Experiments with form and texture: architectural workshop was held at the National Centre RUSSIA
The workshop "House Made of Plaster" took place on May 8 as part of the educational programme of "The Birth of Scale" exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA. Each participant created a plaster cast of their own small house.
The event was conducted by architect, designer, graduate and assistant of MARCHI and Milan’s NABA Academy, regular contributor to the NTV programmes "Apartment Question" and "Dacha Answer," and teacher at the SLONOPOTAM creative workshops Dmitry Alexandrov, along with architect, co-founder of the SLONOPOTAM creative workshops, MARCHI graduate, prize-winner of architectural competitions, and employee of leading construction companies in Moscow and Shanghai Yevgeniya Trifonova.
They spoke about how architectural ideas can be expressed using various materials—not only paper and pencil, but also plaster, which is beloved by architects and artists all over the world.
"We introduced the children to models, since the exposition 'The Birth of Scale' features a large number of architectural models. The children learned why models are important, how to work with them, and what they are made of. We explored an interesting material—plaster. Then, we cast an architectural form," explained Dmitry Alexandrov.
The participants of the workshop experimented with form and texture and were able to feel like real architects and sculptors. The event was designed for children aged 6 to 15.
"We learned to use a professional tool—a thermal cutting machine for polystyrene, commonly called a 'wire cutter'. The mould for the house was made from foam plastic, into which we poured the plaster. In the summer, we took part in the 'Children’s Archstoyanie' festival in 'Nikola-Lenivets', where the kids made about two hundred plaster houses," noted Yevgeniya Trifonova.
Participation in such workshops is free of charge. To take part, visitors need to register on the website russia.ru in the "Events" section.
"The Birth of Scale" exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA showcases completed architectural projects as well as ideas that remain only as concepts. The exposition consists of both the National Centre RUSSIA's own objects and those provided by museums and private collectors across the country.
Partners of the exposition "The Birth of Scale" 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 Charitable Architectural Foundation, and the HSE School of Design.
