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Contemporary architecture in a historical context

Technical Report · January 2013

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Alexandra Tolopilo
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Subject: my topic is contemporary architecture in a historical context, different
approaches to design and preservation. Historical heritage is irreplaceable economic, social,
spiritual and cultural treasure. It is one of the main bases for national self-respect and
recognition by international community.

Postindustrial civilization realized high potential which is concealed in cultural heritage and
the necessity of its preservation as well as adaptation to contemporary needs. The loss of
cultural heritage is irreparable and irreversible. But no city can be conserved in its
development – no matter how valuable the city fabric are, new functions and therefore new
architecture will appear.

Objectives: Cultural heritage is the main thing that nowadays creates the identity of Saint
Petersburg, my native city. Not only it is the economic advantage which helps to attract
investments, but actually is the thing that citizens feel proud of, that helps to create the
feeling of connection with people and the city.

From the first classes of school I remember studying history of the city and its architecture,
and it might be one of the reasons that encouraged me to be an architect after all. In
university we had several courses dedicated solely to preservation of the heritage and
constriction in our city center. There are huge theoretical base and regulations for new
construction, elaborated in all details. Two state municipality offices (Committee for Urban
Planning and Architecture; The Committee for State Control, Use and Preservation of
Monuments) estimate the projects that are offered to be built in a historical area. This topic
is widely illuminated in media and press. But despite (or due to) all this precautionary
measures there is almost no examples of high quality contemporary architecture.

My aim is to study the topic of preservation and city development in theory and practice and
to make a conclusion about current state of preservation policy in Saint Petersburg, its
advantages and disadvantages, suppose the reasons why it might not be working and
propose possible ways of its future development according to experiences of other cities.

Methodology. First part of my research is theoretical one, and divided in two parts:
theoretical approaches to connection between contemporary design and environment it is
located in; theoretical approaches to preservation of cultural heritage and city development.
In some points this topics might be overlapping, but I thought that it would be important to
illuminate both aspects as they are flip sides of one coin.

The second part is dedicated to the case of Saint-Petersburg, describing in breath history and
specific features of the city, and then then in more details current preservation policies, its
aims and approaches to reach them.

Then I will try to make a conclusion about advantages and disadvantages of existing policy
and on base of first theoretical part will purpose different alternatives of future city
development.
I. Theoretical approaches to contemporary design and its relationships with
environment

Here I will illuminate several approaches to contemporary design, from the point of view of
its connection with the existing environment (natural, artificial or social). The main question
is not the outlook of the final product, but the way of thinking that lay beneath this
approaches, that in some cases can find its expression in recognizable architectural forms,
and in other cases not.

1. Ad Hoc design, Community Architecture.

Ad Hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a
specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to
other purposes. In an architectural design it is one of the forms of community architecture,
a conception that, first of all, tends to take into account the conditions of given place,
particular circumstances, tastes of future consumers.

In a way it can reflect current capitalistic state of economy, declaring unconditional

fulfillment of the customer’s will. Here customer is largely involved in designing process,
sometimes choosing specific place, plan or even outlook for the future building. This
architecture is the one closest to the social demands of the customer, it asks what it should
be, consults with the future owner, adapts to his interests.

Environment also participates in a dialogue with the architect: Ad Hoc architecture is

contextual, ethic in relation to local patterns; it tries to preserve old constructions, giving
them both certain functional and esthetic purpose. It tries to use local construction materials
and technologies, utilize details or parts of old constructions; economic question plays here
one of leading roles. The pluralism of opinions of consumers defines pluralism of
architectural language, variety of activities and respectively variety of functions.

As it was already spoken above, there are no exact recipes for Ad Hoc design, in each case
it is exclusive, single copy. The creation of a form here is not a question of style, but of a
resident’s tastes, concrete circumstances, real conditions, use of local materials.

