Journal of architecture, design and urbanism published by the VostokSibAcademCenter of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
Architecture should be a territory of memory where the topological poetics of space is conveyed, absorbing the centuries-old metabolic experience of its structure. The formation and selection of images in folk art is based on ancient times, and is conditioned by the real economic and geographical environment in which the people live. Folk art is the soul and strength of the people. Cybernotopic prochronism implies nature-centrism and the formation of an architectural image as an architectural melody based on prescriptions of ancestors and folk traditions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Злата Гаевская https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The article deals with medals and plaquettes by architect and sculptor Stanislav Netšvolodov (born in 1935). Most of them are kept in the collection of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. He struck and moulded more than 40 medals in 1980s. Sixteen medals are kept in the Pushkin Museum’s collection: most of them were donated or bought from the author.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ульяна Волкова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The article is devoted to the modernist heritage in the architecture of Tel Aviv, and, above all, the influence of representatives of the Bauhaus school on the development of the city. The article examines the specifics of the development that took place from the founding of the city in 1925 until the 1950s, as well as the features of architectural and urban planning concepts that determined the stylistic and functional continuity in the urban history of Tel Aviv.
Copyright (c) 2026 Леонид Салмин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Red Corbusier in red Moscow (а coloristic sketch)
The article examines the change in the color of the cladding of Le Corbusier’s Centrosoyuz building during its designing and the impact of this circumstance on the architectural practice in the Soviet avant-garde period of 1929–1935.
Copyright (c) 2026 Петр Завадовский https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Architectural and planning features of the village of Hengdaohezi
This article analyzes the planning structure and architectural heritage of Hengdaohezi, one of the most completely preserved station complexes of the Chinese Eastern Railway. It examines the settlement’s development in challenging terrain, its functional zoning, and the spatial logic of its development. Particular attention is paid to the completed and planned departmental buildings of the CER, their architectural solutions, and their role in shaping the village’s appearance. Hengdaohezi is considered a unique example of the adaptation of Russian architectural and engineering traditions to the Manchurian context.
Copyright (c) 2026 Дмитрий Целуйко, Евгений Базилевич https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Historical and architectural heritage of the CER: Hengdaohezi
The article publishes the materials and results of a study conducted by the authors with the support of a grant from the Russian Science Foundation “Methods of integrating historical development zones and preserving cultural heritage sites in the context of the development of modern cities in Northeast China.” The authors present the data obtained during the historical and architectural study of the township of Hengdaohezi located on the eastern section of the Chinese-Eastern Railway (CER), which are related to the formation of its planning structure and architectural landscape. The zones of historically valuable development have been identified, and its individual objects relevant for the development of tourism have been considered
Copyright (c) 2026 Евгений Базилевич, Дмитрий Целуйко https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Almost thirty years ago, the only monument of Vladimir Pavlov’s wooden architecture was destroyed in a fire. It is unique in its realization, but programmatic in its creative endeavor. The House of Fisherman and Hunter embodied an unprecedented idea of connecting the spirit of material and place with the reinterpretation of traditional technology in the pure functional aesthetics of the author’s technique. Thanks to timely photofixation and preserved sketches, the research and design team of the Department of History and Theory of Architecture of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering managed to develop a method of sequential reconstruction that allows us to accurately recreate this timeless example of modern architecture.
Copyright (c) 2026 Милена Золотарева, Никита Еремин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
On Vladimir Pavlov’s first residential buildings
Vladimir Pavlov’s creative activity is internationally known and universally recognized. The architect’s legacy impresses with its innovation and originality of solutions, as well as skillful use of compositional, artistic and engineering techniques that remain relevant to this day. The article presents the results of an in-depth study of the architecture of Pavlov’s first residential buildings, defines the time frame and exact chronology of their construction. The authors reveal the features of urban allocation of facilities, layouts of sections and apartments, constructive and facade solutions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Елена Григорьева, Инна Дружинина https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Chartreuse d’Ema as an archetype of modern mass housing
The article examines an important historical prototype for Le Corbusier’s work – the Carthusian monastery in Galuzzo. It also analyzes the formal and symbolic influence of the monastery’s architecture on the formation of the conceptual foundations of Le Corbusier’s residential architecture, as well as the reproduction of the characteristic features of the monastery’s architecture in the Immeuble-villas project
Semiotics of architecture of low-rise residential buildings in an international context
This article examines the architectural features of low-rise housing in various countries, focusing on their functional and semiotic aspects. It analyzes low-rise residential building types in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Morocco from the late 19th to the first half of the 20th centuries shaped by socioeconomic development and the needs of the population. The research is based on specific examples of architectural practice and includes a discussion of the role and significance of semiotics in shaping the image-spatial structure and symbolic content of low-rise housing. Special attention is paid to the cultural codes embodied in architectural forms, as well as to how the semiotic features of low-rise housing reflect the social status, lifestyle, and values of the society of its time. This analysis allows for a more profound interpretation of low-rise architecture as a significant element in the formation of the urban environment and its cultural identity.
Copyright (c) 2026 Арай Сайбулатова, Дана Дюсенова, Аркен Есенбаев, Алмагул Тойшиева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Residential development of Changchun during the Manchukuo period
The article is devoted to the study of the architecture of residential buildings in the city of Changchun. It considers the changes in the construction technology and the style of the facilities under construction expressed in adaptation to local climatic conditions and interaction with European architectural traditions. The article examines the features of architecture that arose as a result of the mixing of Japanese and European styles, as well as the spatial perception of Chinese traditional architecture. The impact of these changes on the development of residential buildings has been determined.
Copyright (c) 2026 Татьяна Смольянинова, Антон Ким https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Dalian mansion districts: History and modernity
The article reflects the results of the study conducted by the author under the grant of the Russian Science Foundation “Methods of integration of historical development zones and preservation of cultural heritage sites in the context of development of modern cities in northeastern China”. The main stages of formation of individual residential development areas (mansions) in Dalian are considered and characterized. The author reveals the features of placement, planning and architectural and artistic organization of buildings of this type. The author also notes the importance of preserved historical and cultural heritage sites in the growth of modern development of the city.
Copyright (c) 2026 Михаил Базилевич https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Governor’s House in Tambov: urban planning and implementation
The article examines the formation of new principles of the organization of the main square of the Russian city under the influence of political reforms of Catherine II. It studies the history of design and construction of the Governor’s House in Tambov. Conclusions are drawn about the reasons for the violation of the plan confirmed in 1781.
Copyright (c) 2026 Надежда Грязнова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Constructions around the Church of the Redeemer in Ani
The study of groups of buildings around one of the largest churches in the medieval Armenian capital of Ani is based on written sources and excavation findings from the XII campaign of 1913 of the Ani Archaeological Expedition led by N. J. Marr. A comparison of the data available in these documents, as well as the search and analysis of the current state of some buildings, lead to a new understanding of the structure of the urban area, its dominants and the changes that have taken place over three or four centuries.
