The first Russian National Architecture and Urban Planning Awards presented at the National Centre RUSSIA

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The National Centre RUSSIA hosted the inaugural Russian National Architecture and Urban Planning Awards ceremony. The event marked the culmination of the "Architecture Code of Russia: From Historical Identity to Building National Pride" forum, which brought together representatives of government authorities, the professional architectural community, the investment and construction sector, and leading specialised universities and experts. The awards were established to recognise the finest projects and initiatives shaping the architectural image of the country.

"It is a great honour to present Russia's first national architecture and urban planning awards. As the construction industry marks its 70th anniversary this year, it is difficult to overestimate its importance and significance. Architecture and urban planning are the language through which the state speaks, connecting past and future generations. We have much to be proud of, because Russia is building and developing today, with many striking, distinctive and contemporary projects emerging. At the same time, our cultural and architectural traditions continue. Of course, it is essential to tell the stories of the people who make all this possible. The title of the forum contains two key concepts: identity and national pride. These, perhaps, are the most important criteria and guiding principles for architectural projects. First, they should tell the story of Russia, of our values, of our era and of ourselves. Second, they should inspire a sense of pride in Russia — today, tomorrow and for generations to come. We are fortunate to possess an immense legacy and a unique, distinctive culture that continues to inspire new architectural visions," said Alexei Zharich, Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Social Projects.

He expressed confidence that the Russian National Architecture and Urban Planning Awards will become a lasting tradition of the National Centre RUSSIA, one of whose missions is preserving the country's national identity.

"Future generations will look at our buildings, streets and public squares to understand and judge how we lived, what we valued and what we believed in. And if what they see resonates with them, then we will have achieved our goal. That is the very continuous flow of time that President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has spoken about. I congratulate the first recipients of these awards and hope that the awards will become a tradition of the National Centre RUSSIA, one of whose missions is preserving our national identity. The construction of the new building for the National Centre is already underway, and it promises to become an architectural landmark of global significance in its own right. I am confident that by 2029 it will fulfil precisely the mission and carry the message to future generations that I have spoken about," he emphasised.

The awards recognised professionals from across the fields of architecture and urban planning. In the "National Urban Planner" category, the winner was Artur Martirosyan, Director General of ART-GRUPP Group, while the "City of the Future" award went to Stanislav Kiselev, Director General of KORTROS Group. The "National Architecture" award was presented to Alexei Kapustin, Director of the Centre for Classical and Traditional Architecture at the Moscow Institute of Architecture (MARCHI). In the "Guardians of Legacy" category, the award was presented to Natalia Sipovskaya, Director of the State Institute for Art Studies.

Awards in the "For Advancing Effective Dialogue Between Government and the Professional Community" category were presented to: Alexandra Kuzmina, Chair of the Council of Chief Architects of the Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation and Municipalities named after A. V. Kuzmin; Oleg Kolmychek, Head of the Association of Developers of the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea; and Adele Saifullina, Executive Director at the Association of Developers of the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Speaking on behalf of the award recipients, Alexei Kapustin, Director of the Centre for Classical and Traditional Architecture at the Moscow Institute of Architecture (MARCHI), stressed that every individual achievement is built on teamwork and shared the honour with his colleagues.

"I would like to thank the organisers, the members of the jury and everyone involved in making this decision. I would also like to express my special gratitude to my alma mater — the Moscow Institute of Architecture. I believe that this high recognition is not a personal achievement, but one that belongs to the entire team of the Centre for Classical and Traditional Architecture at MARCHI, which has been working to advance national architecture and urban planning for almost ten years," said Alexei Kapustin.

Alexandra Kuzmina, Chair of the Council of Chief Architects of the Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation and Municipalities named after A. V. Kuzmin, expressed hope that cooperation between businesses, government and the professional community would provide a solid foundation for the architecture of the future.

"It feels good, as though the time has come to gather stones rather than scatter them. Only by working together — through dialogue between businesses, government and professionals — can we carefully and systematically lay those stones into a strong foundation for a better future. I truly believe that together we will achieve something remarkable," said Alexandra Kuzmina.

The Russian National Architecture and Urban Planning Awards were established by decision of the Expert Council for Architecture and Urban Planning under the National Centre RUSSIA. The inaugural awards were presented on 28 July during the "Architecture Code of Russia: From Historical Identity to Building National Pride" forum, where representatives of government, business and the professional community came together to develop a distinctive architectural vision for the country and discuss how to preserve cultural legacy within the urban environment while continuing to advance the construction industry.