Contemporary sacral architecture as a symbol of architectural identity and a public space in a winter city

In this study, we examine a contemporary church building as a powerful symbol of cultural and architectural identity of a city. The city space organized around and inside a religious building is considered as an important public space from the perspective of civilizational culture. During the study, a comparative analysis of European and Russian contemporary sacral construction was carried out with the purpose of forecasting the development of the present Orthodox architecture, taking into account possible trends, styles and directions. A field survey of 150 contemporary churches in Austria was carried out. Their evolutionary development over the past 120 years was examined both empirically and using scientific literature. In addition, a number of Russian churches, including restored or renovated historical buildings as well as new facilities built after the collapse of the USSR, were studied. As a result, an assessment and explanation of the inevitable appearance of modern trends in the Orthodox Church architecture is given. Historicisms, existing in the Orthodox architecture of our time, are assumed to be related to the forced 70-year pause in the development of Orthodox architecture, rather than to the greater conservatism of the Orthodox religion. Any architecture, even its conservative religious type, responds to events occurring in a society and to arising new cultural and functional needs. As a result, due to a competent interaction of architects and customers, the existing architectural style starts to change gradually in terms of its spatial organization, form, composition, general appearance of the inner and outer space, thus giving rise to new symbols of cultural and architectural identity. With the addition of new functions, a church remains to be a unique public building, forming public urban spaces both in and around itself.

1. Glebova NM, Klamer M. Modern temple in urban structure as a symbol of cultural identity and public space. Izvestiya vuzov. Investitsii. Stroitel'stvo. Nedvizhimost' = Proceedings of Universities. Investment. Construction. Real estate. 2022;12(2):256-275. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21285/2227-2917-2022-2-256-275.

2. Kutsevich VV. Temple in the structure of the city. Tradition and modernity. Arkhitektura i sovremennye informatsionnye tekhnologii = Architecture and modern information technologies. 2015;4(33):8. (In Russ.).

3. Klamer M, Glebova NM, Druzhinina IE. Identification codes of architectural area of city spaces. Izvestiya vuzov. Investitsii. Stroitel'stvo. Nedvizhimost' = Proceedings of Universities. Investment. Construction. Real estate. 2017;7(3):132-144. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21285/2227-2917-2017-3-132-144.

4. Glebova NM. Criteria for the selection of unique objects of the architectural environment of the urban spaces of Irkutsk with identifiable properties. Collection of articles of the XXVIII International Scientific and Practical Conference „International scientific news 2017“ (Moscow, 22nd December 2017). Moscow, 2017. p. 802-806. (In Russ.).

5. Glebova NM. Formation of the architectural identity of the urban environment of Irkutsk: monograph. Irkutsk: Irkutsk National Research Technical University; 2020. 86 p. (In Russ.).

6. Adam R. Identity and Identification: The Role of Architectural Identity in a Globalised World. In: Casakin H., Bernardo F. The Role of Place Identity in the Perception, Understanding, and Design of Built Environments. Bentham Science Publishers, 2012. p. 176-193. https://doi.org/10.2174/978160805413811201010176.

7. Makotina S. New Religious Structures in the Capital of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude. Project Baikal. 2014;11(41):50-54. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.7480/projectbaikal.41.732.

8. Yurieva AV. Temple architecture: tradition and innovation. Arkhont. 2020;5(20):106-110. (In Russ.).

9. Glebova NM, Klamer M. Red Vienna. 19191934. Proekt Baikal. 2021;18(68):26-35. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.51461/projectbaikal.68.1797.

10. Kalinina IV, Krasnaya NN. City and tree. Architecture and craft. Irkutsk: MAIR Agency; 2013. 452 p. (In Russ.).

11. Bäumler AK, Zeese A. Wiener Kirchenbau nach 1945. Institut fur Kunstgeschichte. Wien: Denkmalpflege und industriearchaclogie Technische Universitat; 2007. 139 S.

12. Achleitner F. Österreichische Architektur im 20. Jahrhundert. Band III/1.Wien 1.-12. Bezirk. Salzburg: Residenz Verlag; 2010. 331 S.

13. Achleitner F. Österreichische Architektur im 20. Jahrhundert. Band III/2.Wien 13.-18. Bezirk. Salzburg: Residenz Verlag; 1995. 256 S.

14. Achleitner F. Österreichische Architektur im 20. Jahrhundert. Band III/3.Wien 19.-23. Bezirk. Salzburg: Residenz Verlag; 2010. 500 S.

15. Vorderwinkler FR. Sakrale Kunst in Österreich. Kirchen der Stadt Wien. Band 1. Steyr: Kulturbuchverlag; 2008. 240 S.

16. Glebova NM, Klamer M. Evolution and modernism of church architecture in Vienna. Izvestiya vuzov. Investitsii. Stroitel'stvo. Nedvizhimost' = Proceedings of Universities. Investment. Construction. Real estate. 2021;11(2):314-329. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21285/2227-2917-2021-2-314-329.

17. Barashkov VV. Aesthetical traditions and innovations in the modern christian church architecture in Western Europe. Izvestiya Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya „Politologiya. Religiovedenie“. 2018;23:137-145. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2018.23.137.

18. Katona V, Vukoszávlyev Z. Place and Identity. Critical Regionalism in the New Millenium, National and International Achievements. Építés – Építészettudomány. 2012;40(1 -2):141-197. https://doi.org/10.1556/EpTud.40.2012.1-2.8.

19. Glebova NM, Bolshakov AG. Principles of the preservation and formation of the architectural identity in street construction in the historical part of Irkutsk. Izvestiya vuzov. Investitsii. Stroitel'stvo. Nedvizhimost' = Proceedings of Universities. Investment. Construction. Real estate. 2019;9(3):606-619. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21285/2227-2917-2019-3-606-619.

20. Portisch H. Russland und wir: Eine Beziehung mit Geschichte und Zukunft. 1st edition. Ecowin, 2020. 144 S.