Copyright (c) 2026 Армен Казарян, Ольга Баева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Dwelling accompanies human beings throughout their history. As a matter of fact, dwelling facilities appeared much earlier than humans: many creatures living on Earth build their nests, which are sometimes very ingenious. But only a human dwelling bears the imprint of a lifestyle that is infinitely diverse among people. Today, ancient residential buildings tell us stories about how our ancestors lived, what value system they adhered to, what they considered beautiful and what they considered shameful. The history of dwelling is the most complete, ancient and continuous collection of narratives about the past of peoples. Our collection contains several examples of what the dwelling can tell the current generation and future generations about the past life, without which, however, there is no future.
Copyright (c) 2026 Константин Лидин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Vossoughian, N. (2020, June). Alvar Aalto, Ernst Neufert, and Architectural Standardization in Germany and Finland, 1933–45. The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 79(2), 202-212. DOI:10.1525/jsah.2020.79.2.202
Copyright (c) 2026 Александр Янов, Ольга Рязанова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
On the universality of conditions in large scale residential architecture
The article examines the applicability of the most widespread modernist structural principle of a frame residential building in connection with folk and vernacular architecture in the conditions of dry subtropics. The desire to radically reduce the construction cost and examples from automobile and ship construction inspired architects of the first half to the middle of the 20th century to develop a type of house with a load-bearing steel or reinforced concrete frame and a flat roof, which paradoxically reminded of local types of non-professional architecture dating back thousands of years.
Copyright (c) 2026 Николай Васильев https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Breathing architecture: Integrating nature and cities
The ongoing expansion of metropolitan areas leads to a separation between daily urban activities and the nearby ecosystems, which fragments habitats and lowers the availability of green areas. Based on such challenges, Breathing Architecture proposes a new and cohesive approach to building design which would lead to buildings that actively breathe and would enable the flow of air, light, and energy through porous boundaries instead of rigid shells. The study investigates how urban roofs, facades, and joinery can be synchronized with seasonal rhythms and the local climate. Using concepts from environmental psychology, cultural symbolism, biomimicry, and the research formulates adjustable shading fins, daylight chimneys, adaptive cladding, and other processable design solutions which would functionally reconnect buildings with natural systems.
Copyright (c) 2026 Сайфиддин Джураев, Санобар Шадманова, Хамза Хаитов, Дилобар Якубджанова, Гульзина Тулишева, Мустафо Турсунов https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Typology of hybrid panel and modular housing systems
The work is devoted to the analysis of the adaptability of mass housing in conditions of climatic and seismic constraints. The purpose of the study is to develop an architectural and typological tool for assessing the adaptive potential of hybrid panel and modular systems. The study applies typological and comparative analytical methods based on the analysis of the interaction of load-bearing structures and filling elements. As a result, the author proposes a typology of hybrid residential systems, which reveals differences in the distribution of spatial rigidity and transformation possibilities. The study shows the dependence of architectural flexibility on the context in the conditions of industrialized construction.
Copyright (c) 2026 Мадина Мукашева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Urban development practice versus the politics of memory in Irkutsk
Large volumes of housing construction in Irkutsk create opportunities for expanding the godonymic space, that is, the totality of names of linear geographical objects officially fixed on the territory of the city, exercising the powers to name streets, alleys, squares, territories. However, in practice, developers with the tacit consent of local authority are sabotaging this.
Copyright (c) 2026 Александр Гимельштейн, Ирина Гимельштейн https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Local materials for sustainable medium-rise housing: Syria and Ghana
The article considers the relationship between the concept of sustainable settlement development and the variety of housing development methods. Using the examples of two regions, Syria and Ghana, it shows two main types of “species diversity” of low-rise housing. Syria is characterized by diversity due to the simultaneous presence of elements from various historical eras and cultures, from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to modern construction technologies. Ghana is more characterized by a combination of diverse building traditions of differenct peoples inhabiting this multinational region.
Copyright (c) 2026 Сиба Дауд, Юджин Нейзер Кисси, Иван Халиль https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Integration of educational facilities into residential complexes
Modern challenges in urban development of Astana, including population density, traffic load and shortage of educational institutions, require new models of residential complexes. Today, the integrated and attached areas in residential complexes are mainly used for commerce and short-term services – shops, salons, small offices. It creates an excessive concentration of similar functions and does not meet the long-term needs of residents. Instead, it is possible to reorient a significant part of such areas to educational blocks of preschool, primary and secondary education. Such redistribution will ensure the walking accessibility of educational spaces, reduce the load on the transport and pedestrian network, increase the user capacity of urban areas, and at the same time increase the social value of residential buildings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Аршын Ожет, Сеймур Мамедов, Елена Феоктистова, Вера Наумова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Social quality of open spaces in government housing
The design of residential neighborhoods significantly shapes how people use outdoor spaces and interact socially. Recent changes in urban planning have transformed traditional societies and produced modern, car-dependent neighborhoods. These shifts have weakened social ties in new governmental housing areas, where many residents report feeling isolated. This study examines how open spaces influence social quality in these developments. The research enhances understanding of how urban design affects social quality in government-planned communities and provides design recommendations to reduce social isolation and strengthen community connections in Bahrain’s housing projects.
Copyright (c) 2026 Хала Нехад Абушакра, Ислам Хамди Элгонайми, Айгуль Иисова, Салтанат Мырзахметова, Аймаш Слямбаева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Architectural solutions for collective housing for young people
Using examples of residential complexes from Japan, South Korea, the United States, Israel, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, this article examines the architectural, planning, and social aspects of youth housing. Particular attention is paid to shared living models that balance personal space with public areas, as well as the integration of amenities into the living environment. An analysis of projects in these countries demonstrates a trend toward creating adaptive, cost-effective, and socially oriented residential spaces tailored to the needs of the younger generation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Евгений Огиенко, Александр Колесников https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Residential complexes in the developing architectural environment
The article considers the phenomenon of a residential complex (housing estate) as an integral part of the architectural environment of the city. The architectural environment and the concepts of housing and residential complex are complex multifactorial constructs. In the course of their consideration, both material (skeleton) parameters and flow (energy) and information (socio- psychological) parameters should be taken into account. Based on a survey conducted by the authors among young students, it was concluded that the next generation prefers their own housing in a separate house rather than an apartment in a multi-storey building. We can expect an increase in demand for housing in low-rise residential complexes.
Copyright (c) 2026 Константин Лидин, Ольга Белобрыкина, Алексей Буйнов https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Rental buildings of the early twentieth century are a significant segment of the development of large Russian cities. The skills of the architects and the convenience of living allowed them to go through the trials of the twentieth century and preserve the residential function, adapting to socio-economic requirements. They form a stable historical image of Russian cities. Apartment buildings are genetically linked to modern rental housing, which is a significant help in solving the housing problem in Russia, especially for young families, single people and the development of labor migration.