Ralph Erskine is the architect whose work can fully represent this approach. His studio
appeared in London first as a flower shop and as a “lost and found agency”. Engaged in
many not architectural activities, he soon became acquainted with people who lived in the
area and vice versa. Then in a leisurely and unhurried process of design they had a long
discussions which ended in rather modest results and decisions that considered and
appreciated such components as people’s daily needs or existing landscape and
environment. The overall result was successful responsive and humane environment, which
makes this project crucial to postmodernism in theory, even if it is not so in terms of usual
encoding, here "ad-hoc" is represented in the approach to the design, when the customer is
actively involved in the project.
This new approach to an architectural work appeared in 70th , reflecting utopian believe of
post-modern architects that the mere update of the design methods without changing the
social conditions can lead to a humanization of living environment and people co-existence.

2. Environmental approach, Genius loci, Pattern Language, Genetic codes for cities
Environmental approach refuses to make a surgical intervention into the fabric of the city. It
tries to appeal to local traditions and ethnographical sources. Identity, influence of particular
natural surroundings, local customs, aesthetic preferences and the study of the site, generate
new solutions, a variety of forms resulting from the uniqueness of the situation. According
to this approaches, to be successful one need to turn to a more deep ideas and complex
meaning than mere coping of existing elements of the environment.

Formal and substantial integrity can be reached:

- in similarity, transmission of content or idea in similar visual forms

- in a symbolic expression (in the architectural metaphor);

- emotionally - based on uniformity of human aesthetical and notional perception;

Within this approach coexists several separate conceptions, similar in terms of assigning
primary role in design to exploration of existing natural or artificial environment.

Spirit of place (Genius loci) belongs to each individual independent entity. This spirit gives
life to the place, accompanies it from birth to death and defines its character and essence.
Harmony with the spirit of the area has outmost importance. The destruction of the spirit of
place leads to pollution and environmental chaos. (Norberg-Schulz Christian)

The shape of the city or building, its functions, the ideas and values that people bind to
them, form a coherent whole. Different actions require different environments in order to be
satisfactory. As a result, the city and buildings consists of a set of singular patterns,
engaged into system of relationships with each other and forming a generic pattern
language. (Christopher Alexander)

The possibility of human orientation in space is defined by "environmental images" which

are stored in his consciousness. Therefore an important characteristic of the city, which
defines the "clarity" of the spatial organization of the city, is its ability to cause in the mind
clear "mental map" of places, relationships of the paths, edges (faces), districts, nodes,
and landmarks (milestones) (K. Lynch).

3. Contextualism and eclecticism

Contextualizm is the opposite of “new reality” architecture, it undoubtedly accepts

historically established relationships, connects itself with environment, but, unlike previous
approaches, it tends to appeal to the external features, to be more decorative than tectonic.
It sets the number of restrictions, such as scale ratio, high ratio (not bigger than the largest,
not less than the smallest). It tends to preserve specific features of build environment such
as, for example, the scale of construction area typical for this region, rhythm, the ratio of
built-up areas and open spaces; even if this parameters don’t correspond to new functional
necessities.

In the extreme, in contextualizm the unity is achieved by means of surface decoration, such
as stylization or compilation of existing elements. In such cases it refers to the artistic
means, and could not be named a deliberate urban planning approach, but mere technique, a
performance, a look into the past.

But the advantage of this method is that not depending on the success of the architecture of
single building it will never allow to ruin architectural environment in a bigger scale, than
local.

4. Iconic architecture

Iconic buildings are contemporary cathedrals: in the past important public buildings
expressed shared meaning and conveyed it through well-known conventions. They stood out
from the background (made of “normal” houses, shops, factories) as poetry rose above prose
(Jencks’ words). In the last century, and with more strength in the last 25 years, a new type
of architecture has emerged. These new expressive landmarks -“new cathedral of the age” -
has challenged the previous tradition of the architectural monument.

