Sergey Tchoban, curator and jury chairman of the second Russian youth architecture biennale, head of the architectural bureaus SPEECH (Russia) and TchobanVossArchitekten (Germany)
Now we are accepting applications from the participants of the second youth biennale in Kazan. What are the selection criteria?
Sergey Choban: The selection criteria have not changed since the first Biennale in 2017: Russian architects under the age of 35 with a professional education of at least a bachelor's degree and experience in implementing at least 1-2 projects as an independently practicing designer or as part of a team of authors can participate in the competition … An important clarification about the last version also has not changed compared to the last time: a potential participant in the biennale must be one of the authors of the project. For me, as a curator, this is a very significant criterion: since winning the Russian Youth Architecture Biennale implies the opportunity to be presented to a wide range of professionals in the field of design and construction, proven practical experience is of fundamental importance. In addition, this year, in connection with the theme of the competition task itself, we ask participants, if possible, to present their experience, one way or another related to the theme of rethinking industrial facilities and territories. But this, I emphasize, is only a wish, not a mandatory requirement.
Why was the theme of industrial territories chosen for the youth biennale in 2019?
S. Ch.: Working with the architecture of the past, in particular, with industrial buildings that are no longer used for their original purpose and must be adapted for new functions, is perhaps the most relevant topic for modern Russian (and not only Russian) cities. Almost every city today is faced with the need to rethink industrial buildings, and the appearance of the metropolis and the level of its comfort for both local residents and tourists largely depend on what strategies are used in relation to the former industrial territories. Not all buildings of former factories and factories are protected by the state, but I am deeply convinced that this cannot serve as a reason for their thoughtless destruction. On the contrary, on the agenda is an understanding of the value of historical substance, constructions of various eras, including relatively recent ones. And it is precisely on the future of such territories that we propose to think for the finalists of the Biennale. Their projects will have to demonstrate an understanding of the industrial zone as a historical landscape open to universal transformations, and contain a reasoned approach to revitalization supported by an independently developed program.
Natalia Fishman-Bekmambetova, Director of the Second Russian Youth Architecture Biennale, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Tatarstan
What was the principle behind the selection of objects for the technical assignment? Why are the territories of Santekhpribor and the Kazan elevator interesting? What principles allow you to work out these objects?
Natalia Fishman-Bekmambetova: We tried to choose objects that would maximally reveal the theme of our Biennale - the rethinking of industrial spaces. Both territories are of particular interest in this part: there is air for a flight of fantasy - what these places will become depends only on the authors of the concept, they have a sufficient historical background that can be beaten, and, finally, they are located in areas attractive for development. One could say that, in fact, the choice of the objects themselves already determines 50% of the success of projects in the competition, but this is not so. It is important for us that architects learn to create concepts that can further support the commercial life of the space. This is not easy to do anyway, and in our case it is also complicated by such important nuances as, for example, the presence of a cultural heritage object on the territory of the Santekhpribor plant. The invited experts will tell the architects how to work with historical objects at an installation session in Kazan. In turn, the finalists of the Biennale will have to do the most interesting thing - to think over non-standard approaches to design that will give the industrial space a new life.
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zooming 1/5 Industrial zone "Elevator", design site for the II Russian Youth Architecture Biennale Photo © Azat Davletshin
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zooming 2/5 Industrial zone "Elevator", design site of the II Russian Youth Architecture Biennale Photo © Azat Davletshin
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zooming 3/5 Industrial zone "Elevator", design site of the II Russian Youth Architecture Biennale Photo © Azat Davletshin
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zooming 4/5 Industrial zone "Elevator", design site for the II Russian Youth Architecture Biennale Photo © Azat Davletshin
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zooming 5/5 Industrial zone "Elevator", design site of the II Russian Youth Architecture Biennale Photo © Anna Fan-Jung
What questions will be discussed in the business part? What seemed the most relevant now in the light of the new Biennale?
S. Ch.: The agenda of the business program is still at the stage of formation, but I am sure that one of the central topics of professional discussions will be just the "second life" of industrial territories, including possible scenarios for the development and adaptation of objects of Soviet modernism. And also, of course, the topics of architectural education in Russia and the further development of the institution of professional and creative competitions, especially among young architects with the aim of their early integration into the professional community.
What does the competition give to young architects? What is the fate of the projects that won the First Biennale?
N. F-B.: Look, three winners of the First Biennale received real orders for the design of residential quarters in the Salavat Kupere microdistrict in Kazan and now their projects are at the stage of approval. The CITIZENSTUDIO Bureau, the gold medalist, immediately after the competition received an order for the design programming of the district in Naberezhnye Chelny, the silver medalist Nadya Koreneva began to receive orders with her husband, which prompted the decision to create her own bureau - KRNV. Thanks to the third place of Oleg Manov, the Futura Architects bureau attracted the attention of a former client and signed contracts for the design of two objects in St. Petersburg: the building of a public and business center and a fitness club. And I'm not saying here that the guys have changed their approaches to design, that their professional background has allowed them to take on more complex projects. Two years later, we see that architects have increased their experience and professionalism. Therefore, by the way, it was decided to include the winners of the First Biennale in the jury of the Second Biennale on a par with world experts. I think the answer to the second question allows us to reveal the answer to the first one.
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zooming 1/3 Santekhpribor industrial zone, design site for the II Russian Youth Architecture Biennale Photo © Anna Fan-Jung
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zooming 2/3 Santekhpribor industrial zone, design site for the II Russian Youth Architecture Biennale Photo © Anna Fan-Jung
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zooming 3/3 Santekhpribor industrial zone, design site for the II Russian Youth Architecture Biennale Photo © Anna Fan-Jung
Based on your experience in Tatarstan, what is the significance of such forms of support for the formation of the architectural community?
N. F-B.: I believe that one should trust young specialists. It was on them that we staked from the very beginning of the implementation of the program for the improvement of parks and squares in Tatarstan and quickly realized that we had done the right thing. The first Biennale showed that in our country there are a lot of cool young architects who just need to be given a push - and you can be sure they will show themselves. And, by the way, the geography of the finalists then pleasantly surprised - can you imagine how many good specialists there are in the regions! It turns out that they do not sit only in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Previously, they did not think much about this, but the realization of the importance of the role of an architect finally comes to Russia, and the Biennale shows that there is no need to look for specialists on the side - they are in their region, they just need to be given the opportunity to work and develop.
In our country, unfortunately, so far there are not many forms of support for young architects and the Biennale, in my opinion, is already making and can make even more contributions to the formation of a new professional community. For this, for the first time, a children's biennale will also be held - as part of the main program, we will hold a competition among pupils of architectural schools, so to speak, we will lay an impulse for their further development.
How do you think the second biennale differs from the first? How is the experience of two years ago used?
S. Ch.: The first Biennale was very successful, and its prize-winners were among the most famous and sought-after young architects in Russia. In other words, the competition fully justified the expectations associated with it, showed that it is a working social lift. I am sure this will ensure a much larger number of those wishing to participate in the Russian Youth Architecture Biennale: in fact, as far as I know, more applications have already been submitted than in 2017, and their admission is still ongoing.
