Projects for the restoration of Tashkent are presented at the exposition "The Birth of Scale"

The urban planning model of the Trade and Public Centre of the Chilanzar district of Tashkent is showcased at the exposition "The Birth of Scale" at the National Centre RUSSIA. It is located in the Soviet architecture section, which is dedicated, among other things, to mastering extreme environments.

The project for the Trade and Public Centre, developed between 1967 and 1970 by architect Andrei Kosinsky, was part of the reconstruction plan for Tashkent following the 1966 earthquake. Engineers and architects from across the Soviet Union came to the devastated city to design and rebuild it. Andrei Kosinsky became a key figure during this period, working in Tashkent almost until the end of his life.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

The architect proposed a new approach to integrating folk architecture, designing buildings and urban spaces with the functions of traditional housing. The urban planning model of the Trade and Public Centre of the Chilanzar district of Tashkent was ahead of its time and was never implemented, said historian of modern architecture Nikolai Vasiliev.

"The domes of the public centre resemble a space station. The architect, being a native of Moscow, thoroughly studied how a hammam bathhouse operates, how homes can be cooled without air conditioning, and how to make the city resilient to future earthquakes that might occur. For example, this model of a high-rise hotel was conceived as a testbed for seismic-resistant construction technologies. The idea was that the building would 'float' in a water basin, so in the event of underground tremors, it would simply sway, but nothing would happen to the structure," said Nikolai Vasiliev.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

The hotel building model also demonstrates a system of grids and circles — this is a sun protection feature that allows the structure to cool naturally. It was developed by the architect based on the design of traditional dwellings.

Similar technologies were used in the construction of bathhouses in Tashkent, where architects relied on traditional building principles, cooling and heating systems, as well as traditional materials such as ceramics and brick. According to Nikolai Vasiliev, modernist architecture is far from being purely standardized. It is often rooted in folk traditions and takes into account cultural, landscape, and climatic contexts.

The exposition "The Birth of Scale" at the National Centre RUSSIA presents both completed architectural projects and concepts that remained only as designs. These include unique building models, blueprints, and layouts preserved in museums and private collections.

Visitors can attend the exposition free of charge as part of guided tour groups. Additional information and registration for tours are available on the website russia.ru.