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Studio history through the architect’s notes and quotes
Mid-1980s.
Mikhail Mamoshin graduated with honors from Leningrad Engineering and Construction College and just embarked on his professional career: "...Like many other architects at that time, a led a triple life. Daytime - official service in architectural bureau at DSK-2, where together with the 16th studio of LenNIIProekt the architects were modifying prefab panel construction. Nighttime - private projects for making some money. Every free minute is given to architectural art." "...From DSK-2 I walked out into nowhere. A rented apartment on Dolgoe lake, a desk, a chair, and a telephone - this is how I started Mikhail Mamoshin Art and Architecture Studio." "...This was the epoch of so-called total design - the studio was developing multiple projects for suburban villas and cottages." "...I guess every architect must go through a period of working with private clients. I have gone through it. But soon, I started working on large-scale residential complexes." Fall of 1997.Tiny paper-filled room - the study of Mamoshin in his former studio on Fontanka. The design of Northern Modern residential complex near Pionerskaya subway station is underway.... After a series of private residences, Mikhail Mamoshin was coming back to designing large-scale residential complexes. "...First I mentally leafed through the works of Ricardo Bofill. Then I remembered the experiences of St. Petersburg school at the turn of the century. Art Nouveau is my love, from the very early student years, and this has been instilled in me by my professor Gennady Alexeev. Another professor of mine - Anatoly Kubasov - personified for us, students of the department of architecture, the bearer of St. Petersburg traditions. Perhaps this is an idealistic rendering, but I think that any architect working in St. Petersburg, whether voluntarily or not becomes the translator of a certain spirit, genetic code, the metaphysics of this city". Beginning of 1999.100 days are left until the anniversary of Alexander Pushkin. This year's central project is the design of a memorial chapel on Chernaya Rechka. The fall festival Architecture-99 has brought an enormous success: a Russian national diploma, and Pushkin Gold medal, awarder in accordance with the decision made by the Committee of Creative Unions. "...Hopefully, the initiative will grow and the chapel will be built on a voluntary basis. May br not for the anniversary itself, but built, most importantly". 2000. The studio moved to Bolshaya Konyushennaya. Elevator for one person, fourth floor, the plaque on the door Russian Writers' Union, a long corridor behind the door and in the depth of it, another plaque: Mamoshin Architectural Design Center. "...today it is not enough to simply draw beautiful facades to make someone awe. Today's architect is the combination of professional skills, ideas, abilities, social and personal connections, engineering culture and management". 2006. Studio office on Bolshaya Konyushennaya in Era-House Business center. Entrance to the studio, occupying the bulk of the floor, from the central staircase. Spacious light-filled rooms. The walls are covered with diplomas, drawings and photographs of completed works, the desks with mockups of buildings and conceptual projects made out of children's building blocks. Despite a considerable number of people, there is no ruffle... Everyone knows what he or she must do, and the deadlines. In a break between the urban development committee and a meeting with anew client, Mikhail Aleksandrovich meets the journalists. They discuss the new issues for the city... "...I believe that the issue of so-called bedroom communities is now pressing and it has been for a while now. The new building erected here are not interesting. In this respect we are far behind Moscow. Often the buildings here are created not by architects but by engineers of construction companies". "...The pursuit of the new architecture is a top priority not only for downtown or strategic projects. We all need to remember that the city outlook is not just the old St. Petersburg or industrial St. Petersburg but also Leningrad and the manufacturing zone of Leningrad, and architectural decisions must be thought-up for the entire city". Our studio history is being written as we speak. |
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