Starchitecture is a product of globalized economy, in its splendidness and creativity it

concurs only with other buildings of same trend, therefore belonging to a globalized world
culture more than to a specific place or culture of the region. In a way iconic architecture
forms a place, it becomes global dominant for the whole city and therefore needs to be
exclusive. Theoretical base for this approach can be found in works of Rem Koolhaas, and
practical in a works of such world known architects as Zaha Hadid, Santiago Calatrava or
Frank Gehry.

The connection “iconic architecture – city” is one of the key element in its relation to the
environment. Its purpose is to attract touristic attention to the city, to create a brand and
reach new level of significance. Iconic architecture doesn’t need to be integrated into
environment; it needs to be exclusive, exceptional, contrast. If successful, it is able to raise
the prestige not only for the city, but for the whole country, but if not, it also can ruin the
environment of the city in a global scale.

From functional point of view iconic architecture have a dangerous trend to be reduced to a
logo, an image, a sculpture. Often conveniences of function are sacrificed to create
impressive exterior. Considering the high cost and difficulties of its construction, there is a
question if the result we get is worth the price paid.
II. Theoretical approaches to reconstruction of the historical environment

1. Single heritage object reconstruction

The main value of heritage object is its authenticity. Therefore, the predominant way to deal
with it is conservation. Nothing can be diminished or added. If the building is recognized
as a heritage, it should be preserved.

Preservation/Conservation either encouraged measures that would protect and maintain

buildings in their current state, or would prevent further damage and deterioration. This
school of thought see the .

Restoration claims that historical buildings could be improved and sometimes even
completed, using current day materials, design, and techniques, but with maximal
preservation of its authenticity.

Reconstruction, establishes limited opportunities to re-create a non-surviving site,

landscape, building, structure.

2. Urban planning reconstruction

City is a constantly developing system, which reflects the process of evolution in society. It
is not storage of constant facts, but a reflection of continuous process, therefore timely
reconsideration of some aspects is a key issue for the harmonious development of the
historical urban structure.

Predominant form of urban planning development is reconstruction, as it allows

controlling the changes that happens in spatial environment and prevents accumulation and
growth of irreversible, chaotic processes within the system of the city.

Reconsturction includes wide range of possible transformations from almost complete

preservation of existing structure to its almost complete replacement (destruction). New
construction is relatively rare in pure form and almost never can be considered in isolation
from issues of reconstruction.

Types of reconstruction

Conversion - a radical change in the function with a narrow specific aspect, it is usually
applied only to industrial and militaristic facilities.

Rehabilitation or revitalization – functional modernization; includes the change of old

technical infrastructure as well as change of the function of the building.

Renovation - specific case of rehabilitation, which includes purely visible, cosmetic repairs,
so as not to touch the infrastructure or utilities.
Sanitation – cleaning of the surrounding soil, the chemical cleaning of all load-bearing
elements, sometimes re-equipment of structural components and engineering services, often
with high-tech technologies. Purpose: to breathe new life while maintaining the overall
direction of an object function, save the old function in a new way, lifting the object to a
new and higher level.

Valorization - a reconstruction relating exclusively to large urban planning systems. Taking

into account macro-level urban object, this is the most global concept in functional aspects.
Most often it is the government program for the development of the city, country.
Valorization can not be with respect to one object, the environment or the district, it affects
all infrastructures. Valorization has a vibrant social aspect; it aims to change the attitude of
people to the land, to improve the quality of life in the broadest sense.

Recultivation - a complex of works on environmental and economic recovery of lands and

waters. The goal of recultivation is to improve the environment, the technical properties of
the landscape.

All these and many other concepts, despite minor differences, have the same meaning –
combination of renewal and return to the past and, consequently, its (pasts) re-evaluation,
reinterpretation.

The old structure is not destroyed in favor of the new one; it is still viable and dominant
within the functionally and geographically segregated part of a city plan (the center). The
new structure, in turn, gives whole new functional-spatial characteristics to those areas
which get within the scope of its strong influence.

