avasara academy case study

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Avasara Academy / Case Design

• Curated by María Francisca González
• Architects: Case Design
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  14200 m²
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
• Photographs Photographs: Ariel Huber
• Furniture : Vishvakarma Furniture
• Project Management : AMs Project Consultants
• Structural Engineering : Strudcom , Nikhil Inamdar
• Climate Engineering : Transsolar | KlimaEngineering , Pratik Raval
• Interior Work and Finishes : Mortar Construction , Rameshwar Bhadhwa
• Civil Construction : Vaichal Construction
• Partner And Principal Designer:  Samuel R. Barclay
• Project Architects:  Ami Matthan, Dhwani Mehta, Shoeb Khan, Simone Picano, Ji Min An, Tofan Rafati, Anne Geenen, Aamod Narkar, Farhaan Bengali
• Landscape Implementation:  Farhaan Bengali
• Furniture Design:  Paul Michelon
• Intern:  Chirag Bhagat
• Colour:  Malene Bach
• Landscape Architect:  Hemali Samant
• Founder Of School:  Roopa Purushothaman
• Head Of School:  Joseph Cubas
• City:  Maharashtra
• Country:  India

Text description provided by the architects. Settled into the valley slope above the small village of Lavale, Avasara Academy is a residential school for economically disadvantaged young women in western India.

Located just outside the urban periphery of Pune, the school lies at the edge of a rural landscape and a rapidly developing township known as Knowledge City.

Uniquely positioned to take advantage of locally shared education resources and incredible social, religious, and economic diversity, Avasara is rapidly establishing itself as a leader in the education and development of young women in India. 

Comprised of a collection of simple concrete structures shrouded in bamboo and arranged around an informal series of walkways, courtyards, gardens and terraces, the built environment of the campus was designed for economic efficiency as well as flexibility and readiness to adapt both during and after the design process.

The rudimentary framework of each building enabled a process of dialogue and collaboration amongst a diverse group of builders, designers, farmers, artists, craftsmen, and engineers who share the belief that collaboration and empathy lie at the core of all good work.

Together with these contributors we have created moments of hospitality, social interaction, B6 reflection, play, ritual, seclusion, performance, and comfort. Intended for a variety of uses, these public and private spaces aspire to give a sense of familiarity and intimacy to the young women living and studying on campus.

Culled from local and universal examples of academic, domestic, public and sacred spaces and evolving through a process of inclusion and thoughtful attention to both physical and social environments, the project developed in response to what was already there; climate, landscape, materials, routines, traditions and memory, to create a sanctuary for learning.

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Project location

Address: maharashtra, india.

Materials and Tags

• Sustainability

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Avasara 学院 / Case Design Studio

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The theory of evolution: Avasara Academy, Pune, India, by Case Design

11 February 2019 By Smita Dalvi School

1/11 Construction of the school remains under way, with design and building processes perpetually adapted

Credit: Ariel Huber

3/11 Development is an ongoing process, with the bamboo screens modified for later buildings to ensure they can withstand the power of the Pune monsoons

5/11 Natural pigments are used to colour the ceilings

6/11 Communal spaces in the atria provide stunning views of the surrounding hills

9/11 Dormitories offer students a minimalist but restful space to sleep

10/11 Electrical conduits are deliberately left exposed throughout

11/11 open areas allow for individual study

For Case Design it was imperative that Avasara Academy be a product of collaboration and iteration, constantly evolving through a process of trial and error

On the valley slopes on the outskirts of the city of Pune in western India, it is the rejection of completeness and permanence, notions of accommodating imprecision, rejection, even trial and error, that have shaped Case Design’s Avasara Academy. Based in Mumbai, architects Samuel Barclay and Anne Geenen ‘explored the design process through the act of making’, relying on ‘small samples rather than intensive drawings’ and creating a number of mock-ups ‘in a dialogue with civil contractors, allowing the details to emerge’ through a process of iteration.

