Source: Peoples’Friendship University of Russia –
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At a meeting of the new RUDN University Dissertation Council in the specialties of 2.1.12 “Architecture of Buildings and Structures. Creative Concepts of Architectural Activity” and 2.1.11 “Theory and History of Architecture, Restoration and Reconstruction of Historical and Architectural Heritage”, three postgraduate students — Natalia Kalinina, Evgeny Ogienko, and Yulia Loginova — were awarded PhD degrees in Architecture for the first time in the university’s history.
Their research, conducted under the supervision of experienced academic mentors, received high praise for its novelty, theoretical significance, and practical value.
“These are not just three successful defenses. This marks the official launch of our own Dissertation Council, which confirms the high level of academic research at the department and provides a powerful impetus for the development of young scholars. We are creating a comprehensive environment for the growth of academic talent in the field of architecture,” said Professor Linar Sabitov, Chair of the Council.
Micropolis for human comfort
According to Natalia Kalinina, her dissertation is dedicated to studying the principles of forming multifunctional complexes with adjustable autonomy properties. Behind the complex terminology lies a simple goal: to restore the human scale to the big city and create a safe environment where human sensations and comfort are at the center of attention.
As part of her work, Natalia developed the concept of an autonomous multifunctional complex — a micropolis — as a qualitatively new morphotype of urban development. The idea gained significant momentum after her academic trip to Osaka, funded by RUDN University in 2019. While presenting a report on new morphotypes in conditions of ultra-high density, she witnessed Japanese urban experience firsthand.
“Japanese architecture amazed me with how, in conditions of extreme density, they manage to separate flows and preserve the human dimension. This complemented my idea: the new morphotype should not resemble the typical residential district. That’s how the concept achieved its final form,” said Natalia Kalinina.
Natalia analyzed the evolution of architectural complexes and identified key principles of planning solutions aimed at achieving multi-layeredness and compactness. The developed approach, according to her, allows for maximizing the potential of a territory, and the micropolis becomes an integrated design method capable of transforming existing development and delivering significant economic benefits.
The most challenging aspect, the candidate admits, was applying the concept to the realities of Russian urban planning: considering regulatory legal acts, analyzing climatic features, and finding free time while raising two children. She also noted her work experience at the Unified Institute for Spatial Planning of the Russian Federation, where some provisions of the concept were successfully implemented locally.
“I was lucky to defend within my home university walls, surrounded by people who genuinely care about the outcome. It seems I’ve fulfilled the promise I once made to the Rector during an open dialogue!” said Natalia Kalinina.
Residential complex for young people
Another PhD candidate, Evgeny Ogienko, shared that his dissertation focuses on shaping the architecture of youth social housing in contemporary socio-economic conditions. According to him, the essence of the work lies in finding an answer to the question of what social housing for young people should look like today so that it corresponds to their actual lifestyle, needs, and capabilities.
He explains the topic’s relevance by noting that the problem of affordable housing for young people remains acute, while young people themselves have changed: they have become more mobile and organize their communication and daily life differently. The old standard solutions inherited from the past often no longer work, creating a demand for new housing — flexible, adaptable, with developed public spaces.
Within his research, Evgeny, for the first time, comprehensively linked contemporary socio-economic realities in Russia with specific architectural solutions for young people, described design methodologies, identified the typology of social housing both globally and in Russia, and developed principles for social housing. He studied Western experience and adapted models to Russian urban planning conditions, regulations, and mentality.
“The main results can essentially be summarized as creating a variable model of a youth residential complex that can be adapted to different urban situations — whether in the city center or on the periphery. Importantly, the work has not only theoretical but also applied value: specific recommendations are proposed for architects and developers, and prospects for updating regulations that hinder the implementation of such projects are outlined,” said Evgeny Ogienko.
According to Evgeny, the most difficult part of the work was synthesis — the need to maintain focus on several professional levels simultaneously. It required delving into sociology, conducting several iterations of surveys, understanding economic models of social housing, and translating this multidimensional information into the language of architecture.
“The main challenge was finding a balance between social utopia (the desire to create an ideal environment), strict economic feasibility, and existing regulations, which, as practice shows, often simply cannot keep up with new housing typologies,” said Evgeny Ogienko.
The first defenses in the new Dissertation Council have become an important milestone in the development of architectural science at RUDN University, unveiling new names and setting a high standard for future research.
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