Important role in shaping of urban framework acquire the intersection of old and new
structures that should provide theirs effective separate and joint. They reflect the level of
urban culture, on which the inclusion of the historic core of the city into a modern
agglomeration is made. They are often the main nodes of renewed, evolving urban plan, its
most stable components during the time, centers of the functional activity.

The problem of the reconstruction of the existing environment is closely linked to the issue
of the ratio of the "old" and "new" in a city.

3. Approaches to the reconstruction of historical environment:

1) Total conservation, museumification of the city
2) Acknowledgement of dominant (aesthetic) value of historical environment in general.
3) Acknowledgement of dominant value of the separate monuments of historical and
cultural heritage
4) Methods of critical reconstruction
5) Hidden reconstruction
6) Acknowledgement of dominant value of contemporary architecture in a historical
environment
7) The General (total) reconstruction
The first and the last approaches are not used.

Total conservation preserves all that of the existing environment in the area, and forbids
any kind of new development, therefore leading to degradation of the site and economic
stagnation. Even economical and domestic activities are forbidden. It is never used in the
scale of the city.

Total (General) reconstruction is now in the past. It implied total destruction of all
existing heritage in favor of new modernistic conceptions, such as plan Voisin proposed by
le Corbusier for central part of Paris.

All other approaches are successfully used in world practice and have good results.

The dominant value of the historic environment

Historical environment is an area of historical and cultural heritage with its surroundings.

This approach can be applied to the zones with a high amount and density of objects of
historical and cultural heritage (not less than 50). The historic environment is an integral
and continuous if there is a direct relationship between the objects of the heritage, that is, if
they are in visual proximity. Each monument has buffer zone - protective area, which
establishes a regime of urban and economic activity, ensuring the physical safety of an
object of cultural heritage and historic environment. When buffer zones of several objects
are close together, they form the united buffer zone.

Here the outmost importance belongs not to uniqueness of each site or object, but to the
very connection between them, the fabric of the city.

The most applicable approaches are either environmental, including methods of Kevin
Lynch or Christopher Alexander or contextualism. It might also be combined with hidden
reconstruction. New architecture here fully integrates into historical environment, forming
united urban fabric.

Ways and techniques here should be combined, but in accordance with the module, the scale
and rhythm. The main aim is not to ruin existing structure. (Perimeter - composite structure
- sites - links - dominant elements).

The dominant value of separate historical monuments

When historical urban fabric is not continuous and form an incomplete environment, then
we can acknowledge the dominance of single monument. There new architecture should be
neither stylization and eclectic imitation nor new iconic dominant. It should underline the
vividness of historical monument and serve as a background to it. Sometimes it can be
achieved using modern rational architecture, not spectacular, but with high aesthetical
qualities. It is important for this architecture not to hide it contemporary origin, but
nevertheless it is necessary to use contextual approach, adhering to the existing module,
scale and rhythm.
Method of critical reconstruction

is a theory regarding the reconstruction of Berlin following the fall of the Berlin Wall,
developed during the previous two decades by theorist and architect Josef Paul Kleihues; it
aims to define the “central role of the city” and “invent the contemporary equivalent”. This
planning concept advocates a combination of new and restored buildings to create an urban
environment that draws on historic forms in order to embody, according to its proponents,
the true essence of city.

Goals include a return to traditional urbanism, with building size limited to one block, and
building codes that encourage development that mimics pre-World War II Berlin.
Development schemes that preserve or restore pre-war street patterns are preferred. Stone
and ceramic exteriors are favored over steel and glass. This design theory is a response to
the many failed urban redesign projects in both sides of Berlin during the Cold War; rather
than attempt to design a completely new city, proponents of critical reconstruction want to
return to the functionality of the pre-war city.

It can be applied to the sites that due to different reasons lost parts of their heritage and
functional content and therefore are in need to be redeveloped. This is complex technique
which allows to reconstruct incomplete or disrupted environment using contemporary
technologies and to meet necessities of modern city without losing its historical identity.

