Unusual architectural installations have appeared in the Chashniki district
Future creators of skyscrapers and futuristic entertainment centers gathered from more than a dozen countries, including Belarus, Russia, Armenia, Poland, Spain, and France, to build interesting objects with their own hands, which not only reflect their creative vision and sense of beauty but can also be useful to local residents.
120 students, including 50 of our compatriots, implemented this initiative in our country for the first time in this format from May 1 to May 10. To participate in the International School of Architects, they all underwent selection in their home countries.
The villages of Chereya and Belaya Tserkov in the Chashniksky district were chosen as the creative platforms. Here, the students, having chosen spots on the shore of Lake Chereya, built various objects. These include, for example, white swings with a wall that has a window.
Through it, according to Olga Kuznetsova, one of the participants of the Catch The Moment group and the author of this project, the main attraction on the opposite bank of the lake is visible: a 16th-century architectural monument in the Baroque style – the Holy Trinity Church. Moreover, this wonderful view opens up for just a moment when you swing on the swings, and you need to catch it.
The installation near the water tower looks unusual: a rigid woven net is fixed above the entrance in waves to create the effect of water flowing from the tower. No less interesting are the mobile mini-sauna – anyone can use it, as well as a raft that will ply the lake…
The guys worked on each of the projects for more than one day, as everything had to be done from scratch – Ex Nihilo, from Greek "out of nothing".
And, of course, one of the notable works can be called the outline of the altar of a ruined church, made of wood.
The group members, guests from Greece, shared their impressions. They are in their final year of university, majoring in architecture. For them, coming to Belarus and participating in such a project is a chance to prove themselves, to touch the historical value of another country, and also an opportunity to expand friendly ties.
The girls hope to visit Belarus again and see the capital, nature, urban architecture, and people of our country, which they could not do now due to the intense work on the project.
The idea of their international team is to build a wall of wooden beams that repeats the outline of the former church altar. As the thickness of the beams increases, they become thinner, as if becoming lighter and disappearing into the sky. Moreover, the color chosen for the wall repeats the shades of red brick of the temple itself.
The preparatory work was very serious: each beam had to be measured, cut, painted, and then fastened to each other.
According to the group members, this is only the first step towards the further restoration of the former glory of the Christian shrine. Perhaps, a caring person will be found who wants to restore the altar, and then the entire church, because the most difficult thing in any endeavor is to start, to motivate others by your positive example.
Within the initiative, mini-projects were implemented by 13 student groups, each comprising 7-8 people. The students are convinced that the architects' school provides an opportunity, including for Belarusians, to showcase their abilities in creating non-standard and useful objects, to try working in a team, to encourage listening and hearing others' ideas, especially when you disagree with them on something, and to learn to find common ground, even without always understanding the interlocutor's words.
Lectures by specialists in architecture, history, and anthropology were held for the youth. In addition to workshops, the young men and women were involved in research work, searching for unusual remote locations where engaging role-playing scenarios were subsequently conducted. Similar events are quite common in Europe and are open to young people, making such meetings on our land even more valuable.
The organization of SESAM-2018 Ex Nihilo was initiated by the Belarusian Association of Architecture Students and supported by the Ministry of Architecture of the Republic of Belarus, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, the Belarusian Unions of Architects and Designers, as well as the Chashniki District Executive Committee.
According to one of the event organizers, Andrey Krokhin, the main idea of the architects' school is to breathe life into dying villages, to leave something beautiful and unusual behind. Of course, this will not solve a global problem or keep residents in the village, but it is quite likely to attract the attention of those around. After all, in small settlements, people also strive for beauty but often do not know how to bring their ideas to life.