--- title: Theatre of the City description: Master's project by Artem Alexandrov. --- [Skip to content](https://artemalexandrov.com/theatreofthecity#main-content) [![logo 6-01](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logos/logo%206-01.png?width=212&height=40&name=logo%206-01.png)](https://artemalexandrov.com?hsLang=en) - [\_architecture](https://artemalexandrov.com/architecture) - [\_photography](https://artemalexandrov.com/photography) - [\_ritetothink](https://artemalexandrov.com/_ritetothink) - [\_about](https://artemalexandrov.com/about) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [\_architecture](https://artemalexandrov.com/architecture) - [\_photography](https://artemalexandrov.com/photography) - [\_ritetothink](https://artemalexandrov.com/_ritetothink) - [\_about](https://artemalexandrov.com/about) Description ###### Theatre of the City This project studied the current lack of urban engagement with the ruinous monument buildings in the regional city of Rostov, Russia, and how to combat it with theatre. During my research, I found many buildings in Rostov that are listed as monuments also slated for demolition due to their dangerous condition. Such architectures are rendered into a legal limbo, where they slowly dissolve into oblivion. I made a whole [other](https://artemalexandrov.com/deathtoheritage?hsLang=en)project out of it. To revitalise an abandoned House of Guderman, I propose a scheme of gradual occupation of the building by a theatre company. First, simple interventions – paint and posters come in handy. As the project ramps up, more citizens get involved in turning a building from a ruin into a cultural hotspot. The user is the agent; the architect must step back. Specific in its approach, I aimed to make my approach generalisable to other ruined monuments of Rostov, proposing a possible alternative to their assured death, either by natural causes or by *destructive restoration*. Type: Master's Graduation project Year: 2023-2024 Location: Rostov-on-Don, Russia   ###### + the city City of Rostov expanded Northwards through the 18-20th centuries. The current centre presents a network of historic buildings that range from good to terrible condition. As I round during the research, many of the buildings with a protected monument status are still slated for demolition due to their dangerous condition. This is where this project lies - *dying heritage.*     ![historic city](https://140140829.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hub/140140829/hubfs/Theatre/Research/historic%20city.png?width=1200&length=1200&name=historic%20city.png) ![monuments and demolitions](https://140140829.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hub/140140829/hubfs/Theatre/Research/monuments.png?width=1200&length=1200&name=monuments.png) ###### + the theatre ![historic trends in theatre](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/Research/historic%20trends%20in%20theatre.jpg?width=2026&height=756&name=historic%20trends%20in%20theatre.jpg "historic trends in theatre") Scenography has gone through periods of ultimate interaction with its audience and the city around it, to the full disconnection from them. I traced these trends in time and studied the spatial principles upon which theatre established this interaction. ![principles of theatricality](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/Research/principles%20of%20theatricality.png?width=1585&height=900&name=principles%20of%20theatricality.png "principles of theatricality") ###### + theatre of the city - ![tectonis](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/tectonis.png?width=892&height=707&name=tectonis.png)   There is a great tectonic difference between the old and the new parts. Original structure - mass brick construction. The new addition - a translation layer of skeletal timber, which turns the ruin into a building again. Lastly, theatrical layer - skeletal structures of standard scaffolding that ensure adaptability of the building to any performance equipment and setup. - ![balcony section](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/balcony%20section.png?width=4961&height=3508&name=balcony%20section.png) Paint - the simplest intervention. Public balcony overviews the construction and the performances. - ![bar section](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/bar%20section.png?width=4961&height=3508&name=bar%20section.png) Cellar bar - the driest place in the current building. Almost no interventions needed. - ![theatre - long section ](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/Section%20B1_1.100_linked_open%20doors.png?width=9921&height=7016&name=Section%20B1_1.100_linked_open%20doors.png) - ![courtyard - long section ](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/Section%20B2_%201.100%20courtyard%20theatre_config1_p5.png?width=9922&height=7016&name=Section%20B2_%201.100%20courtyard%20theatre_config1_p5.png) - ![courtyard - short section](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/Section%20A1_a3_1.100_%20P5.png?width=9921&height=7016&name=Section%20A1_a3_1.100_%20P5.png) Indoors theatre Indoors theatre - performance Staircase 'Hinge'  -  art exposition Staircase - Cafe on the ground floor Dance hall Small open stage  Theatre and the courtyard ###### + fragments - ![P5 boards_artem_alexandrov_Page_7](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/P5%20boards_artem_alexandrov_Page_7.jpg?width=4678&height=6623&name=P5%20boards_artem_alexandrov_Page_7.jpg) - ![drawings-1-1](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/drawings-1-1.png?width=1413&height=1810&name=drawings-1-1.png) ###### + details - ![231213_detail floor deck 1.5](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/231213_detail%20floor%20deck%201.5.jpg?width=3307&height=2339&name=231213_detail%20floor%20deck%201.5.jpg) - ![roof details2](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/roof%20details2.png?width=4915&height=3111&name=roof%20details2.png) - ![roof details1](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/roof%20details1.png?width=4939&height=4791&name=roof%20details1.png) ###### + the model - ![1/3. preparing for a performance](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/renders/_DSC3902-min.jpg?width=6000&height=4000&name=_DSC3902-min.jpg) 1/3. preparing for a performance - ![2/3. performance](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/renders/_DSC3907-min.jpg?width=6000&height=4000&name=_DSC3907-min.jpg) 2/3. performance - ![3/3. drinks in the courtyard](https://artemalexandrov.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Theatre/renders/_DSC3917_lr-min.jpg?width=6000&height=4000&name=_DSC3917_lr-min.jpg) 3/3. drinks in the courtyard --- [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/artal_studio/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/in/artem-v-alexandrov/) Copyright © 2026, Artem Alexandrov