The dominant value of contemporary architecture

This is the most risky and interesting approach. Here we can use iconic design to create
visual shock, to emphasize the distance between modernity and history.

This approach can be applied to poorly structured, amorphous historical environment.

Usually it is featureless civil architecture with minimal expressiveness and without
dominant figurative elements. Aim is to create a radical contrast between highly
contemporary architecture and historical environment so the site will gain new aesthetical
value and functional content. Historical background underlined and sharpened by the
contrast, will look more vivid and presentable. The compliance of scale and modulus is
possible but not necessary in this approach, the dialog can also be achieved in other less
formal spheres, such as metaphorical meaning and allusions, widely used in postmodern
architecture.

High quality contemporary architecture will immediately attract investor interest in the area,
revitalizing it in economical and functional aspect by creating network of social and
business infrastructures. But the main hazard of this approach is a possibility to ruin existing
architectural environment not only in local scale, but for the whole district or even city,
depending on the area of influence of new dominant.
Hidden reconstruction

Revitalization and redevelopment of functional and aesthetical content of inner city areas
(inner courtyards, vacant ground lots, etc.), while preserving the historical environment of
streets and squares. It doesn’t necessary appeal to high quality design, but can noticeably
improve conditions and quality of living in the city. Here the most applicable approach is
Ad Hoc design or Community architecture where people are encourage to participate in
creation of their living environment.

III. The case of Saint-Petersburg

1. Introduction in a history of a city

Among worlds megalopolises Saint Petersburg is unique in scale monument, were basic
features of untied historic center and a necklace of suburban ensembles are carefully
preserved. It’s not only the specific monuments that are making the image of the city, but
holistic historical environment. High level of preservation and authenticity has formed the
basis for including all historical center of Saint Petersburg and groups of suburban
monuments in a UNESCO heritage list, therefore forming preservation area of unique scale.

the area of historical center

included in UNESCO heritage list

Almost all historical capitals have been developing and shaping their appearance for
centuries. Saint-Petersburg was created by the will of one man, Peter the First. As a good
millenarian leader he wanted to create a city in an important strategic point – near the border
with Sweden, with which Russia was in a war state at a time. But as an educated man Peter
wanted to create a new capital – a city of incredible beauty which should be build according
to European standards and culture, therefore creating a representative impression and
raising the prestige of the country. The city became a unique urban planning experiment
based on synthesis of European cultural traditions, creative mastering of new (for Russia)
styles, planning decisions and building types. New architectural principles here are
combined with natural conditions and character of the delta of the Neva river. St.
Petersburg, although planned with references to Amsterdam, Venice, Rome and Versailles,
acquires features of unique identity.

Rational, geometrically shaped planning structure was combined with natural outlines of the
rivers and Baltic Sea embankments and included the system of landmarks, which organize
viewing panoramas and perspectives. Wide expanse of the Neva River from the beginning
served as a main open space for the city that predetermined the majestic scale and the
breadth of squares and ensembles.

Urban frame was created in the classicistic style, along with the main ensembles. Baroque
and classicistic styles formed the golden age of Saint Petersburg architecture. The value of
this environment also lays in its authenticity; it is not a reconstruction, but genuine city of
Pushkin and Dostoevsky.

From the beginning building process in Saint Petersburg was regulated by strict
norms of lows. There were specific norms for wideness of the streets, dividing of quarters,
modulus and character of buildings, including buildings with standard design. Starting from
second half of XVIII century line-building principle became predominant in street design
(four to seven storey houses were built in a line, wall-to-wall). The system of technical
courtyards connected with each other was not visible from the street and located inside
residential quarter. In a middle of XIX century appeared altitude restrictions: buildings were
prohibited to be greater than the width of the street or higher than 23,5 meters – cornice of
Winter Palace. This strict restrictions determined spatial integrity of the city.