Avasara (meaning ‘opportunity’) Academy is a ‘home-grown exemplar’, in the words of its founders Roopa Purushothaman and Joseph Cubas, of how to address the disparity between women and men in the Indian workforce – a school, whose pedagogy is customised to offer high-end education to girls. Their aim was to provide a ‘sanctuary for learning, a home away from home’ for girls from underprivileged households, which could enable them to become leaders and entrepreneurs with a ‘solid working knowledge of India, its people and history’. It is a school that teaches through experimentation– it is fitting, then, that the building process also centred on learning through experimentation.

floor plan Avasara Academy, Pune, India by Case Design

Click to download

The newly formed firm hit the ground running with this, its first major architectural commission, using an approach that was both collaborative and iterative, seeking expertise in a non-hierarchical manner by ‘breaking barriers through trust’. Barclay acknowledges that ‘the role of the architect here is unconventional, but creating the team framework allowed for the collaborators to have their own space and make decisions and interventions within the context and limitations of the project’.

The architects and their collaborators formed a collegium, putting together collective expertise rather than dictating what should be done. Hemali Sawant, a landscape designer from Mumbai, shared experiences with neighbourhood farmers, leading to an understanding of site water management that resulted in the use of gravity-based irrigation systems. Transsolar’s Pratik Raval, a climate engineer from New York, ascertained the most favourable orientation and insulation options, providing data that highlighted issues that could be addressed with customised bamboo facades. Coolth tubes, structurally integrated vertical cavities and solar chimneys were designed as induced ventilation systems in each building, lowering interior temperatures by 5-10°C during uncomfortably hot summer months.

‘Generous semi-outdoor spaces prevent the building from feeling shut in, while framing excellent views of the surrounding hills’

Working with Malene Bach, an artist from Copenhagen, natural pigments were chosen over industrial paints and coloured the ceilings, leaving all other surfaces au naturel , bringing surprise and delight. An aesthetic quality is achieved by retaining the natural colour and textures of the remaining concrete, cement wash, stone, wood and bamboo, all of which harmonise with the surrounding beige-brown hills.

section Avasara Academy, Pune, India by Case Design

The six four-storeyed rectangular blocks follow the lie of the undulating hillside, acknowledging contours and seeking the best vistas. Despite being a girls’ school, there is no sense of cloistering; quite the reverse, the generous semi-outdoor spaces and verandas prevent the building from feeling shut in, while framing excellent views of the surrounding hills. Walking through spaces between the buildings, there is an informality that is inescapable.

Each block is built with the endowment of one donor and, as such, is being built in phases. At the time of my visit, three of the blocks were built and functioning, with the remainder in various stages of completion. The school began its academic functions even as building activity continued.

Marble and door mock up

Source: Case Design

Mock-ups are constructed to trial doorways of marble and timber

Students and classes are everywhere; learning seems to happen even in the atria and on the verandas. Girls of all ages read, talk, work on laptops, sit on stairways and mosaic floors or lounge on the many , work on laptops, sit on stairways and mosaic floors or lounge on the many scattered charpoys – lightweight four-legged Indian bedsteads, woven with colourful chords of recycled cotton sarees wound expertly by traditional craftsmen. In each block, the lower storeys house classrooms, laboratories, a library, administration areas, staff offices and lounges, and kitchen and dining areas; the upper two storeys are reserved for the girls’ dormitories. All the buildings are inhabited and lively on the lower two floors during school hours and the upper two afterwards. Occasional flurries of movement indicate breaks for recess, when everyone seeks out the warmth of the winter sun to eat tiffin before moving on to their next class in subject-dedicated rooms. The students clearly enjoy exploring, and even appropriating, spaces, moving with a sense of freedom and intimacy with the architecture.

‘The simple frames allow for both infill and enclosure to emerge as a series of hands-on engagements with the collaborators’

Each block has a simple concrete armature with generous overhangs and a dog-legged staircase that recalls the Domino frame (this is increasingly becoming the de facto vernacular in most parts of developing India). This frame provided malleability and accommodated revisions as the buildings progressed, developing the design as a ‘slow process’. There is a refreshing lack of desire to hide electrical or plumbing conduits, or tiny imperfections in the cast concrete, while the simple frames allow for both infill and enclosure to emerge as a series of hands-on engagements with the collaborators, developing architectural elements as prototypes for the school.

