To the Prime Minister
Russian Federation
D. A. Medvedev Restore the building of INION RAS in accordance with the project
outstanding Soviet architect Yakov Belopolsky
Dear Dmitry Anatolyevich!
We, Russian architects, are very alarmed by reports that have appeared recently in the media and in other sources that the INION RAS building, damaged by fire, will not be restored in accordance with the original architectural design. The general public has already expressed a demand, confirmed by many thousands of signatures, that the building, designed by the outstanding Soviet architect Yakov Belopolsky, be restored. The INION RAS complex is a symbol of Russian science and culture. We consider it necessary to declare the significance of this object.
The building of INION RAS is of unconditional cultural, historical and artistic value. The unique function of the building predetermined its architectural image; The Institute and the Library have become a visible expression of the heyday of our state, its progress in the field of science and art, its outstanding role in the field of public education. The laconic, expressive forms of the building, in its monumental appearance, reflect the time of selfless service to scientific ideas, the development of scientific thought as the basis of the country's prosperity.
The creators of the building project are outstanding Soviet architects. The INION building was built in 1964-1967. designed by Yakov Belopolsky, Efim Vulykh and Lev Misozhnikov.
Yakov Borisovich Belopolsky - People's Architect of the USSR, author of the architecture of the memorials to the Soldier-Liberator in Treptow Park and the Motherland-Mother on Mamayev Kurgan. He is one of the authors of the planning and development of the South-West of Moscow, Frunzenskaya Embankment, Circus on Vernadsky Avenue, a complex of houses on Leninsky Avenue and many other favorite places in our city. The buildings he built are undoubtedly the pride of our 20th century architectural heritage. Almost every project of Belopolsky was a kind of milestone in Soviet architecture, reflecting its time. INION is one of his best works.
Every detail of this project, all its aspects are very significant. The construction site of the building was not chosen by chance. The southwest of Moscow was one of the symbols of the material and cultural development of the USSR in the 1960s. Numerous scientific institutes, school buildings, libraries, as well as the Palace of Pioneers have been built here. The INION building is located at the intersection of two planning directions and plays an important urban planning role: a valuable city space - the area at the intersection of Nakhimovsky Prospect and Profsoyuznaya Street is largely formed by the volume of this building. This space is an established architectural ensemble of the 1960s - 1970s, a kind of area of scientific institutions, which, in addition to INION, includes the buildings of the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Economics and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In modern Russian history there is already experience of a careful attitude to this kind of architectural heritage. There is a precedent for the recently completed reconstruction of the famous central city library in Vyborg, which undoubtedly served as a model for a number of architectural and engineering solutions in the INION Library. The building of the Vyborg library (architect Aalto, 1933-1935) was thoroughly restored in 2010-2013. Funding was carried out on a parity basis from the federal budget, as well as from international sources.
This topic has not only an architectural aspect, its meaning is much broader. The preserved INION building will mark the connection between the present and our glorious past, and will be a kind of stronghold of the historical continuity of modern Russia in relation to a developed, strong state, which was the Soviet Union in the late 1960s - early 1970s. On the contrary, the loss of the building will symbolize the visible decline of national science, moreover, the degradation and destruction of the country's culture
Taking into account all of the above, we believe that replacing the INION building with a certain new volume is unacceptable. If this erroneous administrative decision is made, it will not only not contribute to the demonstration of a historical connection with our glorious past, but will also become a deplorable evidence of the state's inability to preserve, and, consequently, to increase its own cultural and scientific heritage.
We are confident that the reconstruction of the INION building, carried out in accordance with the project of the outstanding Soviet architect Yakov Belopolsky, and equipping it with modern world-class technologies will become a symbol of respect for national history, science and culture.
