Archi.ru:
How did you get the idea to hold such a workshop?
Elena Gonzalez:
- This is an old story: as you remember from the sensational interview of the owner of the House of Narkomfin Alexander Senatorov "Afishe", concerned professionals, including historians of architecture - Nikolai Vasiliev, Maria Troshina, Evgenia Gershkovich, Nikolai Pereslegin, I - gathered some advice, which began to express Senatorovu his own claims, which, probably, was not entirely correct. We absolutely rightly expressed our concern about his actions, but at the same time we did not offer any alternative program: this was our main tactical mistake. And the result was this interview, which offended many terribly. It just didn't offend us - we really thought about the fact that we, professionals, do not have clear proposals for maintaining the House.
Everyone more or less learned to fight: the Shukhov Tower is an example of this. But if you achieve something, offer a program of action after reaching the goal. And we, having achieved nothing in this case, decided to start with such proposals. The commune house of the People's Commissariat for Finance was originally, ideologically conceived as a combination of private, intimate, private - and public: there really is a lot of public space that could perfectly work for the city. At the same time, this could work for the benefit of the House, because it is located in the center of Moscow, it has wonderful areas that cannot be used otherwise - they are still communal, common. Therefore, we proposed a program of events for the House and called it "The Return of the House" - an asset to the city and its culture.
When the question arose of whom to invite to the workshop that we had conceived within the framework of this program, I thought that if we invite only architects, we will get a very predictable result: they think in design - they will paint the squares with blue, red, green, depending on the function, etc. etc. And here I wanted to get a more culturological result. I turned to my colleagues from the Higher School of Economics - to the Department of Cultural Studies, headed by Vitaly Kurennoy, and to the School of Design, to Yegor Larichev (she is part of the Faculty of Communications, Media and Design at the Higher School of Economics). Also, guys from Stroganovka were invited, who think in a completely different way, like artists. As a result, there were 17 participants in our workshop. It was directly organized by architects Oleg Raspopov and Vlad Kunin, who lead the school "The Foundation of the Architectural Future".
I must say that without the interest and understanding on the part of the Copernicus leadership, that is, more simply, Alexander Senatorov, the workshop in the House of Narkomfin simply would not have taken place. We were provided and equipped for work with a side cell No. 18. I would like to express special gratitude to Elena Frolovtseva and Natalya Balk, who took care of us all these days, thanks to which not a single problem arose in the work of the workshop.
And, of course, the matter was not limited to 17 participants. Architect Olga Zinyukova did not participate in the design, but she had her own project - she fixed the workshop in pictures, it turned out great! Oleg Volkov made a photo report about our life in the House of Narkomfin, and Oleg Farber shot a video. Yulia Zinkevich and the Instagrammers she cited filled social networks with photos, and our friends, having instantly seen where we were and what we were doing, came with the children (!) To take part in exercises on the roof (for this special thanks to our physical education instructor Natasha Rubina, PR -Director of the Artplay Design Center). In general, these days the House has shown HOW it can work with the city and how people are interested in it.
I am very happy with the results. First of all, the workshop itself was a wonderful experience - we practically spent three days in the House of Narkomfin. They dispersed at night, returned early in the morning. The guys showed a frantic ability to work. Two days to work is a clause level, and they made real projects - very smart and very different.
How were the "project teams" formed?
- Two days before the start, the participants were sent the workshop program: how the House should show itself to the city, what the House can tell about itself to the city and what the House can give to the city. On the first evening, Nikolai Vasiliev gave the participants a very interesting excursion, there was also a historical presentation made by Vasiliev and Yana Mirontseva, Nikolai Pereslegin spoke about plans for restoration and restrictions related to the status of the monument. It is very important to understand to what extent one can fantasize, and that there are taboo zones. Alexander Senatorov also suggested a number of questions that the workshop participants should think about. And then the guys told me what they think about this - such a bunch of ovens. And even from these uncollected thoughts, it became clear that people see the situation differently, which made us happy. And Oleg Raspopov told them: "Now you all go out into the corridor and come back here in groups." So they did, and these groups in an amazing way at once absolutely "formed".
The workshop is over, its results were presented at the Moscow Cultural Forum, and what will happen next?
