The Ministry of Construction of Russia has begun to develop a draft law "On Architecture". Mikhail Men signed an order on the creation of a working group that will consider the proposals necessary to complete this task, and will also prepare the text of the bill. The working group includes 18 people representing the Ministry of Construction of Russia, the National Association of Designers and Surveyors, the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences.
From the Union of Architects of Russia, the working group included President Nikolai Shumakov, First Vice President Viktor Logvinov, Vice Presidents Vladlen Lyavdansky and Oleg Rybin.
It is expected that architects and urban planners, urban experts, specialists in the field of territorial planning will be involved in the activities of the working group. Therefore, the conversation with Nikolai Shumakov began with the question of how productive the work of such a body can be.
Nikolay Shumakov, chief architect of JSC "Metrogiprotrans", President of SAR and SMA
– Why were representatives of these organizations included in the working group? And how productive can their work be?
- The law has been written for several decades, so we can safely say that the entire architectural community somehow managed to take part in its writing. However, you should understand that some really offered competent ideas for discussion, while others added a couple of phrases to the future law, believing that by doing so they were making their own contribution. This, in their opinion, was enough for the law to take on the very form and content that practicing architects need. Thus, it was possible to hear the opinion of literally every caring architect.
Now the concept has passed all the necessary instances, approved and is in the Ministry of Construction. At this stage, a working group comes into play - a limited number of people who bring to perfection the law that, in fact, has already been written. The main positions of the law have been determined, so there will be no left-right swing. The working group will put in the necessary finishing touches to bring the law to perfection.
– What is the challenge facing the Union of Architects in this work? Will the approved composition have the opportunity to defend their interests?
- The main thing for the Union is the protection and observance of the interests of acting architects. NOPRIZ, an organization that goes hand in hand with us, adheres to the same ideals. We have the only way - the way of proving rightness. However, if someone disagrees with this or that statement, we will seek a compromise. In general, it is necessary to understand that any law in force is a compromise between the deputies and the developers of the expert group. This is the practice of working on the law.
– Have the proposals of the previous working group, which worked on the document for over 10 years, been included in the law?
- Yes, and completely. The need for a new document became apparent to the professional community in 2004. Since then, in one form or another, work has been carried out to create the document. Therefore, we can safely say that the basis of the new concept is based on those postulates that were derived by the members of the Union of Architects. Including the first vice-president of the Union of Architects of Russia Viktor Logvinov and vice-presidents of the Union of Architects of Russia Vladlen Lyavdansky and Sergei Gnedovsky, who were included in the current working group, as well as Honorary President of the Union of Architects of Russia Andrei Bokov, board member of the Union of Moscow Architects Nikolai Pavlov, founder of NP "Guild of Architects and Designers" Sergey Melnichenko, Chairman of the Board of NP "Guild of Architects and Designers", professor of Moscow Architectural Institute Alexei Vorontsov and others.
– At the moment, the law "On Architectural Activity" dated 1995 is in force. How did you get such a big gap between the two documents?
- The first document appeared in the mid-1990s. The approvals went through the Gosstroy, and as a result, barely one third of it remained. Some time after its release, an endless process of amendments began. Year after year, over and over again, due to some progress in the design and construction business, the law was emasculated, very important fundamental positions were withdrawn that determined the relationship between society and architecture, architecture and the construction complex. Whole chapters were transferred to other laws, in which their essence was completely dissolved. And it was year after year - not that it happened overnight - that the law took the form of a document that could not be used. Almost nothing remained of the original version. We're going to restore.
– Which of the crossed out positions may appear in the new law?
- At least the creation of attestation, which was previously presented in the form of licensing, which was popular at that time. Now the Russian architect has no status. None at all. There are only specialists of different degrees: bachelors and masters. Whereas in international practice, the status of an architect exists as a statement of professional belonging to the profession. If the law is adopted, then the status of an architect will be restored, which was once before the adoption of the Bologna Declaration. We will graduate full-fledged specialists again.
– Could you list five provisions that will be radically different from the previous version of the law?
- First, as I said, it is getting the status of an architect. The adopted law will make it possible to conclude agreements with other countries on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the field of architecture. Then Russian architects will be able to enter the international arena and replenish their portfolio with foreign projects. And this is just one of the advantages.
Secondly, this is an increase in the role of the chief architects of cities and regions of the Russian Federation. It is necessary to determine the key performance indicators of the chief architect at the federal level, establish not only the responsibilities, but also the rights of the chief architect, create a talent pool of such specialists and establish the principles of nationwide rotation, providing for their centralized training and professional retraining, and so on.
The third point is a clear regulation of the entire process of development and implementation of projects, starting with draft proposals and ending with the strictest control over architectural and construction work and the quality of the urban environment. Not losing sight of the already built-up areas that require revitalization processes. All this, it seems to me, can contribute to the revitalization of local architectural communities.
Architectural competitions should not only be held more often, but also become an obligatory stage of all significant projects in the field of architecture, urban planning and landscaping. A contract for implementation must be concluded with the winner, which will ultimately allow you to get the best result. This is the fourth position.
And finally, the fifth thing that can be noted is rather an organizational aspect. It is important to take into account the competencies of different organizations, to one degree or another, involved in the regulation of architectural activities. Here we are talking about NOPRIZ, RAASN, the Union of Architects of Russia and others. In the future law, it is planned to describe in more detail the powers of all participants in the process and restore those elements that were lost in the old law.
Looking back at the history of the previous law, I would like to ask a logical question. Is it possible to repeat the situation? In a few years, can they again take up the reduction of "inconvenient places" in the law?
- Previous reductions did not occur immediately. The document was adopted in 1995, and changes were made only in 2002. Judging by this example, it can be assumed that at first the law will operate in full, and then everything will depend on how much the urban planning policy changes.
– What are the chances that the law will be passed this year?
- I would treat this very carefully, since the standard procedure for passing laws is rather complicated. After the document is submitted to the Duma, the law goes through three readings and approval from legal departments - the process takes at least a year. However, it is planned to pass the law in 2019. So let's hope that this event, anticipated by everyone, will please us soon.
