03.11.2023 - Aluminium Association

From October 31 to November 2, 2023, the Art of Building XXXI International Architectural Festival, a key event for Russian architects, took place at the Gostiny Dvor Expo Centre. For several years now, aluminium has been among the most popular materials among architects. A dedicated Aluminium Association booth showcased the applications of aluminium in architecture and design.

The importance and prestige of the Festival were highlighted by Irek Fayzullin, the head of the Ministry of Construction of Russia, at the opening ceremony. The Minister also visited the Aluminium Association’s booth and posed for a photo with an aluminium statue of Nikolai Shumakov, the President of the Union of Architects, a project by the Belarus company KTM-2000 specially made for the Festival.

Thanks to its lightness, strength and eco-friendliness, the demand for aluminium is increasing year on year. The Festival organisers believe that this material of the future perfectly aligns with the festival’s topic, briefly expressed in the word "tomorrow". The advantages of aluminium were also discussed during the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Council of Chief Architects of the Russian regions and municipalities.

“We maintain close collaborations with architects, designers, builders and developers. Globally, nearly 25% of aluminium is used in the construction industry, and Russia surpasses many other countries in the pro-duction of eco-friendly materials. Aluminium structures are becoming more common in the Russian con-struction industry, and we can supply the domestic market with top-quality construction materials. This includes mass residential and public buildings, urban infrastructure as part of the national initiatives, and bridges. The construction industry is facing stringent requirements for the materials used, ranging from safety and performance to environmental and aesthetic considerations. Aluminium fully meets these re-quirements," noted Irina Kazovskaya, the Chairperson of the Aluminium Association.

Nikolai Shumakov, President of the Russian Union of Architects, said, "I have been working with aluminium for a long time, and it meets all the high standards of the construction industry. Aluminium has unique properties and holds great potential for use in construction. The Aluminium Association and the Russian Union of Architects share a strong partnership. The consolidation of efforts between architects, designers and manufacturers of aluminium products has led to a significant increase in the use of aluminium in con-struction and, importantly, to improvements in architectural quality and the creation of unique projects.

As part of the festival, the Edges of Unique Architecture. The finishing Coating Capabilities roundtable was organised by the Aluminium Association and the Union of Moscow Architects. At the roundtable, the archi-tects and the Association member companies showcased the potential of aluminium in the new urban ar-chitecture. The speakers included Irina Kazovskaya, Chairperson of the Aluminium Association; Leonid Bor-zenkov, Architect and Head of the Architectural Studio, Mosgiprotrans; Andrey Asadov, Architect and Vice President of the Russian Union of Architects, CEO of ASADOV Architectural Studio; Natalia Erastova, CEO, Iplana; Ivan Belousov, Deputy Head of the Design Department, Albes; Grigory Oshmyansky, CEO, KTM-2000; and Taras Gvozdkov, Gravis. The event was chaired by Alexey Komov, Deputy Mayor and Chief Archi-tect of Kaluga, First Vice President of the Russian Union of Architects, and Elena Asanova, Director of Mar-ket Relations, Aluminium Association.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Guide to Aluminium Finishes, a joint project of the Aluminium Association, the Russian Union of Architects and the Union of Moscow Architects, designed for architects, designers, engineers, and developers. The primary objective is to raise awareness of the profes-sional community about the extensive potential of aluminium materials and finishes, which are currently shaping the new urban architecture. The guide demonstrates the versatility of aluminium as a decorative material, enabling unique solutions and a distinctive look for architectural projects.

“The Guide, created by the Aluminium Association and the Union of Moscow Architects, is not a boring catalogue of products. The information is easily accessible, comprehensible, convenient, and beneficial for architects. For architects, as visionaries, it is crucial to see the bigger picture: how components transform into a building, unleashing the potential of the material, and incorporating these into their designs. This will inevitably lead to new projects, innovative designs, and advance the Russian architecture", noted Alexey Komov, who supervised the Guide.

The Festival also presented a competition for the best design project of aluminium modular hotels organised by the Association and the Union of Architects. The construction of such rapidly assembled facilities in the regions is a key aspect of the national Tourism and Hospitality initiative. The competition rules will be pub-lished on the Union of Architects website.