The ideas of the participants need to be developed, but this requires purposeful, concrete actions. Now everything depends on how the authors of the projects are able to implement their proposals, negotiating with the owner, the city, security agencies, because, even to hang a poster on the facade, you need to get permission from the Moscow Heritage Committee. So, in 2011 at ArchMoscow there was a wonderful photo project of Rustam Kerimov and Mikhail Korolev "Arkhangels". These posters were then planned to be hung on those monuments, the threat of which was discussed, but this did not happen, because the approval of the officials was not obtained. Now we want to make posters for the People's Commissariat of Finance in the same way, especially since it also has a practical side. Windows have been knocked out, and the openings must be closed, because water is poured into them. Restoration steps are needed, but each requires a special act. And the rain is pouring down. We have come up with a technology that allows you to do without nails: the banner is simply pressed against the wall. But for this, you need Kibovsky's approval, you need to go to it - these are bureaucratic steps that just need to be done. The question of money is also relevant.
And young people - participants in the workshop - will form the backbone of the reviving Narkomfin?
- In any case, they are very enthusiastic. If they are really willing to help, there can be many interesting projects. We will now be doing an exhibition in the lower gallery of the house. There the windows are broken, they do not want to change them, and this gallery is sewn up with shields. And this will be a temporary exhibition area, so the premises should be open to the public - at least on certain days. That is, this is already a continuation of the practice of "opening" the House and its cultural use. You can also build a layout of a residential cell in the yard for the time of reconstruction - you can make it out of construction waste or blind it out of snow. These actions should be loud, image-building, public, and get a response. Only then will the house-commune of Narkofin become a popular place, and only then will people come there and begin to demand its revival. Now he rots and rots - a wreck that everyone is tired of. After all, we have many such monuments under threat: the Melnikov house, the Shukhov tower … People no longer react to the Narkomfin house, and it may well become a wonderful place alongside Gorky Park, Polytech and DK Zila.
A very inspiring action program
- But there is a serious problem that is important to mention - this is the problem of the city. The annexes belonging to Moscow in the lower part of the House must be demolished; without this, the restoration project cannot be carried out. But the city authorities perceive them as material value. A normal municipality would simply withdraw these 450 m2 from its assets, but our city does not do that.
In England, all state museums are free, since the British realized that investment in culture is justified, they are returning. And here it is not a value. How is this embodied in the situation with the House of Narkomfin? The communal block is the most affected part of it. Thanks to Alexander Senatorov, homeless people no longer live there, security has appeared, and everything would have burned out long ago. But the state of the block is still terrible, and nothing can be done about it. One can only carry out an act of self-seizure, but this is scary, although in principle it would be such an effective gesture. But I will not tempt the participants of the workshop to do this.
The city appears in history with the House of People's Commissariat for Finance as an unambiguously negative hero. The worst thing is that if all of us, even the public, can be personified, then the state is impossible: these are some kind of "bodies", and we do not see and do not know their employees. Poking at Sobyanin and Kapkov is an absolutely pointless exercise, because they are not responsible for these 450 m2 in the Narkomfin House, but some Moscow Property Committee, and there is no responsible person there. It's like Biryukov from housing and communal services - like he is, but he doesn't seem to be, such a phantom.
Vanishing point
Maria Serova (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute), Andrey Stenyushkin (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute), Natalia Nikulenkova (video artist, Rodchenko School)
The authors propose to preserve the legendary status of the House, due to its innovative way of life and famous residents, by using the Internet , Where the present and historical inhabitants of the House are united. It is also planned to build a 1: 1 scale model of a residential cell in the courtyard during the restoration, to arrange a “virtual museum” in the building according to the principle of augmented reality, and to open a cinema hall under an ETFE-film dome on the roof.
Elena Gonzalez:
“The project is already operational - in terms of hashtagging, at least:-). There are plans and creation, or rather reconstruction of the site - it would be great to parallel these two events - the reconstruction of the house and the reconstruction of the site. And, of course, a very good idea with a virtual museum, I hope the authors will think of it over time.
In this project, I am very impressed by the combination of functional and practical steps with artistic practices that require a completely different experience (which, by the way, the participants have). The dome over the roof - as an option for preserving the house while preserving public functions for the duration of the restoration - it's great!"
Plan 2
Mikhail Knyazev (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute), Mikhail Mikadze (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute), Denis Saltykov (culturologist, HSE), Natalia Agapkina (architect, Novosibirsk Academy of Architecture)
According to the project, first, the House, which retains its function, “goes out into the city” as a brand on various goods, and then a media center is created in the communal block (circles, lecture halls, a cafe-bar, coworking space). Festivals of engineering ideas, etc. are held in the garden in the warm season. A museum opens in one of the cells, and the roof and galleries become public and exhibition spaces, respectively. The House has “brothers-in-arms” - the Marseilles “residential unit” Le Corbusier, the Berlin massif of Siemens-stadt by Walter Gropius and other masters of the modern movement, the Barbican Center and Isokon in London, etc. All proceeds from commercial activities go to the development of the House, and the area around it remains a "quiet garden" with a well-thought-out visiting regime.