Copyright (c) 2026 Александр Кудрявцев https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Residential complexes and the risk of the “city-as-compound” regime
The widespread replication of residential complexes increases the risk that everyday life becomes enclosed within private perimeters, weakening the city’s public framework. The study identifies the mechanism through which an “archipelago of residential complexes” forms and delineates the features of a “residential-complex regime.” The paper formulates design and regulatory principles – permeability and connectivity, genuine publicness, functional-temporal mixing, ecological resilience of the external urban edge, and fairness of access. Institutionalising these principles reduces urban fragmentation and the displacement of externalities.
Copyright (c) 2026 Николай Ковалев, Татьяна Майснер, Элеонора Баркова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Residential architectural development strategies in Kazakhstan
This article analyzes low-rise housing design solutions adapted to the conditions of foothill regions. The purpose of this study is to analyze the compliance of design solutions and completed residential projects with the new development regulations for the city of Almaty approved in 2025. The results demonstrate a transition to a human-centered and environmentally friendly residential environment based on interdisciplinary principles of integrating architectural, urban planning, and socio-ecological approaches.
Copyright (c) 2026 Турар Узакбаев, Токкожа Кожагулов, Курмангазы Жеделов, Сая Сакенова, Дина Амандыкова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Humanistic approaches as the basis of the student clausura concept
The article examines the control clausuras made by the 2nd-year students of the Moscow Architectural Institute, from the standpoint of the professional skills they have acquired. The formation of the proposed architectural concepts is analyzed, both basing on the developed spatial and artistic solutions, and relying on the moral and humanitarian attitudes of future architects
The results of the annual RAACS Conceptual Competition
The article highlights the results of the RAACS Competition 2026, the theme of which is “Residential Building of the 22nd Century”. The article gives an analysis of the works presented by architects from many Russian regions. Along with the advantages, the disadvantages of most projects are also noted, including the lack of memorable architectural ideas and manual graphics skills. It is concluded that it is important to promote this type of creativity, which is necessary to obtain results comparable to the masterpieces of the masters of “paper architecture”.
Copyright (c) 2026 Дмитрий Буш https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The historical time of our days is a turning point both in the destinies of the new way of life of global humanity and in architecture. Urbanization is gaining momentum. People inhabit multi-storey residential complexes. Having turned into a city apartment, home hardly returns to nature. The question arises as to how to avoid gaudy eclecticism and naive utopia when abandoning the standards of standard construction. Today, it has not been possible to theoretically substantiate the connection between architectural style and lifestyle, and without this connection, the concept of “style” loses its meaning. Today, the “housing issue” is no longer a question of a roof over your head, but of the meaning and new life of the modern concept of “home”.
Copyright (c) 2026 Александр Раппапорт https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Siberian housing in the context of the eastern turn
The interaction of the European and Asian parts of Russia is developing in complex and ambiguous ways. Periods of treating Siberia as a colony are replaced by periods of predominance of an equal and mutually beneficial dialogue. In the history of attempts to understand the role of Siberia, one can find deep and constructive models, in some cases undeservedly forgotten. Today, the slogans of the “eastern turn” and the “sibirization” of Russian domestic politics are being put forward. The article discusses the prospects for the implementation of these slogans using the example of housing construction, taking into account the specifics of the Siberian climate and cultural traditions. Traditional Siberian housing helps to maintain not only physical but also mental health, which creates additional incentives for using cultural heritage in modern housing construction.
Copyright (c) 2026 Константин Лидин, Елена Григорьева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The global urban agenda and its relevance in Russia
The article explores traditional local building materials and construction techniques as tools for adapting architecture and cities to climate change. The study is inspired by the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale curated by Carlo Ratti, where wood and bio-based materials are presented as carriers of “natural intelligence” and a foundation for regenerative architecture. Special attention is given to master plans as a key instrument of climateresponsive urban development. The article reviews selected Biennale projects and examines the potential of contemporary timber construction in Siberia, considering clim
Copyright (c) 2026 Алексей Козьмин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Khabarovsk Krai Governor’s Prize 2025 for creative workers in the field of literature and art, category of “architecture and design, preservation of cultural heritage sites”, was awarded for the realized project of the innovative interactive center “Heuristics” (children’s technopark) in Komsomolsk-on-Amur designed by the team consisting of Irkutsk architect S. V. Gladkov and Khabarovsk architects and designers: A. V. Luchshev, Son Soner, and V. A. Gorbulev. The article provides information about the project and the award winners.
Copyright (c) 2026 Яна Лисицина https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The article includes the results of a survey conducted among several architects combining theoretical fundamentals with rich practical experience. The respondents were asked a number of open-ended questions related to the current state and development prospects of housing construction in Russia and around the world. The main topic of the conversation was the ratio between multi-storey and multi-apartment housing construction and the of low- and medium-rise housing, including individual one.
Copyright (c) 2026 Андрей Боков, Сергей Гнедовский, Сергей Орешкин, Валерий Филиппов https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The news section presents the laureate of the 2026 Pritzker Architecture Prize, theresults of the international student ideas competition Catalysts of Resilience andThe Architecture MasterPrize 2025. It also announces the new edition of the KairaLooro 2026 Competition.
Copyright (c) 2026 Анна Григорьева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Living houses, live and life contain the same root. Like many terms in construction and architecture, the expression “residential complex” can take on many meanings, often contradictory. It can be one apartment building or several buildings, it can include all the necessary elements of urban infrastructure or only a part of such elements, its territory can be closed or open, etc. The main idea of the residential complex is to collect everything necessary for people’s daily life in a compact and self-sufficient (integrated) urban planning unit, although this is not always possible. However, the dominance of standard and featureless, sometimes even harmful solutions makes many architects worry about the imperfection of the results of their work in the field of housing. Apartment buildings are grouped into super-dense “human ant-hills”, and here, in the pursuit of profit, developers take no care of safety and health. The developers’ focus on small oneroom apartments and studios, due to their relatively low cost, clearly contradicts the demographic objectives formulated by the state. At the same time, there is a strong trend towards low-rise buildings determined at the government level. The population prefers to live in their own or low-rise houses, and the gigantic territory of Russia disposes to this. Is there a possible balance between these ideological poles? The first issue of Project Baikal journal attempts to discuss these and other issues, which are united under the general theme “Residential Complexes”.
Copyright (c) 2026 Елена Григорьева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Typology of the residential structures of medieval Ani
Drawing on archaeological data and field research, this article proposes a typology for the residential structures of medieval Ani (10th–15th centuries). It investigates diverse dwelling types, from palaces and urban houses to mixed-use buildings and later adapted residences. The examination of their plans, materials and decoration reveals how architecture mirrored the city’s flourishing and eventual decline.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ольга Баева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Modernist architecture of Kazakhstan: Preservation strategies
This article examines the renovation practices applied to selected examples of modernist architecture in Almaty – outstanding specimens of Soviet modernism that have significantly contributed to shaping the city’s unique architectural identity. A substantial portion of these structures is currently undergoing reconstruction, which often distorts the original architectural intent and results in the loss of authentic design elements. The primary aim of this research is to develop a comprehensive preservation strategy for Kazakhstan’s modernist architectural heritage, using the city of Almaty as a case study. For this purpose, three sites were analyzed using a comparative study of visual documentation and field observations, resulting in a justification of heritage preservation approaches through digital modeling, which ensures accurate capture of the authentic appearance of buildings.
