The results of the election of the new president of the SAR were announced on the last day of the IX Congress of the Union of Architects of Russia, October 19. The winner, by a significant margin, was Nikolai Ivanovich Shumakov, chief architect of Metrogiprotrans, who had headed the Union of Moscow Architects for the last five years. Now he plans to combine both presidential posts: SAR and AGR. We met with Nikolai Ivanovich to ask him questions about the development prospects and undisclosed resources of the Union.
Archi.ru:
When you were elected five years ago as president of the AU, you were very determined and even radical in your desire to renew the Moscow union. Over the past years, you, indeed, have managed to change a lot, but the changes have not taken on a cardinal character. Now in your program for the presidency of the UAR there are many new proposals, but the methods by which you propose to implement them are rather evolutionary in nature. Do you think this way is more efficient? Or are there other reasons?
Nikolay Shumakov:
“The revolution is fundamentally unsuitable here. I was convinced of this from my own experience during my five years as president of the Union of Moscow Architects. In the architectural community, and in society as a whole, inertia is very high. The Union has a long history and glorious traditions that mean a lot for the older generation. And there is no reason to break them. The social, professional and cultural life of the Union can and should develop progressively, growing with new initiatives and programs due to the involvement of the young generation of Russian architects in union affairs, giving them the opportunity to realize their ideas using the resources available in the SAR.
What is your main task in this context?
- My main task is to reform the organizational structure, make it more effective, so that it is able to defend the authority and interests of the professional community. Now there are dozens of different unions, associations, some of which are quite viable, some of which function by inertia. I am convinced that disunity works against us. Separately, these structures cannot achieve the results that are necessary to return our profession to the status and role in society that it deserves. In my program, I proposed to consolidate, under the auspices of the Union of Architects of Russia, all existing and operating creative and professional associations related to architecture, urban planning and design.
And we will start by optimizing the structure and system of interaction of the three Unions: CAP, CMA and MASA. Our offices are located on the same street, we hold events similar in topics and target audience, attract the same partners, involuntarily competing with each other, instead of supporting each other. I am not suggesting that these organizations be abolished or mechanically merged, but it is necessary to systematize their activities, to combine programs that duplicate each other. To achieve this goal, as well as to optimize expenditure items of budgets, it may be necessary to combine their administrative and economic resources by creating a common executive body, with a single accounting department, a PR department, directorate of exhibitions and competitions. But the specific structure optimization scheme will be determined a little later, after we analyze the available resources.
Is the purpose of the merger exclusively economic or is it ideological?
- Together. The united structure will be able to more effectively lobby the interests of the architectural community at the federal and regional levels, conduct a more active information policy, strengthening the public prestige of the profession, defending our interests. It is necessary to find forms of dialogue with the authorities. The path of confrontation turns into only positional losses of the entire shop. We must learn to communicate with the authorities and achieve those decisions that meet the interests of the architectural community.
Over the past decades, architecture has dropped out of the range of culturally significant and interesting topics for society. It is necessary to conduct explanatory work, an elementary educational program, what architecture is, what an architect does, what tasks urban planners and landscape designers solve, what is the value of historical buildings, and so on.
What other priorities in the work of this unified structure do you see?
- I plan to use the resources that will be freed up due to the unification of the devices to radically change the system of working with the regions. The capital branches of the Union of Architects of Russia are in a fairly good condition. There is an active professional and cultural life. But the regions need our help. It is clear that this is not about financial support, everyone has a rather difficult situation here. We need moral and image help. They do not feel the support of the center, do not feel their involvement in general shop projects and programs. It is difficult for them to solve administrative problems, it is difficult to conduct a dialogue with local authorities. And a simple visit of a delegation from Moscow or other regions, a lecture by an eminent colleague, an exhibition of the best projects often becomes an incentive to activate the local architectural community. This is exactly the kind of professional and cultural interaction with the regions that I plan to develop.
And what is the role of the regional subdivisions of the ATS in this system?
- For me, it is extremely important in this situation that the regional divisions of the SAR themselves take the initiative and come up with their proposals. The program with which I spoke before the elections for the presidency of the UAR is of a fundamental nature and will develop, supplemented as more detailed information accumulates: both about the state of affairs within the Union apparatus and the situation in the regions.
Taking this opportunity, I appeal to all members of the Union of Architects of Russia: if you have constructive suggestions, I emphasize, suggestions, not complaints! - on how you can improve the work of your division of the Union of Architects of Russia or maybe you have ideas for some events or projects in which you need the organizational assistance of the center, send your suggestions to my name. We will definitely consider them and take them into account when working out in detail the development strategy of the ATS for the coming years.
We are also fully open to suggestions and cooperation with all creative and professional associations.
What other resources, in your opinion, are not yet sufficiently used by the Union of Architects?
- I pin my hopes on the renewal of the Union with the youth. Our experience in the Union of Moscow Architects has shown that among young architects there are many talented and enterprising guys who are not only able to offer an interesting idea, but also to assemble a team and implement it. And now, at the CAP congress, we have introduced ten young architects at the age of about 35 to the board of directors. And I can only thank them for their desire to participate more actively in the activities of the SAR. I am sure that their enthusiasm, knowledge and creativity will help us develop the Union and in the coming years the number of young professionals participating in our work will only grow. ***
The election program of Nikolai Shumakov:
Published in the newspaper CA No. 5 (61) 2016
“Creative people are the salt of the earth, creative unions are an integral part of civil society, part of the horizontal structure that permeates and holds the country together.
