Burning antiworlds

An “anti-exhibition” was organized in Pskov so that work could begin on “urban planning mistakes”

Our neighbor Bukashkin lives with us,
An accountant the color of a blotter,
But, like balloons,
Antiworlds are burning above him!
And in them, magical like a demon,
Rules the universe, reclines
Antibukashkin, academician,
And he touches Lollobrigid.
But they dream of Antibukashkin
Visions of the color of a blotter.
Long live the Antiworlds!
Fantasts - in the middle of the wall.
Andrey Voznesensky. "Antiworlds".

To the right of the entrance to the 17th-century residential chambers, known as the “Lapin House” or “Solodezhnya,” there is clumsily scrawled: “Glory to Russia!!!” This is almost all that has been done in recent years in order to glorify the historical site on Gogol Street in Pskov. The chambers are still residential. In any case, homeless people still live there. At the moment when an “anti-exhibition” called “Pskov Register” opened in Solodyozhna on October 4, 2013, the homeless politely left for a while.

What is happening in Solodyozhna and in the neighboring Pechenko House looks like devilry in the Gogol spirit. It is no coincidence that the buildings are located on Gogol Street.

“Object condition: poor”

The best view from the Solodyozhnya window is of the building of the Pskov pre-trial detention center. Barbed wire, impenetrable walls. Prisoners in pre-trial detention centers are under supervision. The same cannot be said about monuments of federal significance.

Silhouettes of Pskov architectural monuments and new buildings.

They are neglected, although formally they have an owner - the Territorial Administration of the Federal Property Management Agency in the Pskov Region [see: A. Semenov. Our paradox, fly forward... ; A. Semenov. Remake on an old foundation ] .

But about the Federal Property Management Agency - it’s either bad or nothing.

The Russian state has hundreds of millions of rubles to carry out “historical reconstructions” in the Pskov region. And at the same time, hundreds of thousands of rubles are not available to at least fundamentally stop the destruction of unique monuments.

They can't board up the windows. They are not able to cover the roof properly.

Volunteers from Pskov State University took out some of the garbage to eliminate unsanitary conditions and hold an Anti-Exhibition.

Since the middle of the 19th century, the Pskov merchant Voronin brewed malt in these chambers. Now they are brewing something else there. And, it seems, they will cook until the building completely collapses.

The “anti-exhibition” was organized in Solodyozhna precisely in order to take advantage of the chance – perhaps the last chance – and prevent destruction. Moreover, the destruction of not only Solodyozhnya and the Pechenko House, but also many other historical houses in Pskov.

The anti-exhibition “Pskov Register”, named after a poem by Joseph Brodsky , was dedicated to the state of monuments and architectural and urban planning problems of Pskov.

Pechenko's house may not survive the winter of 2013-14. Photo: Alexey Semenov

When Brodsky came to Pskov fifty years ago, Solodezhnya was still in a tolerable condition and did not look as if it was destined for demolition.

In any case, it didn't hurt to look at her.

For a long time, the funds of the regional museum were housed in Solodyozhna.

Today there are other funds there.

In the left wing on the second floor there is a rickety table covered with empty solvent and cognac bottles...

On the windowsill there is a pile of broken glass and a knife handle with a broken blade. I wonder what they broke it on?

Leaning against the wall is a board with old posters, on which the same dusty inscription: “Steps into the future.”

You must walk here carefully so as not to break your neck. The future is unpredictable.

Under your feet you can see the drawn contours of a red lyre, and next to it is the name of another poet: “ A.S. Pushkin .”

Some dirty blue letters emerge from under a thick layer of dust. From them, it is not without difficulty that you can put together something familiar:

Remember the poet's prediction:

A year will fly by, and I will be with you again...

The year, of course, will fly by, but will at least some urban planning errors be corrected? And will these mistakes ever be called urban planning crimes?

Something doesn't look the same.

Inside Solodyozhnya there are shields scattered everywhere, which ten years ago were decorated for the 1100th anniversary of the first mention of Pskov in the chronicle. Now it seems as if they were made 1100 years ago.