Copyright (c) 2025 Манар Кустаубаева, Ардак Нигметова, Александра Косцова, Жанерке Иманбаева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Leonidov in the Crimea, 1936–1938. Part 4
The fourth article of the cycle devoted to I. I. Leonidov’s projects for the southern coast of the Crimea continues to consider the architecture of the buildings of the central Yalta embankment, in particular, the resort hotels and park pavilions. An attempt is being made to reconstruct them on the basis of preserved materials.
Copyright (c) 2025 Петр Завадовский https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Museumification of Ani: historical experience and perspectives
The article analyzes the problems of museumification of the ruins of the medieval city of Ani. It considers key issues and threats and proposes an integrated approach that combines modern conservation methods, digital technologies, and the development of tourism infrastructure. The necessity of international cooperation for the preservation of Ani as a World Heritage site is substantiated.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ольга Баева, Армен Казарян, Арев Самуелян https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Under-dome transitions in the churches of the Bagratid era, 9th–11th centuries
The article traces the preferences of the architects of Ani and the regions of the Christian East closest to the Armenian Bagratid kingdom in relation to the choice of the type of under-dome transition, as well as the ability of the craftsmen to interpret their forms in a variety of ways, which were generally established in the Armenian architecture of the 7th century. Using examples of outstanding works of the epoch, the transitions of three types and intermediate variants are consistently analyzed.
Copyright (c) 2025 Армен Казарян https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Russian architectural heritage in China: Yimanpo Station
This article examines the historical development of the railway station area at Yimanpo Station, which emerged at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries during the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway. Previously unknown archival station plans are published, and the current state and use of the surviving buildings are analyzed in the context of urban development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Екатерина Глатоленкова, Михаил Базилевич https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Russian architectural heritage in Changchun
The article is devoted to the study of Russian architecture in the territory of the modern city of Changchun (People’s Republic of China). In total, two large centers were identified: the Kuanchenzi station and the “Trade Port” area, a complex of buildings of the Russian-Chinese bank and two sidings. Most of the work is devoted to the formation of the architectural and planning image of the Kuanchenzi station and the factors that influenced the development process. The phenomenon of this station itself is unique within the framework of both the South Manchurian Railway and the CER. Contemporaries have repeatedly noted the high economic and social significance of this place, but it did not receive development either during the construction of the South Manchurian Railway or after the Russo-Japanese War.
Copyright (c) 2025 Дмитрий Целуйко, Михаил Базилевич https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The article presents the materials and results of the study conducted by the authors with the support of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation “Methods for integrating historical building zones and preserving cultural heritage sites in the context of the development of modern cities in northeast China”. This article provides a brief historical overview of the development of the planning structure and architectural landscape of the village of Yimianpo founded along the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). Zones of historically significant development are identified, and individual architectural heritage sites are examined.
Copyright (c) 2025 Михаил Базилевич, Дмитрий Целуйко https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Historical context in the preservation of Khabarovsk architecture
The article examines the history of the formation of the architecture of Khabarovsk, one of the key historical cities of the Far East. It presents the periodization of the development of the city’s architecture in the context of economic and political processes. The article notes the features of historical development and modern problems associated with its preservation and integration into the urban landscape. It also emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach that covers both architectural and historical aspects. This approach allows us to develop effective strategies for preserving and modernizing historical zones.
Copyright (c) 2025 Татьяна Смольянинова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The legacy of industrial Khabarovsk in the early 20th century
The article is devoted to industrial objects of the historical part of the city of Khabarovsk of the early 20th century. The work presents the interim results of a scientific study conducted within the framework of the project entitled “Methods of integration of historical development zones and preservation of cultural heritage sites in the context of development of a large city”. The locations of preserved historical industrial objects are analyzed. Three key objects are considered, these are the complex of buildings of Tifontai, the Khlebnikov distillery and the refrigerator building. It was proposed to include them in the museum and exhibition framework of the city.
Rural tourism in the Tyumen region: potential of the Yarkovsky district
The Tyumen region rivals historical regions of central Russia in its diversity of cultural heritage sites. Within Siberia, it can be considered one of the most interesting historical and cultural areas. In the Yarkovsky district of the Tyumen region, along with a wide variety of historical, cultural, and natural resources, there are unique sites associated with the lives of Saints Hermogenes, Bishop of Tobolsk and Siberia, Saint Andronicus, the New Martyr Father Feodor Raspopov, the family of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas Romanov, the birthplace of Grigory Rasputin, and others. These sites could serve as the basis for developing tourist routes on a variety of themes.
Copyright (c) 2025 Олег Порошин, Мария Гайдук, Елена Ситникова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
It is necessary to turn from the planar chain characteristics of the surface and the static a priori placement of people and objects in space to cybernotopic codes for constructing space as a cast of the hidden stress-strain state of the Earth. Landscape possibilities of space should be considered through the prism of the unity of spatial bodies, forms, functions and meanings based on the patterns of spatial self-organization. The cybernotopic vision of space implies understanding that it has grown naturally out of the past and reflects the perception of the Earth as a complex organism. Cybernotopic space can be studied using lineaments reflecting a single fractal system for the Earth
Copyright (c) 2025 Злата Гаевская https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Urban agglomeration: integrity or discreteness?
A critical examination of the concept of “agglomeration”, which was borrowed by urban planning from the field of metallurgy, calls for its rethinking and filling with more adequate professional content that meets the interests of forming a community of independent cities that preserve their borders, natural surroundings, architectural face, historical and cultural identity. The thesis is substantiated that, unlike individual cities, agglomerations should not strive to achieve organic integrity. They should remain discrete, based on the principle of “additive” summation of the elements of an open system.
Copyright (c) 2025 Игорь Бондаренко https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Monumental art: Visual and cultural analysis
Human societies naturally give rise to memorial art, which reflects regional geography and values. This study examines the role of memorials in enhancing environmental aesthetics and increasing public awareness, with a focus on sculptures that incorporate Arabic script. Its importance comes from highlighting the memorial's design, materials, and artistic impact on viewers' intellectual and emotional perception to create captivating outdoor spaces and go beyond traditional indoor murals.
Copyright (c) 2025 Иссам Али Салман Альдвайри, Осама Абдель Кадер Сулиман Бани Мильхем, Салим Мохаммад Али Айеш, Манал Хасан Джамиль Баркави https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Architectural lighting of modern palliative care facilities
The article considers an integrated approach to creating expressive images of the internal and external spaces of palliative institutions in two forms – with natural and artificial lighting. The priority of natural lighting that meets regional standards is indicated. The article proposes division into public and functional areas and gives special recommendations for their artificial lighting. The attention is focused on artificial night lighting of the palliative care facility building and the lighting design of its territory. The negative physiological, economic, and energy consequences of indiscriminate light pollution are revealed.
