TEN OBJECTS OF SAMARA CONSTRUCTIVISM: STRATEGY FOR PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION

Abstract

The surviving examples of the architecture of ‘Samara Constructivism’ from the 1920s and 1930s are surveyed, from which ten of the most valuable buildings in acute need of restoration are identified. The basic principles of a conservation strategy are formulated, primarily: authenticity - favouring conservation of original materials and architectural arrangements wherever possible; due consideration of the immediate architectural and urban contexts; and reversibility - a presumption against interventions of a permanent nature which might harm the historical significance of the building. Concrete measures are described for restoring and adapting these buildings to modern use, including remedial works to building fabric, facade reconstruction and works to the adjacent streetscape and landscaping. Options for future use are discussed. These particular examples suggest the basis for a general approach to the restoration of Constructivist buildings of the 1920s and 1930s in Samara, in both functional and aesthetic terms, such that their authenticity and uniqueness is preserved.