Defense Front

Social movements for the preservation of cultural heritage

The Expert Advisory Public Council under the Chief Architect of Moscow (ECOS) recently began its work with a new composition. 110 council members were elected and approved - specialists in various fields who will consider the most significant urban planning projects in the historical part of the capital. The President of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences (RAACS), Alexander Kudryavtsev, who previously headed ECOS, was unanimously elected Chairman of the Council.

This year ECOS turned 20 years old. It arose in the wake of public activity during the era of perestroika, when Moscow was still a poor city and it was only possible to resist investors with big money who were undertaking grandiose incursions into the historical environment of the city “with the whole world.” There have been victories and defeats in the history of ECOS. However, it’s not easy to remember the first ones now, but the last ones are in everyone’s sight - Gostiny Dvor, Voentorg, Tsaritsyno, the list goes on. There were also dramatic moments. Several times ECOS suspended its activities in protest against the urban planning projects of the Moscow authorities. Nina Moleva, one of the most authoritative defenders of monuments and the author of books on the history of Moscow, left the council, saying that she did not want to serve as a “screen” for lawless decisions.

At one time, the creators of ECOS hoped that public experts would be replaced by law and the need for such organizations would disappear. For 20 years, no matter what regulations have been created - Moscow deputies are rightfully proud of the fact that the Russian capital has the most advanced legislation on the protection of monuments. Protective zones and development regulation zones have been developed, a town planning code has been adopted, including relevant paragraphs, there is also a special city law on the protection of monuments, as well as a law on the protection of citizens' rights in town planning. The times of wild capitalism have passed, and with them the need to demolish attics and other buildings that disfigure the appearance of the city. The role of ECOS would indeed gradually fade away if not for the crisis. “Now we love investors again, and ECOS is needed again,” said Moscow’s chief architect Alexander Kuzmin at the first meeting. He assessed his own role in preserving the appearance of the capital modestly: “I am a serf architect.”

However, in itself, the fact that there is a public council representing the expert community under the Moskomarkhitektura is a positive and very significant fact. There was nothing like this in St. Petersburg - and unexpectedly for ourselves, we discovered that the most iconic views of the city, its most beautiful panoramas no longer exist. The Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Smolny and St. Isaac's Cathedrals are now side by side with characteristic examples of second-rate, absolutely tactless and helpless architecture. The situation has given rise to protest movements: the St. Petersburg branch of the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (VOOPIK), the “Living City” movement record losses, organize publications - but, alas, mainly on the fact of the demolition of monuments or the appearance of another supergiant in the historical center . It turned out that Moscow took the first blow from the “new developers”, and during this time the defenders of monuments learned to work competently with those who make decisions. Unfortunately, this is not yet possible in the northern capital.

Recently, a new movement to protect monuments, “Arkhnadzor,” was created in Moscow, the basis of which was journalists. They also see their main mission as resisting the destruction of the historical environment by developers, who, with a shortage of finances, are becoming increasingly influential. However, the scope of activity of this organization is quite extensive - it includes the identification of new monuments, and participation in legislative work, and a bright website telling both about the history of Moscow houses and the dangers that threaten them today, and joint actions with international public organizations, many of whom are also not indifferent to the fate of old Moscow. “We value both “status” cultural heritage sites and ordinary old houses - they create a unique historical and urban environment for our city” - this is how the movement’s participants see their mission.

It seems that the crisis, having disrupted the usual course of life, forced the townspeople to take a closer look and think about what was happening. In the wake of new social activity, they remind about their existence and the organization with experience. Thus, VOOPIK established a special award “Keepers of the Heritage” and held the first award ceremony.

Alexandra TOLSTIKHINA