Didactics and dialectics of modern movement architecture heritage: Konstantin Stepanovich Melnikov

• Main Author: Semenov Vadim Nikolaevich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MGSU) 2014-09-01
• Series: Vestnik MGSU
• Subjects: didactics; dialectics; Modern movement architecture; city heritage; K.S. Melnikov; V.G. Shuhov; All-Russia Exhibition Centre; restoration; recovery; reconstruction
• Online Access: http://vestnikmgsu.ru/files/archive/issues/2014/8/ru/19.pdf

In the beginning of the 21st century Melnikov's heritage (KM-Heritage) - one of modern architecture apostles - stayed in awful condition. Memories of Melnikov's creative and pedagogical activities were practically lost. In view of this situation in 1995 Creative Youth Center named after K.S. Melnikov (TM-KM Center) was formed in MGAKHIS, in which K.S. Melnikov had been working for the last 16 years of his life. Student's research work of the lost KM-Heritage reconstruction was organized. In 2002 the results of the Center activities were examined by Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences and the Declaration was approved. The Declaration purpose was to join the efforts of the leading domestic and foreign public and state organizations for the complex solving of up-to-date KM-Heritage problems. Public, research-practical training and educational Center of architect Konstantin Stepanovich Melnikov (KM-CENTER) was formed on KM-TM Сenter basis. Dialectical research method of KM-Heritage objects in frames of student's sciencerequired working out special didactic bases and system organization of their continuous studying, research and design reconstruction in a close connection with the educational process. First-year students were involved in scientific process and continued their research activity up to diploma defense. First-year students joined the "senior" colleagues’ research process. The accepted system let students to be absorbed consecutively in cultural heritage objects structure and to form complete picture of their life cycles. The investigated objects are structured and analyzed by students at all the disciplines studied in high school. Creative groups are formed by students of all years, who have foreign languages and information technology skills. Leadership is carried out by graduators and young experts of KM-CENTER. The continuous, structured system of students immersing into the studied object promotes gradual formation and development of creative scientific and technical knowledge and abilities. It also has cultural and didactic value in preparation and education of young experts. They organically become receivers and promoters of cultural values of Modern movement architecture heritage, which will be used in their future creative activity. This system develops youth skills of the joint creative work, which is necessary in the international student's workshops. Almost all remained objects and a number of unfulfilled projects of KM-Heritage were investigated by KM-CENTER students during last years. Heritage objects of All- Russian Exhibition Centre and of an engineer V.G. Shuhov were also investigated. More than hundred students took part in KM-CENTER research work. Over 40 diploma projects were defended. In some cases research proceeded in postgraduate study. The unique research results had received practical realization. Priority directions of KM-CENTER youth activity for preservation, restoration and propagation of engineering, architectural and town-planning heritage objects of Russian Modern movement are the following: further development of researches together with domestic and foreign partners; development of structurally-geometrical modelling, 3D documenting and visualization of Modern movement heritage objects.