Symbolic Urban Planning of Russia in the 18th - Early 19th Centuries

Abstract

The most important property of art objects is the embodiment in it of categories of universal meaning, the highest values of the culture of the people in symbolic images. Urban planning as a sphere of the art of architecture should have symbolic images in its arsenal of artistic means. The language of expression of these ideas, categories and symbols can only be the planning form of the city - the form of its plan and planning organization.

The article uses the example of individual "ideal" cities of Russia of the XVIII-early XIX centuries to show examples of creating specific layouts that serve as an expression of symbolic images. The ideas of speculative Freemasonry introduced to Russia are expressed in the layout of the only city in Russia with a pentagonal plan form - Zolochev. The author managed to reveal a complex algorithm for constructing its layout, showing the non-randomness of its form, which expresses the entire system of Masonic ideology and even the symbolism of ancient Egypt. However, these ideas were alien to the traditions of Russian Orthodox culture. The result was the appearance of cities in which the symbols of the Orthodox faith of Russia - the Cross - were created by planning means. This placed the city under Divine protection and gave it sacred protection.

Russian urban planners, being carried away by European ideas, were able to create their own national urban planning images that correspond to the culture of the Russian people.