Bernaskoni

The necropolis should be removed from Red Square to some other, no less important, but far more suitable place. Nobody disputes the importance of the figures buried here, but Red Square is a landmark for the whole country, connected with ideology. And having death as Russia’s calling card is hardly the best kind of signal to be making. To change the sign appropriately – from a minus to a plus – is primarily a task of urbanistics. It’s about the programming of place.

When they take away the Mausoleum, Red Square will have a changed geometry and composition, which will have to be re-thought in various different ways by architectural means. Several options are possible here: to extend the tribunes, to extend the square itself, to lay out a park there, or, finally, to create a symbol for the new Russia, a new cultural sign. Whatever happens, the site should become part of the square, be made habitable. Just as you can sit on the steps of the colonnade or in a café on the Piazza San Marco – so should this area, once freed of the Mausoleum, become a much friendlier place.

The Mausoleum itself, that perfect architectural form, definitely ought to be preserved, just neatly transferred to another location – perhaps even in the nearby Zaryadye Park. Historical architecture should be preserved as much as possible.

At the same time, you might consider a change of function – like the former factories that are now public spaces filled with hipsters. The old Krasny Oktyabr chocolate factory isn’t even particularly valuable from an architectural point of view, being made up of such badly painted brick buildings. But they put up some pretty lamps, brought along some antique chairs – and everyone was happy.

Architecture is, after all, less about a house than about what fills it and surrounds it. Architecture is not hardware, but software.