Alexei Komech

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Alexei Komech (8 August 1936–28 February 2007)[1], preservationist, architectural historian and critic in Russia who helped to protect the cultural heritage of Moscow and Saint Petersburg for over 50 years. He was the Director of the Moscow Art History Institute and a member of the Moscow's City Government's Architectural Consultative Council.[2] He was well known presence in the city and often battled with the mayor, Yury Luzhkov, and local developers to save the city's architectural heritage from the "substitution of historic sites with modern reproductions and theatrical imitations."[3] He also served on the board of the Open Society Institute–Russia[4]

'The city is interested in receiving so much [from construction] that it pushes the architecture council to allow anything,' he said. 'It has allow[ed developers] to destroy, to start anew, to build underground garages at the price of the historical part of the city. ... It's all at the expense of the city's history'[5]

[edit] Publications

  • Komech, Alexei (1991) The Golden Ring: Cities of Old Russia. ISBN 1558592164
  • Gippenreiter, V.; Komech, Alexei; and Gippenreiter, Vadim (1991) Old Russian Cities. ISBN 1856690091

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Died Director of the State Institute of arts Alexei Komech" Russian News
  2. ^ "Muscovites debate benefits of building boom" - Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 9 April 2006
  3. ^ "The Rise and Fall of Monuments" by Charles Merewether
  4. ^ Open Society Institute–Russia President and chair: Ekaterina Genieva; Board: Ekaterina Genieva (Chair), Andrei Arofikian, Larisa Baleva,Lev Ivanov, Alexei Komech, Arseniy Roginsky, Boris Saltykov
  5. ^ "Heritage Champion Battles City Hall" Moscow Times, February 3, 2004

[edit] See also

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