By now it goes without saying that the metropolis of Moscow is in a constant state of becoming. New works of architecture, a wide-ranging ‘green’ project and new infrastructures are just some of the ingredients. The city is an enormous worksite with a new air of internationalism, where the historic character of great buildings interacts with the very modern appeal of new ones, often bearing world-class celebrity signatures.
The constant face-off between past and present has in many ways been the starting point for new works around the city, in a process of regeneration that takes energy from the historical background to produce projects that keep an eye on the future. The direct connection of these achievements lies in the theme of art and culture: museums, culture and technology centers, facilities for art and music. The perspective is one of all-around growth of the city, not just in terms of architecture, but also in terms of social and educational aspects.
One of the most eagerly awaited developments is the completion of the GES 2, the new contemporary culture hub: designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and sponsored by the V-A-C Foundation (slated to open in 2020), the facility has been created inside a former power plant from the early 1900s, with an area of 20,000 square meters, on Bolotny Island, now known as “Red October.” The Zaryadye Concert Hall has recently opened, as a new temple of music created by Reserve; the work stands out in the macro-project of Zaryadye Park, the monumental intervention of the firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro that has brought new life to the city’s very central historic park.
A forerunner of these works of revitalization is undoubtedly the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art by Rem Koolhaas (OMA): located inside Gorky Park, the museum is the transformation of an enormous restaurant from the 1960s. Three years after its completion, its designer is already busy with another conversion project for a new museum complex, the Tretyakov Gallery. In this lively context of contaminations, culture and internationalism, the main event of the furnishings sector on the Moscow scene is the Salone del Mobile.Milano Moscow (from 9 to 12 October), which focuses on another aspect of creativity – namely that of design – but also fully reflects the updated tastes of this market, with its growing openness to more contemporary styles. The panorama of brands presented here offers a pertinent overview.