Unique degree of preservation of the historical environment of St. Petersburg is due to the
fact that the new construction of the Soviet period was carried out outside the historic core
of the city, were only local transformations were made. An exceptional value of Saint-
Petersburg architecture is connected mainly with authenticity and unity of its
environment.

2. Existing preservation techniques..

Specific features of the environment leads in Saint Petersburg to combination of local

(for single monuments), environmental and urban planning preservation methodic.
Along with the objects of heritage main urban planning principles are also preserved. The
outmost importance has spatial planning structure, configuration of central water surfaces,
silhouette of the city, panoramas of rivers, ensembles of main squares and perspectives of
main streets. Also an important role in the city image belongs to open spaces and view paths
of landmarks perception, viewpoint on ensembles and background building developments.

The objects of the cultural heritage also can be the character of the environment, including
planning module of quarters and sites, scale, altitude, division of the building elements. The
concept of "united buffer zones" first appeared in the theory and practice in St. Petersburg.
 For the process of identification of St. Petersburg as a World Heritage site the huge work
was done, during which were highlights the most significant historical and cultural
territories with their structure and specific features, and regimes of usage for them were
established.

The subjects of preservation in St. Petersburg as a World Heritage site are:

- historical buildings, panoramas and views, perceived from great embankments of the
Neva, viewpoints, which reveals the most valuable ensembles;
- relationship between landmarks and background building development, system of
dominants (silhouette of the city);
- main axis and directions of the dominant perception.

In these areas shall be established:

- prohibition of new construction (with the exception of measures aimed at the

regeneration of the historic environment and the adaptation of cultural heritage for
modern use);
- prohibition of modification of historic planning structure of streets and lineal
structure of building development;
- restrictions on the reconstruction of objects of historical and cultural value
(buildings, exterior facades, parks, etc.).

In the rest of the united buffer zones established differential limitations of utilization,
allowing the reconstruction without changing of the planning structure (road network, grid
of blocks), main environmental characteristics, separate objects of heritage, ensuring the
safety of historic development. Preservation regimes must be included in a “Building and
Land-Use Policies of St. Petersburg” as the basis of urban planning and design
documentation.

Today in St. Petersburg under the state protection is 7783 objects of cultural heritage. That
is architectural complexes, buildings and engineering structures, gardens and parks, ponds
and canals, monumental and garden sculpture, historical graves and archaeological sites.

Objects of protection are valuable features in the architectural appearance of the facades, the
configuration and size of buildings, historic interiors, constructions, valuable and stable
elements of the planning structure and zoning of urban area. Objects of protection may
include entire building with its structure, interior and exterior or, for example, only exterior
part. Thus, on the object level, as well as on city planning, the limits of possible
transformations can be decided.

Principe of complex preservation includes encouraging, controlling and coordinating

functions of municipality organs in partnership with community and nongovernmental
sector. It is important to encourage multidisciplinary approach to preservation of cultural
heritage, using all available recourses.
3. .. and how they work in reality

Most examples of Saint-Petersburg contemporary architecture are ordinary office or

residential buildings; build on a rather modest budget. The main aim of investors is to gain
economic benefit, and therefore to build with less expanses. The main aim of municipal
committees is to monitor the compliance of existing norms and restrictions, not always
connected with the quality of architecture. Sometimes architectural studios are forced to
completely change their design according to these conditions, and sometimes even if the
design looks decent on the 3d render, due to the budget constraints and inadequate
construction techniques the final result is still not satisfactory.

It leads to appearance of mediocre low quality architecture which fills the gaps between the
developed areas of the center, destroying the qualities of existing development. But these
examples are usually making local damage and are not widely applied to the main central
areas of the city, where level of protection is exceptionally high.

