Named ‘changing the face 2011 – Pushkinsky Cinema’, the main aim of the competition is to redesign the facade of the existing building, in an attempt to create a landmark of the future. The 1961-built Pushkinsky Cinema is Russia’s main cinema and one of Europe’s largest cinemas. Redesigning the Pushkinsky Cinema Hall is seen as an opportunity to revive the theatre and give it a design befitting its position at the centre of Russia’s cultural life.
One of the core objectives behind the ‘changing the face’ competition is to show that changing the facade of once great buildings is not a mere superficial change, rather it is a modification that can dramatically revitalise landmarks and change the dynamics of public space. The concept was first proposed in 2008 within a workshop dedicated to the Colosseum in Rome and was later developed in Bucharest, Prague, Zagreb and Athens. In every city, architects were asked to work on a controversial public building selected by DuPont in collaboration with local institutions.
The architects are asked to work in a creative way without prejudices and restraints, creating a new facade for the Pushkinsky cinema, incorporating modern architectural solutions in the original, historical built-up area.
The only condition set by the organizers is the use of at least one of DuPont materials, from DuPont Corian high-tech surface for exterior cladding to DuPont SentryGlas and DuPont SentryGlas Expressions interlayers for structural and decorative laminated glass, from DuPont Tyvek advanced membranes for the building envelope to DuPont Alesta architectural coatings and DuPont Teflon architectural fabrics and surface protections for decorative coatings.
All the projects will be evaluated by an international Jury including: Andrey V. Bokov, Head of Union Of Russian Architects; Sergey A. Skuratov, architect ‘Sergey Skuratov Architects; Aleksey Uchitel, film director: Kerem Erginoglu, architect ‘Erginoglu&Çalislar Architects; Corrado Tibaldi, architect, DuPont Building Innovations; Matthias Hollwich, architect, winner of ‘changing the face’ in 2010; Marc Kushner, architect winner of ‘changing the face in 2010.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Operating in more than 90 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; architecture and interior design; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
