President of the Russian Academy of Architecture Kuzmin Alexander Viktorovich: biography, activities and family

Moscow is an ambiguous city, someone loves it, someone hates it, and someone goes here in search of money and fame. But no matter how biased we may feel about the capital of our country, everyone is proud of it and uphold its right to take precedence among other cities of the world. The history of creating the appearance of the new Moscow began in the 90s, with the coming to power of Luzhkov and his team, in 1996, the chief architect of the Russian capital was appointed professor and academician of the International Academy of Architecture Alexander Kuzmin.

Biography

The results of his work as the chief builder of Moscow were criticized by many, and on the Internet vastly scoffed at all the initiatives of a high-ranking official. Perhaps this attitude was caused by the fact that Kuzmin was for a long time in the team of the disgraced Luzhkov, who, after his resignation, was scolded by everyone who was not lazy.

Alexander Kuzmin was born on July 12, 1951 in Moscow in the famous Sokolniki. From early childhood, the boy was fond of drawing, he attended art circles in school. Later this fascination turned into serious occupation, drawings, drawings, and planning became his profession. In one of his interviews Kuzmin claimed that he had become an architect by accident and had never intentionally aimed at it.

Education

He was born into a family of a military man, his mother was a humanitarian by education, so that there were several roads in life for the young man, but Alexander Victorovich himself chose the profession of an architect, although he originally dreamed of becoming an illustrator. Back at school, Kuzmin accidentally learned about the recruitment to the preparatory group at the Moscow Architectural Institute, and all senior classes intensively attended training courses.

At the end of secondary education, he enters a famous building university, where five years later in 1974, Kuzmin Alexander Viktorovich, an architect, was already being released. After the institute, he served for 18 years in NIiPI of the Master Plan of Moscow, where he was able to reach the chief architect. He always responded with gratitude to his work in the state institution, noted that here he managed to get to know Moscow's needs better, to gain invaluable experience of large-scale construction.

Career

Soon Kuzmina notices the government of the capital, and he is promoted to first deputy, and then the first deputy chairman of the City Planning Committee. L. V. Vavakin, who was then the chief architect of Moscow, immediately noticed in Kuzmin an extraordinary specialist and manager.

Already then, Alexander Viktorovich begins to put forward ideas about a large-scale reconstruction of the country's main city; In the opinion of the architect, at that time Moscow practically did not correspond to its high status. Soon he was able to implement his projects, in 1996, by decree of the mayor of the capital, Yuri Luzhkov , AV Kuzmin was appointed chief architect of the city.

Features of its projects

According to the reminiscences of Kuzmin himself, at first he and his team studied design on the example of European cities, almost without taking into account the peculiarities of Moscow. Already at the institute he began to understand that the capital of Russia has a special history. This city can not be compared with others. It was built not by people, but by history itself, and every building, every house has some important meaning.

Biography of Alexander Kuzmin showed that he correctly understood the unique structure of Moscow, where thousands of small homelands joined, where each district has its own particular identity that identifies it among others. Thus, the architect set himself the most difficult task - to take into account all the nuances of the city, to be able to feel the mood of each part of the metropolis.

Despite all the criticism of the unenlightened public, Kuzmin was doing impossible things. Under his leadership, the capital received a new breath. By the way, all the beginnings of the "Luzhkov architect" Alexander Kuzmin were completed almost unchanged by today's mayor.

Chief Builder

Since 1996, a new period has begun in the life of Moscow, which is still being evaluated in different ways. Someone speaks about improving the general appearance, the increased comfort and prestige of the capital, while others criticize the official for sometimes too drastic measures for restructuring the streets, planning trips, etc., while others accused the chief architect Alexander Viktorovich Kuzmin in the absence of taste and talent of the town planner.

Today, after several years, the changes are seen more clearly. Moreover, there is something to compare: under Sobyanin, the grandiose reconstruction of the capital only increased the pace.

So, what did the most ambitious Alexander Kuzmin do as the chief architect?

1. "Moscow City" - when only this group of towers, something similar to skyscrapers in America and China, appeared almost in the center of Moscow, many were filled with indignation. So complex and lonely looked complex against the background of small buildings. However, Kuzmin is still very proud of the project, in the future he planned to continue the ensemble, having built next few more skyscrapers that would dilute the view somewhat.
2. The restoration of the burnt Manege took more than a year, but the result was worth it, the restorers literally returned a unique architectural structure to the original structure.
3. The third transport ring - Kuzmin later recalled that one of this project was able to outweigh the arguments of all ill-wishers. So necessary and passionately expected was this car interchange.

The list can be continued indefinitely: it is the restoration of the Gostiny Dvor, the layout of the natural-historical park in Tsaritsyno, the idea of the Small Ring of the Railway, which was embodied already under the current mayor, as well as many other unrealized architectural projects.

Own architectural projects

Alexander Viktorovich Kuzmin - president of the Russian Academy of Architecture, professor, academician, former chief builder of Russia, has never been limited to only managing work. Many projects in Moscow and the region he created himself or in co-authorship with other architects. For example, he reconstructed the Gostiny Dvor independently and often argued with the head of the capital that it is impossible to rush when restoring such an ensemble.

He also owns the basic idea of creating the General Plan of the city, although, according to rumors from the same journalists, Yuri Luzhkov himself took an active part in the work on the future appearance of the country. Recognizes Kuzmin and his mistakes as a town planner, for example, unsuccessful development on Arbat Square or the reconstruction of the Morozovs' house. But the most sad example of an oversight or a combination of circumstances is the collapse of the water park, which took the lives of ordinary people.

Public criticism

Discontent of many inhabitants caused active actions of city authorities on destruction of historical monuments of architecture. Groups of opponents were created, petitions were written, especially during the demolition of the long-suffering Moscow hotel and the building of Voentorg.

It is worth noting that Alexander Kuzmin has always fervently defended all the work carried out under his leadership. So, when asked about the problems of the Tsaritsyno reconstruction (and here the architect was accused of completely failing the restoration process and the initial appearance of the ensemble), he always answered that the restoration processes were carried out correctly, and small defects are easily eliminated.

Resignation and further activities

Kuzmin Alexander Viktorovich became almost the only official of the "Luzhkov" environment, who was not dismissed immediately after Yury Mikhailovich left office. Almost a year he worked as usual, and in 2012 he resigned himself. But the retired former chief builder of the country did not intend to leave. For two years he worked as the chief architect of the private company "AVTOTOR Holding", and later opened his own business - "Architectural Laboratory" AK and Partners ".

But the most important posts were waiting for him in 2014, when on March 7, by order of the Federal Property Management Agency in JSC "Research and Development Center" Construction "Kuzmin Alexander Viktorovich was appointed general director. And already on April 17 at the general meeting of the members of the Russian Academy of Architecture he was elected president of RAASN, later his right to lead the country's main project center was confirmed in the Government.

Personal life

Biography and the family of Alexander Kuzmin never been particularly advertised, so we do not know much about him. According to some sources, his second wife, Natalya Grigoryevna, is also an architect, she works in the Office of State Control over the Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Monuments in Moscow. The eldest daughter of Alexander also graduated from the architectural institute, so we can say that Alexander Viktorovich marked the beginning of the family tradition.

His main passion in life Kuzmin considers architecture, his whole life he was engaged in a favorite business and was able to achieve high results. His usual life is known only for some time he was fond of collecting coins, tin soldiers, and also was engaged in running.