particular, the development of artificial intelligence and how it will affect all of us. We are witnessing enormous technological progress in this area, and perhaps new technological revolutions will emerge and unfold much faster."
Discussion "International Architectural Expositions: Relevance, Challenges, Objectives"
Another discussion held as part of the closing of "The Birth of Scale" also brought together international experts from Egypt, India and Iran. The speakers addressed the role of exposition projects in today’s architectural landscape.
Rajendra Kumar, Director of the School of Architecture at Lovely Professional University (India), noted:
"Firstly, there are technological innovations — whether it's BIM, artificial intelligence or the latest software. This is undoubtedly a very important trend. Secondly, there is increasing emphasis on ecology, the environment, and rethinking climate change — this topic is becoming ever more pressing. And finally, the third trend is the aspiration of cities towards global identity."
The founder of Next Office (Iran), Alireza Taghaboni, shared his impressions:
"Today we heard presentations from participants from Africa, Egypt, India — regions with very different pasts, but also with remarkable points of connection. We saw how representatives of these cultures reinterpret their legacy, how they approach it critically, learning from history and rediscovering its values in order to apply them in the future."
Final tour of the exposition "The Birth of Scale"
Andrei Chernikhov personally led a tour for international guests, including architects from Egypt, India, South Africa, and Iran. The sections dedicated to Russian wooden architecture and Soviet modernism made a particularly strong impression on the participants.
Founder of Dar Arafa Architecture (Egypt) Walid Arafa noted:
"The road to the future lies through understanding traditions. In this context, the exposition 'The Birth of Scale' turned out to be very informative, especially for me, as someone from another country. It presented the rich cultural diversity of traditions within the Russian Federation — briefly, vividly, and in an engaging way. This is one of the most visual and interactive ways to show people their own traditions so they can move forward consciously, drawing on their unique roots."
Lecture "Transport Architecture of Russia"
On July 31, the final event of the week took place as part of the "Symbols of Time" series. Art historian Yelizaveta Likhacheva, together with experts Airat Bagautdinov and Alexander Zmeul, explored the evolution of transport infrastructure in Russia.
Yelizaveta Likhacheva emphasised:
"In our country, transport is the most relevant topic, given the size of the state and the inaccessibility of many areas. For us, railway stations are often far more important and meaningful than one might expect. For instance, life in southern Siberia follows the path of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Just a little north or south of it, life ends — simply because it's impossible to get there."
Airat Bagautdinov added:
"Our engineers adopted the experience of foreign colleagues during the construction of the railway between Saint Petersburg and Pavlovsk. Railway stations appeared only in the mid-19th century. That’s when architects began to consider what they should look like: should they resemble ceremonial city gates, palaces, public buildings, or something technological? Transport architecture is one of the boldest, most innovative, and experimental genres of the last 150 years."
Summary of the week: The National Centre RUSSIA reaffirmed its status as a leading platform for professional dialogue about the past and future of architecture. From the large-scale exposition to in-depth discussions, every event made a significant contribution to the development of the industry.
At the National Centre RUSSIA, tours continue of the interactive exposition "Journey Across Russia."
The artist, who has performed at the centre multiple times, praised its contribution to promoting national culture.
On August 3, listeners of Radio Russia will have a unique opportunity to once again hear an episode of the "Dialogues about the Future" podcast.
