Authors

Olokhova Olga P.
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AND THE INTELLIGENTSIA: A SEARCH FOR A NEW «SPIRITUAL CITY» AND NEW ARCHITECTURAL URBAN PLANNING FORMS

Architecton: Proceedings of Higher Education №3 (47) September, 2014

The author reviews the philosophical views of V.V. Kandinsky, K. S. Malevich, M. Z. Chagall, K.S. Melnikov concerning the historical role of the Russian Revolution in the revival of «Russian spirituality» in the new «socialist city». The context in the Soviet Union in the 1920s is shown to have been beneficial for creative debates in architectural studios, contributing to the creation of most interesting futuristic urban development projects in a search for new forms of architecture for the «ideal city». Reasons are analysed why these big ideas remained to be utopias and have never been implemented.

Olokhova Olga P.
THE RENAISSANCE IDEAL OF A «NEW CITY»

Architecton: Proceedings of Higher Education №2 (46) June, 2014

The history of the concept of an ideal European city is considered. The Renaissance thinkers were the first to put forward the idea of a city in which everyone would be able to grow up and develop in harmony. The author adds to the little known history of Leonardo da Vinci as the architect of an ideal European city. The idea of creating a new ideal city fascinated many of the European rulers in the 16th to 18th century. Success in building ideal capitals was achieved by Louis XIV and Peter I, who engaged talented architects - Lenotre (Versailles) and his disciple Leblon (St. Petersburg). The reasons are given why the great ideas of the Renaissance architects were utopian and were not implemented. The «garden cities» of Lenotre and Leblon were the last brilliant attempts to realize the ideal Renaissance city of prosperity.

Olokhova Olga P.
ON CHARACTERISATRION OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIOGRAPHY OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIALIST CITIES

Architecton: Proceedings of Higher Education №1 (45) March, 2014

National historiography relating to the construction and development of ‘socialist cities’ in the pre-war and post-war five-year periods is characterised. Analysis of historiographical findings and concepts is based on the recognition of methodological pluralism in social cognition and the need to take into account all scientific research relating to the subject of the study. The author distinguishes and characterizes three periods in the development of ‘socialist city’ historiography: the Soviet period (historiography of 1925—1991); the post-Soviet period (historiography of the mid-1980s — 1990s); and modern period of renewal of methodological tools (historiography of the turn of 21st century). The need to study the Soviet period in national history from the standpoint of modern «historiographic revolution» is stated.