By Andrey Belousov
“The main topic of the international forum this year was ‘Belarusian Architecture — from Dreams to Reality’. In total, 80 original projects were showcased at the 10th National Architecture Festival Minsk-2013”, noted Alexander Korbut, the Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Architects. The projects ranged from private accommodation to creative workshops, state institutes and commercial organisations.
According to Mr. Korbut, the festival enabled us to determine the development trends of the Belarusian architectural schools. “Four main contests, held within the festival, allowed us to find the best architects and provide them with the necessary assistance,” noted the Head of the Belarusian Union of Architects.
Belarus’ Deputy Architecture and Construction Minister, Dmitry Semenkevich stated that the national festival had become a traditional event, as well as a real holiday for professionals and visitors. “This festival is a good venue to demonstrate the achievements of Belarusian architecture, both already realised, and scheduled for development. Moreover, it enables us to get acquainted with contemporary works by specialists from Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere,” he underlined.
The festival’s programme included seminars, presentations by firms and design companies, as well as round table discussions and master-classes from Belarusian and foreign architects. Minsk architects also organised excursions for the guests and participants of the festival around modernised, and steadily developing, Belarus. An expo of the projects from winners of the previous years was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the event.
A discussion entitled ‘Prospects and Conflicts in the Development of Residential Areas in Cities in the post-Soviet era’ was also held as part of the festival. Partaking in the meeting were representatives of the UK, Germany, France, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Russia. According to Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Architects, Nikolay Vlasyuk, the subject matter was not accidentally, as it is relevant to all the states. The experts compared conditions and approaches to addressing housing issues, alongside housing and town-planning policies of the states participating in the discussion.