Traces of the 2003 anniversary inside Solodyozhnya are at every step. Photo: Alexey Semenov

At the “anti-exhibition”, organized in the opposite right wing of Solodyozhnya, a warning is once again heard, dedicated to the neighboring building: “Pechenko’s house may not survive this winter.”

Now the Pechenko House looks as if a bomb hit it through the roof. The roof has been blown away, but the walls are still standing.

And Solodyozhnya now looks as if an aerial bomb exploded nearby, but the blast wave did not pass by.

The passport for the Pechenko House says: “Last owner of the house: Pechenko ” . It seems that after Pechenko there were no real owners. The owners have moved away.

The passport says: "Availability: Available for inspection . "

Indeed, it is available. Especially if you hover over a broken roof in a helicopter.

"Object condition: poor" . Not writing is terrible, isn't it?

Meanwhile, people continue to flock to Solodyozhna. Architects, archaeologists, students, teachers, officials, journalists...

In order to decorate the anti-exhibition hall, lighted candles are placed in the niches. Almost immediately, half of the candles go out due to the draft.

On the demonstration boards there are photographs of the house on the Square of Heroes-Paratroopers [See: E. Shiryaeva. Tower, sky, clouds ; N. Skobeltsyna. “I want to ring the alarm bell” ; V. Vasiliev. Until the bulldozers began to rumble ; E. Shiryaeva. People are drawn to beauty ; “We call for an open and broad professional and public debate” ; I. Golubeva. Hot spots of Pskov ; V. Shulyakovsky: “Architecture is still frozen music, not frozen economics” ; E. Shiryaeva. “This is some kind of hard rock” ; V. Kurbatov. Harvest ; Editorial. Reason for Cautious Optimism ; E. Shiryaeva. Tolerance ; V. Shulyakovsky. “Perhaps the Intercession Tower is recognized as a second-class monument?” ; E. Shiryaeva. Another “reason for cautious optimism” ; E. Shiryaeva. Conditional permission ; E. Shiryaeva. Bargaining at the Intercession ; E. Shiryaeva. We are going to a holy cause ; E. Shiryaeva. “What was not done” ; E. Shiryaeva. Evil Wizard Hat ; V. Shulyakovsky. Spreading floors ; E. Shiryaeva. Listen! Listen! ; E. Shiryaeva. Wall of Tears ; Editorial. Backdating ; E. Shiryaeva. Moment of Truth ; E. Shiryaeva. Pleased : A. Lebedev. Why are we against ; E. Shiryaeva. Hold the defense ; L. Schlosberg. With special cynicism ] , high-rise building on Izhora battalion, 15 [See: L. Shlosberg. Coordination of impudence ; K. Minaev. Infinitely High Assembly ] , Houses of the Marshal of the Nobility on Romanova Gorka...

The chairman of the Pskov regional branch of VOOPIiK, Irina Golubeva, is conducting an anti-exhibition tour of the “anti-exhibition” for those interested.

On the shield is a photo of the burning House of the Marshal of the Nobility . This building is anything but neglected. As long as the administration of the regional philharmonic was there, it looked decent. Now it has another tenant - the Pskovelectrosvar plant. But it was after a new tenant appeared at the House of the Leader of the Nobility that it was abandoned, after which a fire broke out.

The condition of the roof there is approximately the same as in the Pechenko House.

“The Pskoveletrosvar plant is not the poorest plant in Pskov,” says Irina Golubeva.

The conversation turns to neglected houses in Plekhanovsky Posad [see: I. Golubeva. Symptoms of collapse ; A. Semenov. Remake on an old foundation ] . With the onset of cold weather, residents appeared there. They light a fire. Not Olympic.

“This means that Plekhanovsky Posad could burn out,” warns Irina Golubeva and switches to a story about the long-suffering House of Batov.

“The decorative curtain is very harmful for him,” explains the chairman of the Pskov regional branch of VOOPIiK. “In winter, snow bags form there.”

“It’s easier for them to burn than to restore”

But not all photographic views displayed on stands are depressing. There are also more optimistic photographs here - a clear example of how ancient houses can be restored and preserved for the benefit of everyone.

