Story
The festival began in 2009 as an experiment in the genre of land art. Hence the name, ironic for art, but accurate for the place: the first festival was held at the Museum of Architecture and Life on the Shelokovsky farm, next to the monuments and masterpieces of wooden architecture of the peoples of the Volga region. Then it seemed amazing how the students managed to combine creative passion and social responsibility in one spectacular project. Both the museum receive support, and the guidelines for the concept are clear. Moreover, the main feature of Nizhny Novgorod is not architecture, but a stunning landscape, which was noted by various eminent guests at different times and centuries: from Catherine the Great to Kisho Kurokawa.
But the festival's team gradually changed, and it soon became noticeable that while the fuse was winning both content and context. Therefore, in the following years "Ogorod" tried on embankments, ravines, and, in accordance with the new fashion, to parks.
A place
The Sverdlov Garden, where the fifth Ogorod was held, is a small - just over 2 hectares - a corner under the shade of lindens. But - the oldest green area of the historic city. Former Bishop's Garden, 1706. At the beginning of the 19th century, they tried to cut it through a carriageway, but they did not. And at the end of the 20th century, the buildings and tenants around were so compacted that the children's park became a square, and now it is a Garden. And he could even become a front garden at a fish restaurant, if the plans for the next construction were destined to come true. The park already has an institution for "not boring sitting", which was previously a children's cafe, but has long since changed its target audience to an adult capable of driving up in a decent car. For the children, a certain enclosure with typical courtyard slides-rocking chairs has been built, the Garden has no face and character. Although there is still: sad - the site is heavily shaded around the perimeter.
Who knows about all this, especially delighted with the green explosion that arose from somewhere out of the ground with the appearance of "Broccoli" not far from the entrance to the Garden. This is, indeed, a gift from "Ogorod" - to the Garden! Proportions, scale, color, texture - everything in "Broccoli" pleases. Here the sculptures of the Oldenburg Class are the first to come to mind, then, excuse me, something from "Dunno" and "Alice". The main thing is that the associative array can be continued: if you wish - somewhere to Archimboldo or "Barankin, be a man."
How the "Vegetable Garden" works
There is nothing incredible: seeds are taken in winter, sown in spring, shoots appear in May. The Expert Council is the chief architect of Nizhny Novgorod, the head of the Department of Architectural Design at NNGASU and young architects who already have experience in "Ogorod" and independent work with customers, so they evaluate applications with sketches.
Warming up the soil and loosening - lectures and master classes of young people, but with experience in real design … Then - watering and adding vitamins - the cultural program of the festival.
What funds? As the current “director of the festival” said, the head of the initiative group - a fifth-year student of NNGASU Lena Gorbacheva - were looking for suitable grant competitions, city ones. Found. True, there was not much money, but some of the visiting participants were so eager to bring their plans to life that they agreed to a third of the payment for the materials.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to finally resolve the housing issue with the co-organizers: colleagues from other cities are settling in apartments with the locals (however, four participants out of 40 visitors were accommodated in the hostel of the University of Architecture and Civil Engineering).
Different inconsistencies are noticeable when comparing projects and finished objects … But on the other hand, the festival got a recognizable graphic design and remained faithful friends.
Oh, the city!
I'm not sure if the name of the festival is registered, but I already know that it coincides with a chain of folk restaurants in Vologda. They also play with a comma, turning the "vegetable garden" into "oh, city." But the story of Nizhny Novgorod is not about vegetables. And what about?
Architect Anton Savelyev, a graduate of NNGASU, one of the initiators of the first "Ogorod", believes that "the purpose of the festival remains vague." If we recall the famous "Cities" wandering in different places and territories, then this is most likely the genre of an architectural circus: come and surprise. Well, or, if you like, an entreprise. The author's statement is more important than the environment. By the same principle, other thematic parties of architects and artists are formed.
The Nizhny Novgorod Ogorod also changes sites, but, by and large, the environment remains - this is Nizhny, its different shades and states. And this is not just one aspect of design, it is the basis for an architect's work. After all, that is why he differs, for example, from the multiplier, which deals mainly with reality. This is where adult comrades should help the young organizers, because, in fact, the festival can turn from a pleasant youth get-together into an image event of the city. However, this will lead to interest in criteria, benchmarks, and competitions. The voices of specialists and experts will get stronger, of course, that in the conditions of the dominance of developers and officials, it may even turn out to be something revolutionary. That's too much! And so - the children are weird, something kind and cute comes out, but we will grow up to meanings somehow.
Garden
Criticizing the "Vegetable Garden" is like offending teddy bears. Let's just see what finally came out at the fifth festival. Even if the impressions in the park have become even denser, they are already with a different, not street code.
Well, firstly, as a casual visitor to this small district park, I want to note: there was a pleasant atmosphere. They sang and played at the "Ogorod". Secondly, for a one-time visit, you just need a reason: what did you manage to install there? Curiosity was satisfied: both art puzzles and utilitarian objects turned out.
I don't know how long the plywood Dragon will last, but the bench is really comfortable. Children have mastered "Tetris" - everyone saw it. It's not very clear what age restrictions are there at the end of the park, but thinking about years under tall trees is a natural state. Buckwheels were also hung on the lindens. In general, the festival venues, in general, are warmer than the already mentioned (here and in every courtyard, at every crossroads of the city) typical children's towns.
There was not enough green lawn, just interesting bushes, but probably in early May - not the time yet.
And now we look at the pictures.
