People in the Know: One Foster – Two Russias

-Why did you decide to work in Moscow?

I was invited.

By whom?

By Mr. Chigirinsky.

-Was Mr Chigirinsky's offer the first invitation you received from Moscow developers? Why did you agree to take part in this particular project?

I think the combination of factors played an important role - we had a very good working relationship and besides it was a very interesting project. So, the two things came together…

-Did you receive any proposals from the Moscow cit hall before this project and after it?

We are a very open-minded company and we always look for new opportunities. Such is the nature of companies involved in architectural projects.

-Weren’t you afraid of the specific situation which occurred to Mr. van Egeraat last year?

I don’t know about Mr. van Egeraat, I’m interested in our project. I don’t worry about other people’s projects.

-Did you visit Moscow before?

Several times.

-Did you have a chance to go sightseeing?

Each time I arrive in Moscow for meetings, I am always busy. The first time I was here was more than 20 years ago. I enjoy Moscow but I haven’t really been able to come to Moscow as a tourist yet.

-Has Moscow changed much since your first visit?

Then I had been invited to Russia by the Russian aerospace agency Energiya and stayed in the countryside. So I did not have a chance to see much of Moscow.

-What has changed in Moscow over the past 20 years?

It’s a very dramatic change: Moscow now is going through a process of regeneration. It’s impossible to travel in Moscow without being aware that something is changing. Projects are under construction and there is a tremendous dynamic. When I first came to Moscow 20 years ago, it was completely different.

-Do you appreciate the opportunity of working in Moscow? I know that you’ve already realized several projects in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Are working conditions different there?

I think that Moscow is now much more dynamic, it has a tremendous energy, diversity, exuberance. It’s a very stimulating city, it’s quite unlike any city I’ve been to before.

-Can you compare Moscow and London?

No, I don’t think you can, I think that the scale is completely different. Moscow is larger in many respects: the scale of the streets, the roads, I think it is going through a more vigorous regeneration. London is also quite dynamic but in a very familiar way….

-What can you say about the Moskva City (Moscow City) project? What projects of this complex do you enjoy?

I have enjoyed working on the tower, I think it’s a very exciting project. In terms of towers it is something I haven’t done before. And I think it will make a significant contribution to Moscow and the skyline.

-Did you enjoy any high-rise buildings in Moscow?

I didn’t really have a chance to explore, last time I was there I was working on the project. I’m looking forward to spending more time in Moscow to see some of the historic buildings…

-What do you think about Moscow’s architectural concept for its buildings, the projects in modern Moscow?

I am very interested in the buildings by the constructivists, which I haven’t really had the time to look at or to in any way research - I think that it was a very rich period in the history of modern architecture in Russia.

-Do you agree that future belongs to high-rise development in Moscow?

I think like many cities, it feels quite natural to create tall buildings. In Moscow, particularly around the historic centre, there are certain places where it is not appropriate. It’s very much a question of location. In Moscow one has to struggle with increased density, urbanization and it’s not a surprise that high-rise buildings should be considered to be a part of Moscow. The city has a very specific skyline and tall buildings should be sensitive to that skyline.

-How can you describe your own style in architecture?

- I would say that every project is special to its place.

-Did you dream of being an architect, as a child?

I've always been interested in architecture. Then I made a connection between an interest in architecture and a decision to study architecture and I decided to practice as an architect.

-Who was your teacher in architecture?

Several architects. It’s interesting there was a Russian too, Serge Chermayeff and in America Paul Rudolph and Vincent Scully were two influential figures; who I followed later after school, so it was a whole number of people…

-And this is the main idea of what you do?

I think there are a number of ideas - an interest in ecology, an interest in a social agenda behind the building, the way in which the building is made…the way it has a sense of place and embodies the spirit of a place. It should also respond to the needs of people who generate the building.

-You live in London. Where do you like to work most of all and why?

I enjoy many different places. I would not like to be constrained by one place. I enjoy all the places where I work…

-What are your favourite projects and why?

That’s probably very difficult: I think it is probably the one I'm working on at the time.

-And your latest project?

Beijing Airport, which is an awesome project in scale - a very large project and very interesting in the way it breaks down the scale of a large building. The way it uses color and forms and feels really of the place and yet still very modern. We have a lot of interesting projects and some of the most interesting are enjoyably in Russia. Our tower in Moscow is certainly a very interesting tower indeed - there will be a lot of exciting things in the project that have not been done before. The project in St Petersburg, which is about culture and history and sustainability, is also very handsome, very striking… And of course the Russia (Rossiya) hotel project in Moscow is also a fascinating one.

-What are the main reasons why you decide to work on this or that project?

Different reasons for different projects. It has to have an interesting dimension and probably a combination of factors.

-And in the case of Moscow what made you work on the Moscow-City project (Russia Tower)?

The Moscow City tower is a very special project - a mixed-used building, highly sustainable and the way it can spread energy - process and harvest it is also interesting. I'm interested in a mixture of activities within one building – the Moscow Tower has very intense public use at the bottom of the building with shopping, leisure and an ice-rink. The top of the Tower also has a very strong public dimension - it has a 5-storied viewing space. In between are offices, a hotel and serviced residential apartments. There is the possibility to be able to buy ‘space’ not just floors, but be able to buy volumes. So if you want to buy a lofty, high space, or a mixed-use space of differing heights, it will be possible. We are talking about some concepts here which are really very new.

-Whom of the contemporary architects do you consider to be your rivals?

There are too many for me to name…

-You’ve received many international awards, which of them do you consider to be the most honorable?

If you accept an award it’s an honour and each one you accept with its merit. I think it’s very difficult to say: “This one is more special than that one”. I think they are all special.

- But maybe one of them which you will remember for all your life?

Perhaps the Order of Merit which was granted by the Queen. It’s not about architecture but it’s the gift of the Queen and I think that it is a very special one.

-Are you proud of it?

- Of course…

-What are your personal hobbies not including architecture?

Cross-country skiing and cycling in Spain or anywhere else.

-What are your favorite writers and composers?

These questions are rather personal, let’s speak about architecture…

-What is your main belief, your idea in architectural projects?

I think that a building should work from the inside and should also work from the outside. So it should improve the quality of life for the people who use the building, who work in it, live In It. From the outside it should contribute to the public world, should add something to the city of which it’s a part.