“Anti-tour” of the “anti-exhibition”. Photo: Larisa Nuclova

There is only one example in Pskov (the Epifanov apartment building on Sovetskaya Street), but there are Porvoo, Windsor, Myshkin, Kuressaare.

Among those who came to the opening of the “anti-exhibition”, at least a third of the visitors are related to the so-called “urban planning mistakes”, but pretend that they had nothing to do with it. Either they are silent or they say the right words.

When the floor is given to a specially invited guest - the first vice-president of the Union of Architects of Russia Viktor Logvinov , he says: “This year, Architecture Day is held under the slogan “The inextricable link between culture and architecture.” The slogan is strange, since architecture is culture. Architecture is the most durable and expensive layer of material culture . ”

Despite the strange slogan, three hours later in the former House of Officers, away from sin and ancient ruins, with the participation of Viktor Logvinov and other architects, a round table is held under the same name “The inextricable link between culture and architecture.”

Every now and then, biting phrases are heard from the mouths of the Pskov round table participants: “subversive activity”, “legal nihilism”, “profanation of public hearings”, “lawlessness results”, “it’s easier for them to burn than to restore”, “every second object is this is a battle. And it is impossible to refuse, and it is impossible to accept”….

Finally, the decisive voice sounds: “We must dismantle it!”

This refers to a recently built high-rise building on Izhora Battalion Street.

The answer is skeptical: “What kind of dismantling? Remember how at public hearings, when you spoke out against the development, the residents almost pulled out the hair on your head.”

An architectural monument of the 17th century, Solodyozhnya is holding on with all its might. Photo: Larisa Nuclova

The prospects for the neighboring houses located on Izhora Battalion Street are also emerging. The house at Izhora battalion, 7 is going to be built up to 39 meters, the house at Izhora battalion, 11 - up to 51 meters.

The speakers, mostly architects, say that officials do not want to listen to the professional community when it comes to construction and reconstruction.

, chairman of the Pskov regional branch of the Union of Architects of Russia “Of the 27 members of the city council, only two are architects,” recalls Stanislav Bitny . “What solution do you want after this?” “There are designers who draw what the customer needs.”

Someone says the word “barbarians.”

However, for many, it is those gathered in Solodyozhna, and then in the former House of Officers, who are perceived as barbarians. They say they are not allowing the city to develop. They live in the past. They interfere with civilization. And this attitude is also a Pskov tradition.

was mentioned several times in Solodyozhna On October 4, 2013, the name of Yuri Spegalsky .

Since he was remembered, we can add: during his life in Pskov, many influential people did not like Spegalsky either.

They disliked him so much that he, a native Pskovite, was actually expelled from the city, not allowing him to work. And when he finally returned to Pskov for good, they began to intrigue and poison him, after which he died almost immediately.

That is, traditions have not been lost in the Pskov community.

Including the traditions of intriguing, playing double and triple games, baiting and teasing.

Under the arches of Solodyozhnya. Photo: Larisa Nuclova

During the round table, a three-page resolution was adopted. It contains 16 points, including paragraph 1: “Raise the professional level of urban planning policy in regional and city authorities. Restore the positions of chief architects in the governing bodies of the Pskov region and the city of Pskov,” clause 2: “Raise the role of the Urban Planning Council under the administration of the city of Pskov, revise the Regulations on the Urban Planning Council and the personal composition of the council, supplement the composition of the council with professionals - architects, urban planners, restorers” .

When it came to the discussion of paragraph 14, Stanislav Bitny sadly said: “We are shoemakers without boots” and read out the proposal: “To ask the administration of the Pskov region to transfer premises to the Pskov organization of the Union of Architects of Russia for the daily creative, advisory and organizational activities of this public organization . ”

There was laughter: “After we have formulated the first 13 points, should we ask the regional administration for something?”

And yet, they decided to send the text of the resolution to the governor of the Pskov region, the chairman of the regional Assembly, the head of the city of Pskov, the head of the administration of the city of Pskov and the president of the Union of Architects of Russia.

This time it did not come to the point of sending the anti-resolution to the anti-governor, anti-chairman, anti-head and anti-president.