Design of an open well, on a human palm

These prototypes include variations on bamboo screens for the facade, as well as masonry walls, furniture and light fixtures that evolved in the studio workshop and on site. With a tip of the hat to George Nakashima – whose furniture with signature butterfly joints and unfinished edges adorns the school’s communal spaces – the lightly woven screens are placed on the building’s overhangs to provide privacy, reduce glare and give a textural quality to the interior and exterior through a delightful play of shadows, while unifying the architectural scheme. Mock-ups became a means of holding conversations with the contractors and artisans who played a role in evolving the design decisions.

‘If a project is constantly in progress, at what point is it useful to stop and assess it?’

Recycling and reuse also formed a central theme in the design: the majority of the timber fenestration was recycled from demolished structures that not only reduced costs and extended the life of these elements, but also lent a lived-in feel to a newly constructed building. Each of the differently dimensioned doors and windows were built into the walls individually, requiring a degree of on-site flexibility. The distinctive crazy mosaic paving that appears all over the campus was made with stone pieces sourced from quarry waste from Rajasthan and Gujarat, and inlaid with coloured cement. The laying of the floors is a fast-vanishing technique – not only slow, it is also intuitive and requires a particularly site-sensitive paver.

site plan Avasara Academy, Pune, India by Case Design

Barclay acknowledges that lessons learned from the earlier blocks have informed changes to those to come, with the bamboo screens being a case in point. Under the whiplash of the Pune monsoon, dampness occasionally leads to fungal attacks, so the screens have been modified to withstand this. In future, bamboo may also be cultivated on the grounds itself, providing a ready resource for necessary replacements.

Broken mosaic floor

Mosaic paving is formed from waste stone pieces from quarries in Rajasthan and Gujarat

At Avasara, the architect becomes the orchestrator rather than the sole author, the first among equals in an assemblage of collaborators. As such, this project complicates the assessment of architect as well as architecture: if a project is constantly in progress, at what point is it useful to stop and assess it? This much is certain – while construction is incremental, architects, collaborators, students and faculty are all invested in this transience. As a constant work in progress, the activities of building and landscaping provide invaluable exposure for the students, not only to concepts of sustainability but also to those of acceptance, accomodation and an appreciation of the lived experience.

Paving plan

Paving is planned out across the site

Architect: Case Design

Project Team: Samuel Barclay, Anne Geenen, Dhwani Mehta, Shoeb Khan, Ami Mattan, Paul Michelon, Farhaan Bengali, Simone Picano, Chirag Bhagat, Ketaki Raut, Ji Min An, Tofan Rafati

Photographs: Ariel Huber unless otherwise stated

This piece is featured in the AR February 2019 Failure issue – click  here  to purchase your copy today

February 2019

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Avasara Academy

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Avasara academy, resembling an unfinished structure, educates young women in the moorland of pune, india architecture news - jun 06, 2017 - 10:32   21068 views.

Avasara Academy is a newly-opened school on the moorland of Pune, India to be the leader of education and educate young women in the city's agrarian hillside. Designed by Indian architecture studio Case Design , the school was entirely built from recycled and local sourced materials collected from surrounding of the campus and Transsolar Klimaengineering developed a particular passive climate strategy to achieve net-zero energy for the school with a modest budget.

Settled into the valley slope above the village of Lavale, the 4.3 acre campus is located 10 km west of Pune and roughly 145 km southeast of Mumbai. The residence campus, conceived as the growing township of Knowledge City, consists of seven similar buildings and each with classrooms on level 1 and 2, and student dormitory and faculty residences on level 3 and 4.

All the residences on the campus were designed as a collection of simple structures arranged around an informal series of walkways, courtyards, gardens and terraces. 

"Culled from local and universal examples of academic, domestic, public and sacred spaces, the architecture responds to site, program and climate, addressing the needs of the community to provide a sanctuary for learning," said Case Design.

The team uses a climate responsive massing, strategic program placement, and locally sourced wooden shades in combination with overhangs set the stage for passive climate strategy. And, a meticulously designed natural air flow path through all the occupied spaces in the building using architectural and structural infrastructure create year-round comfortable learning and living environment.

The classrooms are placed around a central circulation in the first and second floors and in the third and fourth floors, there are also private residences to provide accommodation. 

The internal earth tube cuts throughout the building to provide cool air. Bamboo shading also wrap two facades of the building, which are partially open and close. 

