"Many challenges": urbanist Sergei Georgievskiy spoke at the National Centre RUSSIA about the tasks of architecture

The expert programme on architecture and urban planning "Looking into the Future" took place at the National Centre RUSSIA on 8 April. The large-scale event brought together over 1,000 architects, builders, urbanists, developers, entrepreneurs, investors, representatives of state and municipal authorities, public figures, and media. Throughout the day, the professional community discussed issues related to the architecture of the future. The programme included two major tracks: architectural and urbanistic.

The expert programme covered topics such as: future trends, the formation of a unified system of state visual communication, the history of Russian architecture from "panel buildings" to the modern era, the influence of fashion trends on regional life, the visual style of cities and its development, as well as the integrated development of Russian territories. Industry professionals discussed global and Russian architecture, the impact of urban planning on the urban environment, and the interaction between clients and residents.

Today, an architect addresses numerous tasks and faces large-scale challenges when creating buildings, noted urbanist Sergei Georgievskiy, co-founder of the Agency for Strategic Development "CENTRE," at the conclusion of the panel discussion "Architecture of Tomorrow: The Role of National and Global Components."

"The architect’s task today is not purely aesthetic. He operates within strict constraints, where he has to address, for example, resettlement issues — challenges facing the entire country. Emerging large agglomerations present a new challenge. Urbanisation demands standardised solutions, approaches, and much more. The same applies to local centres. For instance, national republics are searching for their own image in architecture. We see how Yakutia or the Chechen Republic are trying to find historical roots and visual symbols within the common Russian visual code," noted Sergei Georgievskiy.

The urbanist emphasised that alongside the search for national identity in architecture, the professional community is also faced with the task of developing a new architectural image of Russia, one that would combine traditional motifs with modern trends.

"Even Moscow today is looking for a new interpretation. The architect tries to express the time. It is always a reflection of the historical period. And now we are precisely at that point when architecture is searching for this new face, this new Russian identity," concluded Sergei Georgievskiy.

The initiative "Looking into the Future" highlights the role of the National Centre RUSSIA as the initiator of systemic work in the field of state visual communications.