Elena Gonzalez:
“The most thought-out, most“architectural”project of the workshop. It's still a mystery to me how the authors managed to make a full-fledged project in the concept stage in 2 days. Still, architects are special people). Plan2 is a study with clear functional zoning and a sound space development strategy. In addition, some of the ideas began to be implemented already at the workshop stage. Half of my acquaintances are already "branded" with stickers and decals with the logo of the House drawn by Misha Knyazev and Misha Mikadze. And the idea of "being friends at home" seems to me very good, I myself would gladly take part in such a project (if they hire me). Well, in the subject of lectures too!"
Homecoming
Anastasia Kucherova (designer, MGHPA named after S. G. Stroganov), Alexander Kuznetsov (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute), Natalia Zubareva (designer, HSE), Irina Khorova (designer, HSE)
The project draws attention to the importance of the Narkomfin House as a "place of worship" for creative people attracted by its avant-garde architecture, and as an experimental space for "courageous people" - the experience of communal, communal life. At the initial stage, a vegetable garden and open-air workshops are created near the Ddom for everyone, but first of all, local residents, and a temporary art object is also installed. In winter, the workshop is moved to the communal block, where a canteen is opened, where dishes are prepared from "vegetable" products. Then the restoration is completed, the House is occupied, and a separate, private garden is created for the residents.
Elena Gonzalez:
“This project is very good, smart, fresh, unexpected - precisely because the authors did not copy the logic of the industrial process, when a person gradually freed himself from manual, household labor, and he had time for self-development. And here the authors, on the contrary, introduce manual labor - planting plants, making furniture - this joint "doing" leads to a new understanding, good neighborliness. It seems to me that this is relevant, this is a request of young people. For them, this idea does not carry any negative connotations like a pioneer organization. On the contrary, they want to be together, they get tired of loneliness, virtuality. They have completely new needs, and it is very important that they transmit these needs to the House of Narkomfin, and it does not reject them. This House, according to its ideology, is completely different, was able to accommodate such ideals. The house will "return" to its shell, but it will return with people, it will be friendly to them. Maybe this is a bit of a naive project, but I really like it because of its alternativeness. And we are not saying that this is a ready-made program of action. This is a study, a search for what people lack."
Narkomfin myth
Arseny Afonin (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute), Yulia Andreichenko (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute, MARSH), Alexey Morozov (culturologist, HSE)
The authors ask themselves the question: what could the House of Narkomfin be today? This is the emblem of the avant-garde, and the symbolic meaning here is much more important than the material embodiment - the roof, walls and even residential cells. Therefore, the building should be turned into a "media platform, broadcasting the universal and at the same time distant values of social responsibility and collective action." As concrete steps, it is planned to develop the adjacent territory, the communal block and the roof as spaces for educational events, exhibitions, workshops and coworking spaces. It is also proposed to construct temporary pavilions in the courtyard, similar to the program of the Serpentine Gallery in London.
Elena Gonzalez:
“The most 'difficult' project of the workshop - we argued a lot with the authors. The guys proposed completely new dimensions of a physical object - for us, the organizers of the workshop, architects, it was unexpected. We were afraid to lose the “body” of the House, we were afraid that it would dissolve into the ether. But, to the credit of the authors, the guys did not buckle under our pressure, and as a result, a project appeared that could have a very interesting independent life. I think there are many opportunities and good prospects here, if Arseny, Yulia and Alexey develop their ideas"
Narkomfin Now
Alexandra Bogdanova (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute), Daria Zaitseva (architect, Moscow Architectural Institute, MARSH), Alexey Piven (architect, Ogarev Moscow State University)
The house is interesting and valuable especially in its current state, when it is "aged, experienced and independent." To express support for the avant-garde monument, it is proposed to mount a series of large balloons on its roof. When the House is closed for restoration, its "footprints" will be embodied nearby in the form of a land-art object inspired by the plans of the building. It is proposed to express the revival of the House with the help of modern types of ropewalking - slackline and highline, which, according to the authors, have common ideals with constructivism.
Elena Gonzalez:
“To be honest, this is my favorite project. The authors treated the House like artists. They formulated it this way: The house is the past, and we do not understand what its future will be, but it is very important for us to fix its state before restoration as it is. The house evoked emotions in us, and it is very valuable for us that even in such a state it initiates creativity. One participant wrote that he wanted to support the House and came up with a performance with balloons. The second said that when it is closed for restoration, it is very important that there are traces of it. And the third is that the House evokes a sense of risk, a challenge, and this feeling is akin to what she does - highline. It is an artistic act in response to a certain state. And Narkomfin Now is a completely separate project from the others."
