Creative Solutions for Staritsa: HSE Art and Design School Master’s Students Upgrade Look of Ancient City
A fantastic bird at the entrance to ancient quarries, an exhibition hall by the ruins of a garment factory, and a pedestrian pontoon bridge over the Volga River are just some innovative ideas from master’s students of the Environment Design programme at the HSE Art and Design School, who presented their graduation projects to the local administration and developers in the city of Staritsa, Tver Region, on July 17.
After a brilliant defence at the university, the newly minted graduates returned to Staritsa to turn the ancient city into a new federal-level tourist attraction. The group, led by famous Russian architect Vladimir Kuzmin, made Staritsa the topic of their theses. They worked on the projects throughout the academic year—not just in theoretical terms but by immersing themselves in the city’s life and conducting intensive field research. The students actively communicated with local residents, met with representatives of the administration and various communities, and explored parts of the city in different seasons.
Now their projects are close to implementation. The graduates met with Sergey Zhuravlev, Head of the Staritsky District, Natalia Lukyanova, Minister of Tourism of the Tver Region, Viktor Khristenko, key patron of Staritsa and founder of the Foundation for the Revival of the Holy Dormition Monastery, Konstantin Tolmachev, CEO of Staritsky Posad, and others. Their suggestions induced insightful feedback.
‘The prospective architects from the HSE Art and Design School simply stunned us with their innovative and daring activity,’ said Sergey Zhuravlev. ‘With their help, our overall renovation programme for the city was injected with fresh ideas—it’s obvious that such bold decisions will help us attract more young people to Staritsa in the future; the city will speak their language.’
Student Proposals for Renovating the City
The entrance to the Seltso cave on the Volga river banks
Alexandra Kolosova proposed turning the entrance to the Seltso cave, where the famous Staritsky marble has been mined since the 12th century and which has been abandoned since post-Soviet times, into a modern art object with a cafe and a space for art exhibitions, conferences, and concerts.
The reconstruction of the House of the Merchant Filippov
Daria Kukhareva has created a concept for the reconstruction of the House of the Merchant Filippov on the Volga embankment, where a hotel and apartments are planned to be built as part of the Staritsky Posad complex. Daria suggested creating another floor comprising wooden superstructures of different shapes (creating a spectacular view of the left bank of the Volga from the water) and building a pedestrian pontoon bridge for comfortable access to the heart of Staritsa—the Holy Dormition Monastery, which is located on the right bank.
Revitalisation of the Complex of Buildings and Territories of the Former Garment Factory
Evgenia Demidova proposed the creative development of a spacious courtyard, creating public spaces that complement each other, including an outdoor concert venue that will also serve as a mini-park, several cafes, and a futuristic exhibition pavilion with a roof shaped like the bends of the Volga.
Karandash Fest
The HSE Art and Design School is not only bringing fresh ideas to the city’s development, but is also generating tourist flow. A major example of this is the upcoming Karandash Fest, the first all-Russian street festival of clown and mime theatres, circus, and music, which will be held on August 2. The HSE Design Lab, a design bureau and research laboratory at the HSE Art and Design School, has fully developed the branding and created an appealing image for this large-scale event. Interest in the festival proved to be so high that local hotels are already booked up and train tickets are sold out, promising a packed event.
The festival is named after the legendary Mikhail Rumyantsev—known for performing as Karandash the clown—who worked as a theatrical designer in Staritsa in the 1920s. The city became a part of his creative journey, and now a festival named in his honour will be held in Staritsa. The programme includes performances by clowns and mimes, acrobats and balancing acts, illusionists and musicians. Featured artists include Anima Allegra—the lead artists of the Litsedei theatre and Grand Prix winners at festivals in Avignon and Edinburgh, led by long-time Cirque du Soleil performer Valery Keft—as well as the Mikos and Comic Trust theatres, the Tinto Brass band, and others.
Staritsky Posad
On June 17, HSE Design Lab Director Ivan Svirin and designer Lada Fedoseeva also presented a new branding for the main developer of the Staritsky Posad location (formerly Novy Gorod). In the spring, the company presented a comprehensive five-year project for the strategic development of tourism infrastructure and has already started its implementation. The name change is not just a formality, but a logical stage in the development of the company, which from the very beginning has strived to preserve Staritsa’s historical image, combining it with the principles of modern urban environment. The renovated identity not only modernises the perception of the project, but also brings it closer to a new audience, including young professionals and families looking for a comfortable, thoughtful, and aesthetic environment for living and recreation.
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