The educational event "Academic Russia" took place at the National Centre RUSSIA
The lecture "Academic Russia" marked the beginning of a series of educational events within the exposition "The Birth of Scale" at the National Centre RUSSIA. The keynote speaker was Anton Tsybisov, the chief architect of the creative agency "Evolution," while the discussion was moderated by art historian and architectural historian Yelizaveta Likhacheva. During the lecture, attendees learned about the transformation of the places where Russian science was born and developed.
The event highlighted that a "temple of science" is a unique structure where new discoveries emerge and human knowledge expands. Throughout Russia's history, its appearance has evolved—from the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, which marked the beginning of higher education in the country in 1687, to the modern high-tech campuses of the 21st century.
"The history of constructing higher educational institutions in Russia is relatively short. It happened in the mid-18th century. Another distinctive feature is that the state has always been the primary client, driving progress. Moreover, advanced science developed based on university research, requiring separate buildings and entire complexes, such as the Siberian Academic Town. And, of course, science has always been a source of national pride. That is why the architecture of educational institutions has always been a statement by outstanding architects of their time and an attempt to secure a worthy place in the global scientific community," noted Yelizaveta Likhacheva.
Yelizaveta Likhacheva provided a detailed overview of the key stages in the development of educational architecture and introduced guests to the country's most significant academic buildings. Among them were the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, built between 1764 and 1788 based on a design by French architect Jean-Baptiste Michel Vallin de la Mothe, and the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, known for its distinctive metallic rooftop decor, which earned it the unofficial nickname "Golden Brains."
The expert also presented examples of modern academic architecture.
One of the key themes of the event was creative exploration. When designing an educational institution, it is essential to create not only a comfortable space for learning and research but also an inspiring atmosphere. Yelizaveta Likhacheva and Anton Tsybisov discussed this topic, with Tsybisov showcasing some of his most significant projects, including the IT University Innopolis.
The discussion also covered contemporary principles of educational building design.
"When speaking about constructing a modern educational building, it is always crucial that it serves as an architectural statement, evokes emotions, and, of course, takes its context into account," emphasized Anton Tsybisov.
The event's guests learned how the approach to placing scientific facilities within urban spaces has evolved. In the past, buildings could be scattered across different parts of a city, but today they are often integrated into clusters and "valleys." The discussion also covered projects that Russian architects have yet to bring to life, as well as the future of scientific facilities. The next lecture in the series, titled "Sporting Russia," will take place on March 21.
Event photobank
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The growth of domestic tourism is influenced, among other factors, by the work of leading tour guides at the National Centre RUSSIA.