Copyright (c) 2025 Асмик Клочко https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Housing as an urban development object (1920s–1950s)
Approaches to housing design were determined by the contradictory requirements of Soviet urban planning. In the 1920s, there was a transition from the idea of the dominance of low-rise settlements to the construction of large multi-story residential complexes. In the 1930s, the need to demonstrate the successes of the Soviet government required the inclusion of housing in ensembles. At the same time, the realities of Soviet urban planning were determined by the industrial-departmental system, which viewed the city as something secondary in relation to industry. In the post-war period, housing was built into grandiose projects of ensembles – “Victory monuments”. But in practice, the city was a collection of low-rise settlements. In the first half of the 1950s, urban planning tasks were adjusted to the possibilities of standard construction.
Copyright (c) 2025 Анна Васильева, Юлия Косенкова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The possibilities of decarbonization in wooden housing construction
The article discusses the use of the “Green” standard for individual housing construction for the design of a wooden house-transformer using double-beam technology to improve the energy efficiency of the house and the assessment of savings in investment and operating costs, including through energy savings during operation, as well as the calculation of the potential for reducing CO2 emissions, including the use of alternative energy sources and tools for motivating their use in Siberia.
Copyright (c) 2025 Вера Печенкина, Людмила Фаткулина-Яськова, Сергей Медведев https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Innovative biomimetic parametric timber structures
This article examines the integration of biomimetic principles and parametric methods with engineered timber in architectural design. Analysing Metropol Parasol, Pompidou-Metz, Pulp Pavilion, ITECH, and Bowooss pavilions shows how biological analogues inspire innovative timber forms. Parametric tools mediate biomimetic logic into efficient, responsive designs. Digital fabrication enhances the versatility, sustainability, and complexity of timber. The study establishes a validated taxonomy that links theory and practice, promoting biomimetic-parametric synergy and interdisciplinary, bio-informed design approaches..
Copyright (c) 2025 Качана Касулу, Ольга Воличенко, Филипп Абрамян, Бейсен Кариев https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Intelligence as one of the ways of understanding the world can manifest itself in a wide range of diverse forms. Nevertheless, there is a steady tendency to reduce various forms of intelligence to a certain generalized, average value. Using the example of two periods of accelerated scientific and technological development (the sixties and eighties of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries), it is shown that the predominance of the trend towards uniformity gives progress an inhumane and pathogenic character. On the contrary, encouraging diversity in the manifestations of intelligence accelerates innovation and gives them more humane forms.
Copyright (c) 2025 Константин Лидин, Светлана Головня https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
On the peculiarities of architectural thinking
The article examines the specifics of architectural creativity. It shows the mechanisms of interaction between the architectural and spatial environment and the human factor, as well as the psychological features of the architect’s activity. The article highlights the importance of the figurative component in the system of factors influencing the architectural design process. The principles of national and regional understanding of form in architecture are studied at two levels: the ideological and value foundations of the cultural tradition of the people are determined, and the formal and aesthetic features of regional and national architectural thinking are analyzed. It is concluded that the ability of an architect to create not just buildings, but living harmonious spaces that influence the perception of the world is the peculiarity of architectural thinking.
Copyright (c) 2025 Байжан Балыкбаев, Камиля Султанова, Гульнара Мауленова, Нияз Саржанов https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Metaphors and creativity in architectural design
The article is devoted to the study of the relationship between metaphorical thinking and creativity in the field of architectural design. Based on the definition of metaphor as the transfer of an element to another context, the authors list the main types of contexts, the elements of which are most actively used in architecture. Several examples of metaphorical thinking in specific architectural projects are considered. It is concluded that a high degree of creativity is achieved through the informal, archetypal use of metaphors based on deep layers of collective cultural and historical heritage.
Copyright (c) 2025 Сайед Хуссейн Альхмуд, Хусам Хуссейн Альхмуд, Анас Мухаммед Батайнех https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The authors show that project and scientific activities have an antinomic relationship. The project requires going deeper into the singular, and the result of the project is unique. The scientific activity requires generalization of particular (single) results, and the result is universal. This paradigm allows us to formalize the concept of the “search space for design solutions”. The authors formalize the structure of the search space for conceptual solutions using the concept of constructs introduced by the Soviet philosopher and logician S. P. Nikanorov. Constructs are a universal language for design patterns.
Copyright (c) 2025 Александр Гущин, Марина Дивакова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The second half of 2025 is marked by striking architectural events: Days of Architecture in Novosibirsk and Omsk and the XXV anniversary festival «ZVS» in Irkutsk (see a separate block of materials in this issue of PB).
Copyright (c) 2025 Елена Григорьева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cultural heritage in the design of sustainable cities
Modeling cities is becoming an increasingly urgent task. The prevailing trend today is the construction of multifactor models using the capabilities of machine processing of big data. Modeling using heuristic algorithms that rely on a human-machine dialogue looks the most promising. The article presents the results of an experiment on the application of the “Great Wall Construction Algorithm” (GWCA) heuristic to simultaneously take into account extremely heterogeneous parameters – energy efficiency of buildings and their cultural and historical value. It is shown that the use of the GWCA heuristic significantly improves the quality of the model.
Copyright (c) 2025 Мвфек Аль-Хаддад https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The article presents history and description of the triadic system of vision organization. The author emphasizes the importance of the triad principle for Rappaport’s thinking. He characterizes the triads in his theory of architecture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Пётр Капустин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Rappaport’s universalism is defined as a childishly open view of the world. The article describes in detail his understanding of thinking as mental freedom, of architecture in the context of civilization and culture, of time and space, and of education as a joint mental activity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Леонид Салмин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The article features the talent of A. G. Rappaport as a well-educated speaker. The author refers to the history of his family. He also emphasizes Rappaport’s nontrivial approach to architectural theory.
Copyright (c) 2025 Михаил Белов https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
In memory of Alexander Gerbertovich Rappaport, philosopher. Architect, painter, poet
G. Rappaport is a unique figure in the modern intellectual space. A man with an unusually wide range of knowledge and interests, an original, unique philosopher of culture, who spent his entire life developing and improving his cognitive experience, his understanding of the world, combining the most diverse objects of comprehension into a common ontological discourse. The theoretical work of A. G. Rappaport is multifaceted and extensive, but it has an internal organization and composure, which make it clear in its direction, in its value orientation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Елена Багина https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pavlov’s Irkutsk: Preserving the legacy of Soviet modernism
The Architecture Department of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, the International Academy of Architecture (Moscow Branch, IAAM) and the PROJECT BAIKAL journal held a round table discussion “Pavlov’s Irkutsk: Preserving the legacy of Soviet modernism” at the XXV Interregional Festival ZODCHESTVO IN SIBERIA on September 5. In May 2025, the Russian branch of ICOMOS included the preservation of “Pavlov’s Modernism” in Irkutsk in the list of the most urgent and significant problems.
