Re:centering Periphery|Ogino Knauss

We have been visiting our friends at the Zhurgaz house, to see how is going their struggle to preserve their home and the close El Lissitzky’s typography. The planned new high rise building has been built up, although in recent times the construction has been stopped. The destitution of mayor Luzkhov left in disgrace his wife Elena Baturina, former queen of Russian real estate. But it seems that the building has been sold from Inteko to another company which managed to advance in the consruction. Recently, welcoming the appeal of the neighbours, the prefect had stopped the construction, but in total contraddiction a protocol signed by the first deputy mayor in the Moscow city government autorises the demolition of a part of the building to faciltate access to the garage of the new building. More info in the appeal published below:

EL LISSITZKY PRINTING PLANT, MASTERPIECE OF AVANT-GARDE ARCHITECTURE, IS IN URGENT NEED OF PROTECTION!

Russian version below – Россия версии ниже

Despite numerous public protests, publications, films and television reports about the danger of natural destruction faced by the unique, recently rediscovered architectural landmark, built according to plans of El Lissitzky (the printing plant of the JSC Ogonek, 1930-1934, located at 1st Samotechny Per. 17), measures for its protection have not been taken. On the contrary, the danger of aggression has sharply increased. As can be seen from the protocol №26-13-119/1, signed by Vladimir Resin, the first deputy mayor in the Moscow city government, the question of alienating a part of the printing plant (the one-story building №6 on its territory) for the purposes of building an entrance into the underground parking lot for a luxury apartment house, is under active deliberation.  Federally-owned land on the grounds of the landmark can be sold to the privately-owned investor Inteko, so that it can pursue its own interests. In the minutes of the meetings approved by Vladimir Resin not a single word mentions that at stake is a certified landmark of cultural heritage, protected by the laws of Russia.

In 2007, the printing plant of the JSC Ogonek, built in 1930s according to plans of El Lissitzky, a major figure of 20th century avant-garde, was discovered and registered as a landmark. The construction was commissioned by Zhurgaz (an association representing print periodicals), led by the journalist Mikhail Koltsov. Better-known architectural projects of El Lissitzky are discussed in all encyclopedias of the world, but none of them was realized — except the printing plant in central Moscow, located in the 1st Samotechny Pereulok. In 2008 a special committee recognized El Lissitsky’s printing plant as a proven cultural heritage landmark, subject to protection. However, this has interfered with construction of a new apartment rise.  Soon a fire has broken out, with three simultaneous sources on the roof. The fire was not investigated, and conservation of the building mandated by law was not performed. On the contrary, large-scale construction of a commercial multi-story building was begun next to the printing plant, in the inadmissible proximity to it, so that its balconies overlook the orphaned landmark that “spoils the view” from the new house.

Dear defenders of world cultural heritage, please help prevent destruction of El Lissitzky’s legacy in Moscow!

Please address letters and inquiries to:

1.    Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation

103132,  Moscow , Staraya ploschad, 4.

e-mail president@kremlin.ru

2.    Sergey Sobyanin, Mayor of Moscow

125032, Moscow, Tverskaya street, 13 .

E-mail :  mayor@mos.ru

3.    Aleksandr A. Avdeyev. Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation

125993, GSP-3. Moscow. Maly Gnezdnikovsky Pereulok. 7/6, 1-2.

(e-mail): info@mkrf.ru

Please keep us informed of any action you undertake to sustain our campaign.

Thank you for your support.

Elena Olshanskaya

jourgaz@gmail.com

more about the story

ШЕДЕВР АРХИТЕКТУРЫ АВАНГАРДА – ТИПОГРАФИЯ  ЭЛЬ ЛИСИЦКОГО НУЖДАЕТСЯ В СРОЧНОЙ ЗАЩИТЕ!

Несмотря на многочисленные выступления общественности,  публикации, фильмы и телерепортажи об угрозе естественного разрушения уникального вновь выявленного памятника архитектуры, построенного по проекту классика мирового авангарда Эль Лисицкого – «Типографии Акционерного общества «Огонек», 1930-1934 г (1-й Самотёчный пер. 17), меры по его спасению не принимаются, напротив – опасность агрессии резко возросла. Как видно из протокола № 26-13-119/1, подписанного первым заместителем Мэра Москвы в Правительстве Москвы В.И.Ресиным,  в настоящее время активно прорабатывается вопрос об отчуждении части типографии – одноэтажного строения № 6  на ее территории для строительства въезда в подземный гараж  для элитной новостройки. Федеральная земля внутри памятника может быть продана частному инвестору ЗАО «Интеко» для его личных целей.  В протоколах совещаний, утвержденных В.И.Ресиным, ни словом не упоминается о том, что речь идет о выявленном объекте культурного наследия, охраняемом российским законодательством.

В 2007 году в Москве было обнаружено и поставлено на учет здание, построенное в 1930-х годах по проекту классика мирового авангарда Эль Лисицкого – «Типография Акционерного общества «Огонек». Заказчиком постройки являлось Журнально-газетное объединение («Жургаз»), которым руководил журналист Михаил Кольцов.  Знаменитые архитектурные проекты Эль Лисицкого включены во все энциклопедии мира, однако ни один из этих проектов не был реализован, кроме Типографии в центре Москвы, в 1-м Самотечном переулке. В 2008 году специальная комиссия признала Типографию Эль Лисицкого  выявленным объектом культурного наследия, подлежащим охране, это помешало строительству на ее месте современного здания. Вскоре случился пожар (три одновременных возгорания на крыше). Пожар не расследовался, консервация здания, в соответствии с законом, проведена не была. Напротив, рядом с типографией, в непозволительной близости от нее, началось мощное  строительство коммерческого многоэтажного здания,  лоджии которого нависают над бесхозным памятником, «портящим вид» новостройки.

Защитники мирового авангарда!

Не допустите уничтожения постройки Эль Лисицкого в Москве!

The city looks more natural, or maybe less un-natural in the winter light. Pperhaps our gaze is more domesticated, more used to the everyday dimension of this megalopolis, but details at human scale show on the surface of our perception.

Artists have always inhabited the Narkomfin, and are among those who struggle for saving its architectural heritage. Nevertheless their role in the Narkomfin story is also ambiguous, as possible agents of gentrification and displacement. MIAN is allowing some artists to use the spaces of the building as studio, but the residents react against the artists, denouncing their supposedly  illegal use  of the building.

residents of the narkomfin lock up artists

Residents of the Narkomfin building were trying not to let out of the Narkomfin building people who came to see the exhibition called “The Communal block” which was organized by the Union of Street Art. For the exhibition they unauthorizedly occupied the Narkomfin house as a sign of protest against adoption of Luzhkov’s General Plan of Moscow city development. The exhibition continued for 40 minutes and was closed as Narkomfin residents started calling the police and were trying to detain artists, journalists and visitors of the exhibition. When police arrived all exhibits were given to the Narkomfin building as a gift for inconvenience caused by the exhibition and its organizers (non-residential part of the building was occupied by the artists without authority). But none of visitors or artists were detained or arrested. One of the exhibition aim was to draw public attention to the problems of Moscow’ General plan. Curator of the exhibition was Denis Mustafin.
Translation Anastasia Volkova

obrazanet, Pravo na Slovo performance at Narkomfin