Культурный код Великого Новгорода: современность исторического города. Экспертное интервью

Abstract

The expert interview is devoted to the analysis of the cultural code of Veliky Novgorod and to the architectural techniques, which represent it in the urban environment. The expert considers the general concept of cultural code and examines the modern situation of Veliky Novgorod, where only a small part of authentic objects has been preserved, as most of the structures were destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. Also, the expert evaluates various city objects and projects in terms of combination of Novgorod architectural motifs and modern solutions in them, and emphasizes that the design code, which has been introduced in Veliky Novgorod since 2024, is very poorly connected with the cultural identity of the city. The key thesis of the interview is that all urban objects that are located outside the historic part of the city (outside the berm boundaries) should be resolved in a modern architectural language. In addition, the creation of new projects in contrast with the existing urban environment is described as one of the possible and productive strategies for working in the historical area of the city. In this way, contemporary architects and urban planners can make their original, authorial contribution to the historical city and leave their mark on the urban texture.