Copyright (c) 2025 Елена Григорьева, Наталья Сапрыкина, Сергей Тимофеев, Инна Дружинина, Милена Золотарева, Андрей Макаров, Никита Еремин, Константин Антипин, Александр Шарыгин, Руслан Хотулев, Алексей Чертилов, Евгений Зыков, Владимир Стегайло https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Chronicle of ZVS 2025. The art of intelligences
The article describes the events of ZVS-25 and the events on the theme of the festival “Artificial and natural intelligence. Architecture of the future”. The innovative placement of the exposition and its advantages are noted. The article gives an overview of the excursions, a round table, workshops and discussions, and also describes the participants and the winner of the festival, as well as the award ceremony.
Copyright (c) 2025 Алексей Сергеев, Елена Григорьева, Марина Ткачева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
XXV Interregional Festival “Zodchestvo in Siberia”
Founded at the very beginning of the millennium, “Zodchestvo in Siberia” (ZVS) has been held in Irkutsk for many years. Following the model of the Moscow Festival “Zodchestvo”, rules were laid down for review competitions, stars of Russian architecture were invited, sometimes foreign architects also participated, and hot topics were discussed at the round table of the House of Architects. The author’s guided tours presented new objects to the guests and Irkutsk residents. A trip to Lake Baikal traditionally concluded the program. In 2014, ZVS venue moved to Krasnoyarsk for the first time, and in 2017 Krasnoyarsk hosted ZVS for the second time. In the same year, we received an offer from Altai architects to hold the next festival in Barnaul. It was decided to keep the usual abbreviation, filling it with a new geographical meaning. The next festival, “Zodchestvo in Siberia 2019”, was hosted by Tomsk. The 20th anniversary was held in Irkutsk, the homeland of the festival. Then there were Kemerovo in 2021, Novosibirsk in 2022, Irkutsk again in 2023, and in 2024 Krasnoyarsk hosted ZVS for the third time. The 25th anniversary festival “Zodchestvo in Siberia” returns to its birthplace – Irkutsk. The organizers filled the program with surprises and innovations. Project Baikal, as always, publishes a catalog of participants’ works, a complete list of participants and a brief chronicle of the competition. EG, founder of the festival
A 90th anniversary of the Irkutsk Organization of the Union of Architects of Russia
The article gives a brief overview of the gala evening dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Irkutsk Organization of the Union of Architects of Russia. The holiday scenario highlights its traditions and innovations. The author shares her impressions, emotions and expresses her wishes.
Copyright (c) 2025 Инна Дружинина https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The fifth anniversary of the Mark Meerovich Prize: the sun, the duty and the heart
The article examines the significance and course of the fifth anniversary award ceremony named after Mark Grigoryevich Meerovich (1956-2018), which took place in Irkutsk on October 4, 2025. The award is positioned as a key element in the system of public and professional support for researchers and practitioners involved in the preservation of the architectural and historical heritage of the region. Attention is paid to the launch and presentation of two badges – the honorary badge “Heart of Irkutsk” as an act of official recognition of the civic position and contribution of senior officials, and the badge of the Mark Meerovich Award as a distinction of the award winners. The ceremony demonstrates the effective integration of scientific and educational activities, community activism and public administration in the field of cultural heritage protection.
Copyright (c) 2025 Яна Лисицина, Василий Лисицин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The article gives a review of the book “Irkutsk Architects” prepared on the basis of the articles published in Project Baikal journal within 20 years of its work and several studies by the INRTU professorship. The structure of the book and its individual sections are characterized
Copyright (c) 2025 Марина Ткачева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
XV IAA General Assembly: Reviving academism
The article highlights the results of the XV General Assembly of the International Academy of Architecture held on September 9 in Rome. It presents the main theses of the IAA President Amedeo Schiattarella’s report, in particular, on the importance of raising awareness among international organizations about the importance of architectural culture as an integral expression of human values. It is noted that the participation of the Moscow Branch of the IAA in the Rome Biennale in 2026 will require the formation of a worthy exhibition, which, after a seven-year break, will be able to internationally demonstrate the achievements of modern architecture of Russia and the CIS countries
Copyright (c) 2025 Андрей Кафтанов https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The news section announces the 5th edition of the Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards and the 20th edition of the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture. It also presents the results of the 7th Baku International Architecture Award.
Copyright (c) 2025 Анна Григорьева https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Our salvation, the salvation of all mankind, lies in diversity. Isaac Asimov, “Lucky Starr” Curiouser and curiouser… Lewis Carroll The world is becoming more diverse. But the value of multicolored reality is not realized immediately, having many recurrences of the opposite tendency. Disputes of diverse opinions and styles arouse suspicion, and “eclecticism” (in ancient Greece, a method of thinking that combines the best elements of different schools) has become a pejorative label. Nevertheless, PB follows the trend of an increasingly complex world. In this issue, there is artificial intelligence and a genuine Intellectual (a selection about AGR), reflections on the peculiarities of architectural thinking and the role of metaphor in architecture... After decades of the rule of precast reinforced concrete, wooden housing construction is diversifying the appearance of modern cities and strangely combines with ventilated, a priori temporary facades. Agglomerations harmoniously coexist with villages. The debate over the issue of stylistic diversity has been raging over and over again. Should architecture develop freely in accordance with advances in technology and modern demands, or should the process be regulated and dictated by the use of style, for example, in the design of government buildings, as US President Donald Trump insistently declares in his next edict on architecture dated August 28? Is it possible to define a single national architectural style in a multinational country, or long live diversity and let all the flowers bloom? There are many questions. What exactly is the place (undoubtedly significant) occupied by the heritage of various eras in the common spectrum – the Russian Far East, China and medieval Armenia, monuments from the USSR times in Kazakhstan? Besides, at the anniversary ZVS festival, the PB discussion club was dedicated to the fate of the Irkutsk legacy of Soviet modernism. Our difficult time calls us to carefully preserve and multiply diversity in all dimensions – in time, in the space of countries and peoples, in the style and methods of cognition of the world. Elena Grigoryeva
Architecture of Old Believer churches in Yekaterinburg
The article attempts to consider the compositional characteristics of the architecture of the Old Believer churches in Yekaterinburg as one of the centers of the Old Believers in the context of the confrontation between the two branches of the Orthodox faith. The purpose of this article is to get acquainted with the practice of building cathedral-type temples by Moscow Old Believers, to determine how Moscow samples and standard projects influence the architecture of Old Believer temples in Yekaterinburg in the context of Russian construction legislation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Михаил Голобородский https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Urban and suburban buildings of Asian Russia in English graphics
The article examines a preserved complex of English graphic works, which capture city panoramas and individual buildings in the Asian part of the Russian Empire. During the period under review, the visual arts of England showed interest in depicting traditional indigenous dwellings in this very large region, as well as the urban development and architectural activities of the Russian settlers. The main part of the graphic heritage is reproduced in the technique of engraving and represents samples of book graphics. A relatively small part of it was created as on-site drawings during English research expeditions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Владимир Чекмарёв https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The author explores the history of creation of theater groups, the formation of theaters and the construction of theater buildings in small towns from the beginning of the 19th century to the present, as well as the nature of financing. The analysis of the history of theater construction and design practice in recent years has been carried out in terms of compliance with the standards of providing the population with theatrical and entertainment buildings. For the first time, attention was focused on the problem of financing the construction of theaters in small towns using examples of various forms of private, public financing and co-financing. It is becoming urgent to search for promising areas for the development of both theatrical architecture itself and the improvement of a scientifically sound regulatory framework.
