Free Courses to Improve Russia's Cities

To help change the pattern of development in Russian cities, free courses are being offered to local architects about solving the problems facing the countries growing urban areas.

1 minute read

June 4, 2010, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


Organizers hope the training will help make Russian cities more beautiful and better to live in.

"Backed by billionaire Alexander Mamut, the institute is a philanthropic venture that aims to teach a new generation of architects - for free and in English - how to solve Russia's urban nightmare.

Rem Koolhaas, a globally renowned Dutch architect recently named one of the world's most influential people by Time magazine, will write and direct a post-graduate architecture program at Strelka, which begins in October, and he will visit Moscow every two months to take classes and give lectures.

'I want to introduce the concept of research as the most essential basis of architectural education,' Koolhaas said in a lecture at the opening event last week, saying architects needed to focus on thinking, rather than just constructing."

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 in The Moscow Times

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