There are, however, few cases, when the design in question tends to be iconic and therefore
aims to stand out of the existing environment and create a new dominant. The last and rather
descriptive example is a project for Gazprom tower, 400 meters skyscraper which was
planned to be built in the immediate proximity of the city center. Although it was planned
not according to any existing regulation, and appeared to be visible from almost all of the
city’s main panoramic views, local municipality and city Mayor approved the design as it
was, without reducing the height parameters. As it became evident later form the surveys
which were carried out by initiative from opponents of the project, 70 percent of
respondents were against its construction and only 20 percent were voting for it.

But in a design stage nobody asked neither society nor preservation committees for the
opinion. For almost two years the debate of whether it will or won’t be build were carried
out. At the end strong contradiction form society, supported by several political and cultural
leaders and UNESCO leaded to the decision to move skyscraper to another less prestigious
area, further away from the city center.
Conclusion.

Despite the fact that conservation is not an option for the developing city, I believe that with
current state of Russian economy and with the existing government policy toward the new
construction, the best way to protect cultural heritage from capture of low quality
architecture, created by private investors seeking for profit, is to insist on implementation of
existing norms. Careful observance of regulations will protect city from a possible ruining
of existing environment in a big scale. So to change the current situation I believe that it is
necessary to change the government policy for preservation and development.

First of all, from “preservation from” government should turn to “preservation for”, making
it beneficial for citizens and investors. Strategy should be based on a balanced and
harmonious relationship between the demands of the public, economic activities and the
protection of the historic environment. It should lead to the recognition of the common
responsibility for the preservation of heritage. And, secondly, it is important to increase
control not only over preservation, but also over quality of new design and construction
works, trying to bring it to a new standard. Interest to the question of preservation can also
be encouraged by creation of multidisciplinary workshops and international competitions
among students and architectural studios.

In a long run I think the development of Saint-Petersburg may be held using the experience
of Luxembourg. When the environment is highly valuable and there is no danger of
compromising its reputation, any experience in modern architecture (with high level of
design and its realization) would only raise the interest to the city and add new layers into
existing environment. But to bring this into live country should have high level of urban
planning and architectural culture, otherwise, like in a case of Gazprom tower, creation of
such an “icon” can be destructive for the city.

Less dangerous and more human methodic that can be realized is hidden reconstruction. It
can use ad hoc and community architecture approaches, encouraging people to participate in
a design of their living environment. Within comparatively modest budget it will help to
raise living conditions, create feeling of identity and responsibility in people towards the
build environment.
 Bibliography

1) Charles Jencks - The Language of Post-Modern Architecture, Rizzoli, NY 1977

2) Christopher Alexander - The Timeless Way of Building (1979)
3) Christian Norberg-Schulz - Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture,
Rizzoli, NY 1979
4) Kevin A. Lynch - The Image of the City, MIT Press, Cambridge MA 1960
5) UNESCO, World Heritage List http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
6) Official site of Saint-Petersburg Committee for State Control, Use and Preservation of
Monuments, http://kgiop.ru/rus/strategy/
7) Susan Macdonald - Contemporary Architecture in Historic Urban Environments, 2012
http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/newsletters/26_2/contempora
ry.html
8) Internet architectural journal http://cih.ru/j2/814.html
9) Sites, that were created as a opposition to existing policy of new construction in a
historical center of Saint Petersburg
http://www.save-spb.ru/
http://bashne.net/
http://www.citywalls.ru/
10) Naraelle Barrows - Reinventing Traditionalism: The Influence of Critical
Reconstruction on the Shape of Berlin’s Friedrichstadt
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/3102/Barrows_p
roject.pdf?sequence=1
11) Biljana Arandjelović - Historical heritage and contemporary architecture fusion at the
example of the city center of Graz
http://facta.junis.ni.ac.rs/aace/aace200801/aace200801-06.pdf
12) Alanah Heffez - Heritage preservation 2: Koolhaas vs Casse-Croûte, 2011
http://spacing.ca/montreal/2011/02/13/heritage-preservation-2-koolhaas-vs-casse-croute/

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