1. Alexander Viktorovich Kuzmin, architect, President of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, General Director of JSC NITs "Construction", Full Member of the Russian Academy of Arts, Professor of the International Academy of Architecture, People's Architect of the Russian Federation, Honorary Builder of Russia and Moscow
2. Sergey Olegovich Kuznetsov, Chief Architect of Moscow, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning of Moscow
3. Andrey Vladimirovich Bokov, Doctor of Architecture, Honored Architect of the Russian Federation, President of the Union of Architects of Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
4. Andrey Leonidovich Gnezdilov, Chief Architect of the State Unitary Enterprise "NI and PI General Plan of Moscow", Member of the Board of the Union of Moscow Architects
5. Nikolay Ivanovich Shumakov, architect, President of the Union of Moscow Architects, Chief Architect of JSC Metrogiprotrans, Honored Architect of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, Academician of the International Academy of Architecture in Moscow, Member of the Architectural Council of Moscow
6. Andrey Leonidovich Batalov, Doctor of Arts, Deputy Director General of the Moscow Kremlin for Research, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
7. Dmitry Olegovich Shvidkovsky, Doctor of Art History, Professor, Rector of the Moscow Architectural Institute, Full Member and Vice President of the Russian Academy of Arts, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation
8. Yuri Petrovich Gnedovsky, architect, Honorary President of the Union of Architects of Russia, People's Architect of the Russian Federation, Laureate of the USSR State Prize, Laureate of the Prize of the President of Russia in Literature and Art, Academician of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
9. Viktor Nikolaevich Logvinov, architect, First Vice President of the Union of Architects
Russia, Academician of the Department of the International Academy of Architecture in Moscow, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
10. Yarkun Dzhaforovich Mukhametkhanov, architect, Vice President of the Union of Architects
Russia, Honored Architect of the Russian Federation, Laureate of the USSR State Prize
11. Felix Aronovich Novikov, Doctor of Architecture, Honored Architect of the RSFSR, People's Architect of the USSR, Academician of the International Academy of Architecture, Laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR, Laureate of the State Prize of the USSR
12. Svyatoslav Viktorovich Mindrul, architect, General Director of OJSC "Mosproekt", vice-president of the Union of Moscow Architects, laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, Honored Architect of the Russian Federation
13. Yuri Pavlovich Volchok, PhD in Architecture, Vice-President of the Union of Moscow Architects, Head of the Department of Russian and Foreign Architecture of Modern Times, Research Institute of Architecture Theory and Urban Planning, Professor of the Moscow Architectural Institute, Academician of the Department of the International Academy of Architecture in Moscow, Advisor to the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
14. Alexander Petrovich Kudryavtsev, PhD in Architecture, Vice President and Chairman of the Council for the Protection of the Heritage of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, Academician of the International Academy of Architecture, People's Architect of the Russian Federation
15. Irina Mikhailovna Korobyina, PhD in Architecture, Director of the State Museum of Architecture named after A. V. Shchuseva, full member of the International Academy of Architecture in Moscow, Counselor of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Building Sciences
16. Alexander Andreevich Skokan, architect, academician of the International Academy of Architecture, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR
17. Evgeny Viktorovich Ass, architect, rector of the MARCH Architectural School
18. Vladimir Ionovich Plotkin, architect, professor of the department of the International Academy of Architecture in Moscow, member of the board of the Union of Moscow Architects
19. Nikolay Vsevolodovich Lyzlov, architect, Vice-President of the Union of Moscow Architects, Professor of the Moscow Architectural Institute, Professor of the Department of the International Academy of Architecture in Moscow
20. Sergey Alexandrovich Skuratov, architect, board member of the Union of Moscow Architects, academician of the department of the International Academy of Architecture in Moscow, honorary builder of the city of Moscow
21. Sergey Viktorovich Gnedovsky, architect, Vice-President of the Union of Architects of Russia, Honored Architect of the Russian Federation, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
22. Georgy Dmitrievich Solopov, architect, Vice President of the Union of Architects of Russia
23. Yuri Eduardovich Grigoryan, architect, Head of Curriculum at Strelka Institute
