In Moscow, a program for the reconstruction of Soviet cinemas started quite suddenly and at an accelerated pace. In early November, ADG Group announced an open all-Russian competition for the best redevelopment project of two capital c / t - "Warsaw" and "Voskhod", and at the end of the month five finalist teams were announced that will work on the projects of the second round of the competition. This competition is a trial and research one, its task is to find the right approaches to the relatively new task of renovating this part of the Soviet urban infrastructure. Having found approaches, the project developer, ADG Group, is not going to stop at all, as it plans to renovate as many as 39 Moscow cinemas located in different parts of the city. All this on the instructions of the Moscow authorities and in cooperation with the Moscow Architecture Committee. So in the near future we still have to hear a lot about the renovation of cinemas, built mainly in the 1970s according to standard projects, and, thus, a story about a round table dedicated to Warsaw, Voskhod, as well as their brothers and twins, multiplied throughout the country, it will not be superfluous.
Both cinemas were built almost simultaneously, in 1970 and 1971, in large residential areas on the outskirts of the city. In Soviet times, such cinemas were built everywhere and were part of the implementation of the master plan for the development of a polycentric city. All of them occupied a significant position in the microdistrict and played the role of a local center of attraction for its residents. These were, as a rule, standard projects, not tied to a place in any way, which were replicated throughout the country. The commonality of the Soviet people was emphasized by the common architectural language. And thus, the level and quality of life were leveled both in large and small towns and villages.
Meanwhile, mass construction obliged to implement high-quality, verified architecture: most of the projects for years were scrupulously developed within the walls of large design institutes such as TsNIIEP im. B. S. Mezentsev. That is why almost every typical cinema of that time today has a special architectural and town planning value. During the discussion, there was often a call to preserve and emphasize the character of each building being reconstructed, despite the fact that they are typical. Sergey Kuznetsov personally appealed to the investor and the participants of the competition with a request to preserve the “local comfort of these places”, making them attractive for people and significant from the point of view of architecture.
The statement of the managing partner of the developer and the head of the reconstruction project Grigory Pechersky, that during the design process it is planned to provide an individual approach to each building, sounded promising. However, not all of them will retain their original function. The cinemas included in the renovation program are in different conditions today. Only a few are used for their intended purpose, while the majority either turned into trading halls, markets or cafes, or became sites for temporary exhibitions. In some cases, buildings are so dilapidated and destroyed that they are not used at all. According to the statistics provided by Elena Gonzalez, about 70% of Soviet cinemas do not work today, almost a third is "in ruins."
For example, Voskhod, located in the remote Ryazan district of Moscow on Mikhailova Street, which is remote and not very prosperous in terms of cultural and leisure infrastructure, was closed in the early 1990s, it is not surprising that the building has fallen into disrepair and will require serious intervention. In addition, the fate of each building will be determined taking into account the presence or absence of cultural and entertainment functions in its area - a detailed study of the environment, according to Grigory Pechersky, is already underway.
The situation is different with the "Warsaw", built in 1970 on the Ganetsky square in the Voikovsky district. The cinema stopped working relatively recently, and the vacant areas were rented out for shops and restaurants. A beautiful concrete structure with a large glass façade was covered with porcelain stoneware and hidden under advertising banners, and opposite - the Metropolis shopping and entertainment center with a multiplex for 14 cinemas.
At the first stage of implementation, another large Moscow cinema will be reconstructed - "Sofia", built on Sireneviy Boulevard by the project of the architect M. N. Moshinsky. As a cinema, it stopped functioning quite recently, closed due to non-compliance with fire safety standards. Meanwhile, the structural frame of the building has been preserved well, which will probably preserve its historical appearance.
According to Anna Bronovitskaya, Research Director of the Institute of Modernism, it is extremely difficult to adapt the planning structure of Soviet cinemas with their large halls for 600, 800 and even 1200 seats to the operation of a modern multiplex, and now one cannot count on filling large halls. But, if in the case of standard buildings external and internal transformation seems necessary, then in the case of architectural monuments it is simply impossible - Anna Bronovitskaya is sure.
Among the most valuable are such cinemas as Elbrus, Sayany, Pervomaisky and, of course, the post-constructivist Rodina, built in 1938 by architects Yakov Kornfeld and Viktor Kalmykov. This project is also typical; in addition to Moscow, it was implemented in Tver, Smolensk, Simferopol and other cities. The Moscow version has never been rebuilt and still has unique architectural features of that time. Grigory Pechersky, answering journalists' questions, stressed that scientific restoration will be carried out in relation to the "Motherland" and other monuments of cultural heritage. And he shared his plans to recreate the cinema hall on the operated roof of the cinema - the first of its kind, which almost immediately after the opening of Rodina was converted into a restaurant that existed until the 1960s.
However, the director of the MARCH school, Nikita Tokarev, who was present at the discussion, suggested not to wait for the opening of the renovated buildings, but to form social life in them today. Thus, MARSH, together with the architectural group DNA and the Moscow Museum, is developing the idea of temporary pavilions, information blocks, which can become catalysts for the activity of the residents of the district. The pavilions will act as venues for temporary exhibitions. One of them will soon exhibit the results of the competition for "Warsaw" and "Voskhod".