Copyright (c) 2025 Маргарита Гаврилова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Essential part of the mentality of the people
Historical memory has been formed since the arrival of Russians in Siberia, because written memory appeared only from that period. Almost everything related to the ancient history of the region is not supported by sources. There is a historical memory of more ancient periods due to the fact that a sufficient number of ancient peoples live on the territory of the Irkutsk region. One of the most important problems is that historical toponyms should be recognized as an object of cultural heritage. This is a huge and most important topic, which implies an audit of the state of affairs and to a large extent toponymic restoration in historic cities and towns of the Irkutsk region
Copyright (c) 2025 Александр Гимельштейн, Юлия Ситникова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Historical and architectural potential of settlements of the Middle Priobye Region
Recently there has been an increasing interest in the history of the Russian province, includ-ing the study of the architectural heritage of villages and hamlets, its quality, preservation and originality. Scientific research of the processes of formation of historical settlements of the Middle Priobie, identification of valuable architectural heritage and formation of a scientific database on the development of these settlements is an important task for the preservation and sustainable de-velopment of the historical and cultural environment of the Siberian region.
Copyright (c) 2025 Елена Ситникова, Владимир Бойко, Константин Кудяков, Андрей Лапшинов https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The study of the defensive fortifications of Ani founded by King Smbat II Bagratuni (977–989) is based on the results of studying medieval sources and searching for ways to reveal the architectural features of this monument of fortification architecture. Its image, developed by the ceremoniously presented lapidary building inscriptions, reliefs and inlaid images, by the khachkars inserted into the walls and crosses lined with polychrome masonry, reflected the concept of the royal capital city, the union of secular and spiritual authorities. The article comprehends the dynamics of the Smbat’s walls, which have preserved the planning idea and only a few fragments of the original structure at the base of the towers and gates.
Copyright (c) 2025 Армен Казарян, Карен Матевосян https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Architecture of the military department in Khabarovsk. Evgeniy Serebryakov
The article presents the results of the study conducted by the authors with the support of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Khabarovsk Territory. The article examines the professional activities of one of the graduates of the Leningrad School of Architecture Evgeniy Borisovich Serebryakov in the Far Eastern region. He worked as an engineer-architect in the military construction department of the Special Red Banner Far Eastern Army (OKDVA) in the 1930s and left a significant mark on the architecture of the Far East and the city of Khabarovsk. Brief biographical information is provided, projects and surviving buildings are characterized.
Copyright (c) 2025 Кирилл Степанов, Михаил Базилевич, Алина Иванова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Construction of the Amur River Flotilla base (1908–1918)
The article presents the results of the first year of research conducted within the framework of the Russian Science Foundation grant “Military theme in the architectural and spatial development of the Far East”. The main part of the text is devoted to the organization of the Amur River Flotilla (ARF) base in the Osipovsky backwater near Khabarovsk (1908-1918). Using this particular case as an example, a number of issues related to the spatial and social hierarchy of military towns, the effectiveness of military construction commissions, the problems of finding high-quality building materials, and the adaptation of ‘bourgeois’ projects to the specifics of crew life are examined. It is suggested that I. S. Kitner had an influence on the formation of the brick garrison style.
Copyright (c) 2025 Алина Иванова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Organization of military construction on the Middle Amur at the beginning of the 20th century
The article is devoted to the history of the creation of the defensive linear structure of the Amur basin (1906–1914). It was written on the basis of new materials discovered in the archives of the Russian State Archives of the Navy, the Russian State Archives of the Far East and the Russian State Military Historical Archive with the support of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation “Military Theme in the Architectural and Spatial Development of the Far East”. The article examines the prerequisites for the creation of the Amur River Flotilla (ARF), the leadership role of the Committee for the Organization of Coastal Defense (Saint Petersburg), the choice of the location for the ARF base near Khabarovsk and problems with land allocation, as well as the construction of temporary ARF bases near Sretensk and Blagoveshchensk.
Written on the basis of materials identified in the collections of the Russian Scientific Library, the State Public Historical Library of Russia and the State Archives of the Russian Federation, the article presents the interim results of a study conducted within the framework of the Russian Science Foundation grant “Military Theme in the Architectural and Spatial Development of the Far East”. The authors provide a review of sources that reveal various aspects of garrison and barracks life in the 1900- 1930s. Red Barracks, which are the main object of the study, are considered from two perspectives: as the basis of red-brick garrison architecture widespread throughout the Russian Empire from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, and as an ideological construct of the first decade of Soviet power, opposed to the Royal Barracks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Алина Алина, Михаил Базилевич https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Revival of the IVVAIU barracks with a new function
In June 2025, a diploma project entitled “Preservation of part of the historical complex of buildings of the IVVAIU (Irkutsk Cadet Corps) with adaptation for a multifunctional cultural and educational centre for patriotic education of young people” was defended with honours at the INRTU Institute of Architecture, Construction and Design. The project was worked out by graduate student Sofia Mikailova (student of group RRb-20-1).
Copyright (c) 2025 Софья Микаилова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Secondary school in the cadet corps in Irkutsk
The bachelor’s degree thesis “Reconstruction and adaptation of the former cadet corps for a secondary school in Irkutsk” was completed in 2022 on behalf of the Irkutsk regional organization of the Union of Architects of Russia. The main goal of the project was to preserve the cadet corps as an object of cultural heritage of regional importance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Анастасия Силина, Инна Дружинина https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The articles in this section deal with such objects that preserve the memory of military traditions. Researchers of the Far East once again bring us back to the topic of military towns and the architecture of the military department. And graduates of INRTU join the movement to protect barracks in Irkutsk from demolition and offer their own options for modern use of this building. Built in the early twentieth century, it was intended for a cadet school, and a few years ago it was unreasonably excluded from the ensemble of the military camp. Meanwhile, military buildings carry the memory of a wide variety of eras. The military towns of Siberia and the Far East tell us about the last century, and the Smbatov fortress walls in Armenian Ani tell us about the tenth century A.D. Both the centuries-old and millennial traditions of army life are in these buildings.
Copyright (c) 2025 Елена Григорьева, Константин Лидин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Architectural ensemble of Zhongshan Square in Dalian
The article presents the materials and results of the study conducted by the author with the support of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation “Methods of Integration of Historical Development Zones and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Objects in the Conditions of Development of Modern Cities in North-East China”. Brief historical information is provided regarding the process of formation of the planning structure of the city of Dalian and its central square – Zhongshan (Nikolaevskaya, Grand). The compositional, space-planning and stylistic features of historical and modern buildings and structures that currently form an integral architectural ensemble of the square are considered.