24. Nikolay Vadimovich Lyutomsky, architect, laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation
25. Boris Alexandrovich Shabunin, architect, professor of the Moscow Architectural Institute, laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation
26. Yuri Igorevich Avvakumov, architect
27. Andrey Vladimirovich Efimov, Doctor of Architecture, Professor of Moscow Architectural Institute, Laureate of State Prizes of the Russian Federation in 1997 and 2000, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
28. Nikita Tokarev, architect, director of the MARCH Architectural School, member of the Board of the Union of Moscow Architects
29. Ekaterina Antonovna Shorban, candidate of art history, certified expert of the State Historical and Cultural Expertise under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, expert of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Laureate of the RF Government Prize in the field of culture
30. Natalia Olegovna Dushkina, Ph. D. in Architecture, Professor of the Moscow Architectural Institute, Member of the Federal Scientific and Methodological Council for Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Founding Member of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on the Heritage of the 20th Century, Member of DOCOMOMO
31. Nadezhda Iosifovna Zavyalova, PhD in Architecture, certified expert of the State Historical and Cultural Expertise under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
32. Vladimir Fedorovich Shukhov, Chairman of DOCOMOMO Russia, President of the Shukhov Tower Foundation
33. Olga Kabanova, art historian, architecture critic, journalist
34. Nikolay Vladimirovich Pereslegin, architect, member of the Union of Architects of Russia, member of the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments
35. Yuri Alexandrovich Vedenin, Doctor of Science, founder of the Russian Research Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage named after V. I. D. S. Likhacheva, Deputy Chairman of the Union of Regional Studies of Russia, Chairman of the Board of the Society for the Study of the Russian Estate
36. Alexander Vladimirovich Popov, architect-restorer of the highest category, Laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR, Advisor to the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, Head of the Restoration Center "Architecture-Production-Training"
37. Sergey Borisovich Kulikov, Chief Architect of the Central Scientific and Restoration Design Workshops, member of the board and member of the Presidium of the Public Council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Laureate of the Government of the Russian Federation
38. Alexander Alexandrovich Zaitsev, architect, Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, head of workshop No. 6 of OJSC "Mosproekt"
39. Tatiana Efimovna Kameneva, PhD in Architecture, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, certified expert of the State Historical and Cultural Expertise under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
40. Stepan Vladislavovich Lipgart, architect
41. Kirill Konstantinovich Governors, architect
42. Nikita Vladislavovich Inozemtsev, student of the Faculty of History of Moscow State University, member of the coordinating council of the public movement "Arhnadzor"
43. Nikolay Yurievich Vasiliev, PhD in Art History, Secretary General of DOCOMOMO Russia
44. Olga Vladimirovna Kazakova, PhD in Art History, Senior Scientific Adviser of NIITAG, Scientific Secretary of the Heritage Council of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences
45. Elena Sesarovna Gonzalez-Rodriguez, architect, architecture critic, curator
46. Anna Yulianovna Bronovitskaya, Candidate of Art Criticism, Associate Professor of the Moscow Architectural Institute, member of the section on the legacy of the Soviet period of the Federal Scientific and Methodological Council on Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Director of Research at the Institute of Modernism
47. Victoria Viktorovna Inozemtseva, writer
48. Alexandra Nikolaevna Selivanova, PhD in Architecture, Senior Research Fellow at the Museum of Moscow, Senior Research Fellow at the Research Institute of Theory and History of Architecture and Urban Planning, Head of the Avant-garde Center at the Workers' Education Library
49. Denis Vitalievich Romodin, Candidate of Political Science, Member of the Union of Regional Studies of Russia, Secretary of the Moscow branch of DOCOMOMO Russia
50. Elena Leonidovna Rusakova, social psychologist, director of the Scientific and Methodological Center "Humanist", deputy of the Council of the municipal district Gagarinsky G. Moscow
51. Viktor Viktorovich Khrechko, art historian, head of the portal Archi.ru
52. Nina Igorevna Frolova, chief editor of the portal Archi.ru, senior scientific editor of the Scientific publishing house "Big Russian Encyclopedia"
53. Yulia Valentinovna Tarabarina, candidate of art history, editor-in-chief of the Archi.ru portal, senior researcher at the State Institute of History ***
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