Architectural Heritage in Siberia: Kemerovo Project

The School nr. 3 of the Autonomous Industrial Colony Kuzbass.
Designed by the Dutch architect Han van Loghem.

In the 1920s the Dutch architect Van Loghem built hundreds of houses and public buildings for people who came to live in the Autonomous Industrial Colony (AIK) Kuzbass in Kemerovo, Siberia. Nowadays, many buildings are demolished, burned, dramatically changed or in a very bad condition. One important building, “The Kemerovo Mine School”, remains and should be restored. A restoration project was set up by the Foundation for the Analysis of Buildings (STAG) in 1996 after a Van Loghem exhibition was held in Kemerovo. Since 2009 the project is coordinated by the National Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) and the Netherlands Embassy in Moscow.

'''The history of a Dutch-American initiative'''

In the summer of 1921 the paths of 3 men came together in Moscow: William Haywood, Union leader of the IWW in America, Herbert Calvert, an American Union leader, both very interested in the Russian Revolution, and the third was the Dutch communist Sebald Rutgers. Separately, and later together, they developed a plan for the new Soviet state to use foreign laborers to help build up new industries. They had in mind to bring thousands of workers from the USA and other countries to the Soviet Union.

After discussions with Lenin they finally got permission to start an Autonomous Industrial Colony 'Kuzbass' in Kemerovo.

In the spring of 1922 the first group of about 60 workers arrived in Siberia to develop the mining and chemical industry. During this year some other groups arrived, but the final number of foreign workers was about 400 and never reached the thousands they had in mind.

To develop the Colony in the region and to provide people with houses, offices, shops, schools etc., the leader of the Colony, Sebald Rutgers, needed the assistance of architects and building technicians. In 1925 he asked the well-known Dutch architect Han van Loghem if he wanted to come to Kemerovo to help with further development of the Colony. Han van Loghem arrived in the beginning of 1926 and stayed for 1,5 years. In this period he designed more than 1100 houses, offices, shops, schools, etc.

'''What remains'''

In 1928 the leadership of the Colony was taken over by the Stalin regime and most foreigners left. Nowadays, most of the buildings are demolished, burned, dramatically changed or in a very bad condition. One important building is “The Kemerovo Mine School”, built in 1926. During 10 years the Foundation for the Analysis of Buildings (STAG) has been taking lots of actions to stimulate the restoration of this building. The building is completely documented by students from Delft and Kemerovo Technical University, with historical research, measurements, photos, descriptions, etc. STAG made proposals to the local authorities to use the restored School for: medical centre, museum, school, offices, etc. The latest plan, proposed by the municipality, is the creation of a dance school.

The authorities understand that this building is an important memory of the period of the Autonomous Industrial Colony 'Kuzbass'. It is also one of the few historical buildings of Kemerovo. A restoration plan has been developed by the Tomsk restauration institute, whereas the new function and the necessary adjustments have been discussed with the National Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE).

In October 2010 the Kemerovo authorities requested the Netherlands to participate in drawing up an integrated concept for the revitalisation and development of the larger AIK territory, including the industrial heritage site of the chemical plant. The plan was completed and presented in February 2011. The implementation of the concept will provide a solid base for the restoration, new use and upkeep of the built heritage of Van Loghem, including the mine school.

Next to this ambitious plan, support to the Krasnaya Gorka Museum should be continued. Located in the former house of Sebald Rutgers, it preserves a lot of precious memories of the Colony. Almost all documents, photos, maps and other material about the Colony are kept at the Museum.
An interesting document is the original contract between the Colony management and the architect Han van Loghem.

OBJECTIVES
Restoring AIK buildings in Krasnaya Gorka in Kemerovo; revitalizing the larger Krasnaya Gorka area.

RESULTS
Workshops and expert meetings on the buildings of Van Loghem. Development of the restoration plan of the Mine School building. Development of the master plan for the revitalisation of the larger Krasnaya Gorka area.