Congratulations to Felix Novikov, Chief Architect of MIET, on his 95th anniversary

Felix Novikov is a Doctor of Architecture, a USSR architect as well as a laureate of state prizes of Russia and the USSR. He is the author of the term "Soviet modernism" and four objects that now have the status of cultural heritage: MIET complex, Krasnopresnenskaya metro station, Leningrad cinema in Moscow, and Palace of the Pioneers in Moscow. Felix Aronovich has also written several books, among them the anthology album "Soviet Modernism: 1955-1985" and "Formula of Architecture".

“I was a chief architect of the project, we worked together with Grigory Saevich and designer Yuri Ionov. At first, we had some disputes about how MIET complex should look like. During our discussions, we've created the image of the university as you see it now. [...] MIET is located on a picturesque site on the southern shore of the reservoir. But as soon as work began, the architects in my group were involved into a “creative” conflict. There were two different versions of the project. In one of them, the composition was made up of round volumes interconnected by an annular transition. In another, several identical buildings concealed completely different content, but it wasn't expressed in any way in architecture. I was opposed to the latter. Arguments didn't convince. And the best way was to look for a third option. And it worked! Grigory Saevich and I came to an agreement. Now each of the five buildings that make up the new composition expressed its content in its external appearance, and the combination of various forms formed into a kind of romantic image, freely located in the natural environment. The new version turned out to be so convincing that it was approved,” said Felix Aronovich at the last online meeting, which took place in April 2021.

It is a great pleasure for us to congratulate Felix Aronovich on the occasion of his birthday and to wish him good health, new achievements and wealth!