Copyright (c) 2025 Михаил Базилевич https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Common marginal places of Far Eastern cities
The article analyzes the problems related to the processes of marginalization of spaces, objects, and relationships in the urban environment. Using the example of Far Eastern cities and specific facilities, the authors consider the emerging social practices and strategies for overcoming marginalization, as well as the possibilities of their inclusion in the urban environment. The authors conclude that marginal spaces are not limited only to their negative significance, as they have sufficient potential to overcome marginalization and can create a new image of cities in the context of transformations in public life.
Copyright (c) 2025 Анастасия Гарнага, Ирина Гареева, Михаил Базилевич https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The process of marginalization of urban spaces
This article presents an analysis of the marginalization of urban areas, which is considered as a multi-stage and complex procedure that has both socio-economic and socio-cultural significance for the life of the city. The purpose of the article is to determine the essential features and identify the features of the marginalization of urban space. The final part of the work emphasizes the importance of forming a strategic set of measures aimed at transforming marginalized areas, bringing them to the urban rhythm, and improving the general standard of living of the population.
Copyright (c) 2025 Анастасия Гарнага, Светлана Туркулец, Ирина Гареева, Александр Слесарев https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Architectural image semantics of Kazakhstan’s memorials
The article explores the architecture of three significant memorial complexes in Kazakhstan, which have become symbols of regional identity and carriers of collective memory. The purpose of the study is to analyze the architectural solutions that shape the image and semantics of these objects. The methodology is based on a comprehensive analysis of literary sources and visual materials to examine the form, composition, and decorative design of key elements: monumental groups, steles, arches, staircases, and ritual platforms. The results demonstrate that a semantic approach allows for a deeper understanding of the symbolic content of the architectural image and its role in shaping and maintaining the cultural identity of society.
Copyright (c) 2025 Дана Дюсенова, Дуйшон Омуралиев, Манас Хасенов, Гульнара Мауленова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cultural heritage representation in public perception
The flow of information that culture represents contains elements of enduring (invariant) value. One of such elements is the attitude to water formed by the cultures of the ‘arid belt’ in the Middle East, Central and East Asia. Globalisation threatens the loss of the tradition of water conservation and its replacement by wasteful overconsumption of water. In the Arab world, these processes are intensifying due to the growing population and uneven development of the countries in the region. The analysis of campaigns to promote a thrifty attitude to water in Jordan has shown their erroneous targeting. The authors suggest more effective directions in dealing with public perception with the support of cultural heritage.
Copyright (c) 2025 Исса Набиль Наури, Анна Мерри, Диаб Гази Наури https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Museification of the cultural landscape of the museum complex in Sevastopol
At the beginning of the 21st century, examples of integration of cultural heritage objects into the spatial-planning structure of modern architectural-landscape complexes appear in Russia. An example of modern museification is the integration of newly identified cultural heritage objects into the structure of the museum complex in the city of Sevastopol, spatially interacting with the ‘floating architecture’ of deconstructivist architect W. D. Prix, the author of the museum complex. Museification is considered as a method of integrating cultural heritage objects into the structure of modern urban planning, architectural-landscape and architectural complexes through landscape organization of the territory in order to create sustainable elements of the city’s cultural landscape.
Copyright (c) 2025 Элина Красильникова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Safe Courtyard in a Smart City: An Integrated Approach
This study aims to identify and substantiate the interconnection between digital technologies and architectural and planning solutions as an integrated approach that meets the requirements of contemporary smart cities. In the context of the active transformation of Almaty’s urban environment, the search for effective methods to organize safe courtyard spaces is particularly relevant. As a result of a comparative analysis and a study of best practices in designing safe courtyard spaces in modern smart cities, a matrix for an integrated approach to safe courtyard organization has been developed, combining the principles of third-generation CPTED.
Copyright (c) 2025 Жайна Толеген, Ислам Хамди Элгонаими, Ахметжан Еспенбет, Лаура Дильмурат https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The urban environment is a complex and multifaceted subject. Our collection of articles contains a variety of approaches and interpretations of the concept of the environment, views on its necessary qualities and processes of its development and transformation. The materials intersect historical approaches based on medieval traditional attitudes to water in the countries of the Arab ‘arid belt’ and the influence of the latest media art technologies, issues of courtyard safety in Bahrain and Kazakhstan, environmental memorials of Astana and marginal environments of the Russian Far East. The range of objects is from Sevastopol to Chinese Dalian, and the time spread is from the era of the ‘righteous caliphs’ to the present day. It clearly indicates that the topic of the urban environment is always and everywhere relevant.
Media art: Synthesis of digital art in an urban environment
The article considers the connection of media art with the urban environment based on the analysis of Russian and foreign projects. It is determined that media art objects affect urban space both in actual architectural and visual expression and through the representation of the cultural code of the place. The language of traditional art in the media art is combined with modern trends in accordance with the polyphonism of postmodernism and media culture, which carries out dialogues in different time and cultural ranges.
Copyright (c) 2025 Раиса Мусат, Наталья Немаева, Анастасия Борисенко, Марина Никитина, Дмитрий Шавлыгин https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The garden concept in the dream of ideal city
The article considers the phenomenon of the urban European garden and reveals its symbolic and socio-normative content, the interrelation of the social system, and the models of human interaction with the world and society in urban discourse. The author analyzes E. Howard’s socio-utopian concept of the garden city as a social movement, urban planning practice and a method of social reform. Based on the materials about the principles of creation, the history of development and the current situation of the Nizhny Novgorod garden city Krasny Prosveshchenets, the article reveals its research, social and cultural potential for the development of the city.
Copyright (c) 2025 Юлия Козлова https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Botanic gardens for eco-cities of the future
Botanic gardens of the 21st century are being transformed from traditional repositories of plant biodiversity into strategically important park elements of eco-cities of the future, becoming multifunctional ecosystems that combine high-tech, social practices and anti-crisis functions, principles of the circular economy. They become factors in the urban environment as they contribute to overcoming environmental, climatic and social challenges. Of particular importance is their contribution to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals-2030, ensuring environmental safety, education and sustainability of cities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Виктор Кузеванов https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
“Forest City”: A new interpretation of Mari culture
The article describes the center of Yoshkar-Ola with its unique, but sometimes problematic architectural appearance, which used to contribute to the development of tourism. In response to the urgent problems, the local business initiated a project called the Forest City. The concept is aimed at integrating the Mari identity and returning forest motifs to the urban environment. One of the key features of the project is an entrepreneurial model of the territory development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Сергей Маяренков, Анастасия Холявко https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the “diseases” of large cities with a long history were recognized as incurable. The garden city as a new type of settlement was seen as a way out of the current situation. The life “ins Grüne”, in the bosom of nature, had a special meaning of acceptance of simplicity as an aesthetic category, which affected the architecture of houses in numerous garden cities, where the entire range of stylistic trends of the early twentieth century was represented. For the customer, choosing an architect to build a house in a garden city meant demonstrating his status in society, as well as commitment to the relevant ideology. The architecture of the house was a kind of manifesto.