Experimental genre: a lecture on transport architecture to take place at the National Centre RUSSIA

On July 31, at 18:00, the National Centre RUSSIA will host the lecture "Transport Architecture of Russia," which will continue the "Symbols of Time" series with art scholar and architecture historian Yelizaveta Likhacheva.

During the event, attendees will explore the main types of transport architecture, learn from experts about the latest projects in the field, and gain a new perspective on the architecture of railway stations, roads, and terminals — discovering their importance and uniqueness in shaping the appearance and life of cities.

The speakers will include architecture historian, tour guide, and head of the educational company "Through the Eyes of an Engineer," as well as Chair of the Interregional Union of Tour Guides, Ayrat Bagautdinov, and Alexander Zmeul — PhD in History, independent researcher, curator, author, and columnist.

The experts will discuss the history of transport architecture in Russia, which has always combined cutting-edge engineering solutions, advanced technologies, and the skill of designers. Although the main objective of constructing these facilities has been to create efficient transport hubs essential for a vast country like Russia, architects have consistently aimed to design buildings that are aesthetically pleasing and comfortable for passengers.

According to Ayrat Bagautdinov, transport architecture is one of the most innovative, bold, and experimental genres of the past 150 years.

"Railway stations appeared only in the mid-19th century. That’s when architects began to think about what they should look like — whether they should resemble ceremonial city gates, palaces, public buildings, or something more technological. We will talk about the history of transport architecture in our lecture," said Ayrat Bagautdinov.

Events within the educational programme are free to attend with prior registration on the website of the National Centre RUSSIA at russia.ru. Up-to-date information is available in the "Events" section.

The educational lecture series "Symbols of Time" with Yelizaveta Likhacheva continues and will expand to include discussions on visual art, sculpture, photography, fashion, and the role of curators in contemporary culture.

More about Russian architecture can be discovered through the lecture series by the National Centre RUSSIA. In conversations with invited experts, topics included the development of Russian architecture, the transformation of places where Russian science, culture, and art were born and continue to thrive, the integration of sports venues into the cultural and social fabric of the country, and the emergence of industrial sites as both centres and monuments of industrial revolutions.