Creativity in the new Russia has not yet found a place. Previously, we were gripped in a totalitarian grip, but now we are in the grip of a new ideology, the ideology of money, for which traditions, values, creativity, the humanistic essence of our profession are a ballast that interferes with earning. In this difficult situation, we must take care of preserving the traditions and ideals that our community has lived with for 150 years.
The time for disintegration, division and budding is passing. The Union of Architects of Russia must and must now lead the process of consolidating all the architectural forces of the country. Architects, urbanists, landscape planners, designers, theorists - those who are engaged in architectural activities - must and must unite under the auspices of the SA of Russia for the benefit of architecture with the priority of the professional interests of our workshop. This is the only way we will survive and win. Unity is our strength.
Today the Union of Architects of Russia is by no means a weak organization. The Union has local representations and regional offices in almost every constituent entity of the Russian Federation. The state does not yet realize what kind of support in the person of professionals it can receive in the implementation of state programs. Our task is thoughtfully, attentively and patiently, using all available means, including the press, to conduct explanatory work, developing the consciousness of government officials. I do not exclude that when other forms of self-organization come into force and are recognized by the state, this form can be revised. But this must be done extremely carefully and prudently, so as not to throw out the child with water. And, of course, reforms should serve the interests of the democratic majority. To you, dear architects! And the union can earn, despite its non-commercial status - for self-preservation. Maybe he should. And here - again, the same human factor comes into play. Judging by the successful activity of the SMA, such opportunities exist. Let's keep traditions. Their underestimation is fraught with irreparable losses and losses …
Strengthening the status of the Union of Architects of Russia and the public prestige of the profession. To work in this direction, we will rely, among other things, on the information component of our activities. The modern information model of society dictates its own rules to us. It is necessary to create a unified architectural information space. Media support for architectural programs, festivals, and especially competitions is needed. The public should not only be informed, it should be included in the work. It is necessary to radically change PR.
The CA should act as an initiator in the press, in discussions, in discussions, gaining additional authority from society. Carry out PR actions throughout Russia.
It is necessary to change the format of exhibitions and festivals. Conduct them at elite venues, with the involvement of the general public.
Continuation of work on architectural legislation while maintaining continuity. Providing legal protection for the interests of architects. We appreciate the huge contribution made by the team of V. N. Logvinova to work on legislative initiatives. The work should be continued by those who started it, with the involvement of specialists from related fields.
To persistently seek from the authorities to revive the system of creative competitions, to hold competitions for architectural solutions of any large objects. It is necessary to refer to the world experience in conducting architectural and urban planning competitions for all objects. In this case, the task of the union is to ensure the quality of the expert assessment. The jury must be at least two-thirds composed of architects who are members of the union, and it must be determined by the union. The results are passed on to customers: the state, developers. Eliminate the profanation of choice by preliminary selection of bidders.
Development of a socially responsible position of the union in a dialogue with the authorities to protect the legal rights and interests of members of the SA of Russia. We are obliged to do everything to establish and consolidate strong ties with the state authorities of Russia: to work together on an ongoing basis, to submit initiatives from the CA of Russia, to hold discussions (including to solve problems of the property status of the union), to develop a specific agreement between the government of the Russian Federation and CA Russia. This is the foundation of the union that needs government support.
The older generation is actively working in the union (Yu. P. Gnedovsky, A. P. Kudryavtsev, V. D. Krasilnikov, etc.). I would like to involve them in work, including in such important areas as urban development of Russian cities, work on ethical standards of professional activity. We have a lot to learn from the older generation in the new market conditions.
Active assistance to young architects in mastering the profession (a system of youth competitions, seminars, master classes, festivals). Development of secondary specialized education. Creation of a register of required specialists. The youth union of the union has actively declared itself. Tomorrow is our vanguard, which widely popularizes our profession, opening new forms and directions in the activities of the union, organizing platforms for dialogue and information exchange. In this work, they need the active support of the older generation. It is necessary to create supervision of the Union's activities in order to create a bridgehead for all youth initiatives on the sites of the SA of Russia. The active life of the union youth is our bright future.
Strengthen the influence of public architectural councils on the processes of creating an architectural environment by holding public expert discussions and free discussions on iconic objects, objects with a large city and state budget. Stay ahead by bringing together respected corporate organizations and associations of urban planners, landscape planners, interior designers and urban environments.
To combine all the real estate of the Unions of Moscow and Russia into a single economic and operational service, to organize all the assets. Determine the profitability of their existence and the effectiveness of their use.
To create and promote the existing structures of manufacturers of building materials, contractors and developers, that is, to expand the club of SMA partners to the club of partners of CA Russia. Create their ratings for promotion in the markets of Russian cities.
Completely change PR !!! Cardinally! To make the website of the CA of Russia legally capable. Decisively raise the level of the union's press. Introduce PR campaigns throughout Russia, primarily addressing society, political parties and business circles.
As a rule, all pre-election promises sound loud, but after the elections they are forgotten. In my case, I guarantee that I will continue the work started by my predecessors, who unselfishly worked and continue to work for the good of the union. I am ready to make every effort, all the experience I have gained, so that, having raised the union to the proper height, collectively solve the problems of our professional workshop.
Much has been done over the years. There is a result, and together we can move on."
