Welcome to HMKV's blog.

This blog currently documents a research trip to twelve former Soviet Republics for a new regional project of the Goethe-Institut (2015-17). Earlier entries document the "Afro-Tech and the Future of (Re-)Invention" research trip to Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria (10-25 April 2014, Anne Bergner and Inke Arns), and the INDUSTRIAL on Tour trip to five industrial cities in Poland (27 Sep - 9 Oct 2011, Thibaut de Ruyter, Inke Arns et al.)



St. Petersburg: Squatting spaces - and what happens after

Puschkinskaja 10, founded in 1989, houses the Museum of Non-Conformist Art and a lot of associations and artists' studios - and can be compared to Kunsthaus Tacheles in Berlin (1990-2012). The photo on the left shows the Beatles heads at Ulitza Johna Lennona.








Loft Projekt ETAGI is of a very different kind. Here, "Time is money". It consists of two contemporary art galleries, four exhibition areas, small shops of local designers and artisans, a hostel, a "garden in the heavens" (rooftop) and the Green Room Café. It could be compared to Pfefferberg in Berlin or recently established co-working spaces. The photo on the left shows the entrance door at 191040, Saint-Petersburg, Ligovsky prospekt, 74.

"Loft Project ETAGI is not only a cultural center, but a pioneer in loft design and one of the largest exhibition spaces in Saint Petersburg. Since 2007, the center occupies the building of a former bakery at Ligovsky, 74."(Source: http://www.loftprojectetagi.ru/en/) "Loft Project ETAGI is a multifunctional art space in the center of Saint Petersburg. The total exhibition area is 3000 square meters and is the only place in the city where contemporary art is being exhibited in such a large scale. It is not only an exhibition area, but also a cultural center that occupies a five-story building that was once an artisanal bakery, “Smolninkij khlebozavod”. Many of the interior elements of the old factory were preserved, such as the concrete pillars, a drilling machine and bread baking equipment. These elements have been enhanced with modern design additions, adding an element of history to the area. The original floor of the factory consisted of cast iron blocks, and has now been refurbished with bright red joints and glass windows. Antique furniture, luxurious trimmings and various other details complement the original features." (Source: http://www.loftprojectetagi.ru/en/about/)

Taiga (191186, Санкт-Петербург, Дворцовая наб., 20) has by far the coolest URL (http://taiga.space/) - and is the place we felt most at ease with. The photo on the left shows the courtyard.



"Taiga — это экспериментальная платформа, объединившая молодых профессионалов в креативных областях для совместной работы и творчества." (from their website). We compared it to Heimatdesign in Dortmund. Their website is only in Russian, and reads: "Тайга – сообщество молодых профессионалов, объединенных идеей свободного и полезного труда. Основатели проекта – Марк Калинин, Катерина Качавина и Мария Павлихина – нашли нетривиальное решение, реализовав проект в старинном особняке с видом на Петропавловскую крепость. Посчитав, что небольшим креативным компаниям и фрилансерам будет приятно творить в здании, где лепнину не заменяет гипсокартон, окна огромны, а рабочее пространство можно практически без ограничений адаптировать под себя, ребята заняли дом гофинтенданта Петра I П.И. Мошкова на Дворцовой набережной 20. За время существования Тайга собрала дизайнеров, архитекторов, мастеров, музыкантов, рекламщиков, фотографов, разработчиков программных решений, продюсеров – тех профессионалов, конечный продукт труда которых в первую очередь характеризуется выверенным стилем и уникальностью решений. Главное, что объединяет обитателей этого пространства – интерес к своей работе и тяга к получению знаний через сотрудничество." (Source: http://taiga.space/o-tajge)