"Outside air is drawn through a series of earth ducts, where it is passively pre-cooled, before being supplied into the classrooms and livings spaces. The strategy of supplying outside air through earth ducts also allows natural ventilation while eliminating any outside noise transmission (from the school campus) into classrooms," said Transsolar Klimaengineering. 

"Beautifully detailed concrete construction and locally sourced stone interior provide necessary exposed thermal mass in the occupied spaces resulting in a moderate, more consistent radiant temperature inside the building," the studio added.

"The air from all classrooms and living spaces passively transfers in three separate, centrally located “exhaust cavities” which are integrated in the structural core of the building and eventually extends out as solar chimneys above roof level. These chimneys, using solar heat from the sun, are designed to passively drive the entire air flow, and provide cooling, throughout the building."

Due to the use of local sources and passive heating-cooling systems, the initial construction cost was reduced by approximately 7% through elimination of mechanical systems, and reduced annual energy cost by 80% due to a completely passive design. 

"A handful of solar water heaters provides hot water for showers and PV panels on the building roof supplies electricity for ceiling fans and electric lighting in the building, making it also a Net-zero Energy Building," detailed Transsolar Klimaengineering. 

Site plan of the campus

All images © Ariel Huber

> via Case Design / Transsolar Klimaengineering

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case design + transsolar complete avasara academy for girls in rural india

located in the rural village of lavale in india , the new avasara academy school building has been realized as part of the growing township of knowledge city. its unique positioning takes advantage of locally-available resources, and despite being distinctive in comparison to any other buildings in the area, the architecture is respectful to its rural surroundings, environmentally friendly and supports the development of spearheading education for young women in india.

the architectural design was conceived by mumbai-based firm case design , meanwhile transsolar klimaengineering calculated the solutions to allow the building to achieve its net-zero energy status. together, both teams developed a response for the 4.3 acre campus which grows out from the hillside. a collection of simple structures arranged around an informal series of walkways, courtyards, gardens and terraces. the largest building hosts the classrooms and facilities that drive the learning experience for the students.

the rooms have been based around the perimeter of the building, allowing the central core to be completely open and serve solely for circulation purposes. in turn, these centrally located ‘exhaust cavities’ are integrated in the structural core of the building and eventually extends out as solar chimneys above roof level to passively drive air flow, and provide cooling, throughout. pastel colors painted on the ceilings of each floor give the detailed concrete construction and stone building vibrancy, while the mostly open-façade is covered in panels of bamboo shading.

with a high ambition and a modest budget, the building achieves a comfortable internal condition without the use of any mechanical system despite the warm and humid western climate of india. along with the climatic responsive massing, strategic program placement, the study of air flow and the use of locally sourced bamboo shades; these were all components that allowed the building to use architectural and structural infrastructure for a year-round comfortable learning and living environment. taking cues from local and other examples of academic, domestic, public and sacred spaces, the architecture of avasara academy responds to site, program and climate, addressing the needs of the community to provide a sanctuary for learning.

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Avasara Academy Pune, India

Located at the edge of a rural area and a rapidly developing township known as Knowledge City, the Avasara Academy is a residential school for young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Composed of a group of simple, concrete structures, shrouded in bamboo screens, the campus buildings are arranged around a series of walkways, courtyards, gardens, and terraces, built for economic efficiency and flexibility, allowing the campus to be developed in phases due to evolving student numbers. Environmental considerations include a passive cooling system and the use of reclaimed and repurposed materials and finishes. Rooftop solar panels provide 85% of the school’s power, and 75% of the annual water requirement is available on site.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

• Avasara Academy

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High-performance NZEB by design

Avasara Academy is a residential school campus for girls located in Lavale (near Pune, India). The campus design is an example of modern architecture meets vernacular design using passive design principles achieving net-zero energy.

The six simple structures on the 4.3 acres site are planned such that the academic and residential areas are provided within every building block. This approach ensured all areas on the campus was being used throughout the year and dead zones were avoided. The priority of the design team was to conserve all available resources and integrate it an efficient and sustainble manner. We learn more about the high performance design strategies and resource management details from the project architect – Samuel Barclay (Founder, Casedesign) in this webinar.

The first critical resource that was examined in detail was the use of water. The team studied an existing excavation of an artesian well over a span of a year and designed a system to replenish the water levels by rainwater harvesting. On the other hand, the wastewater from the building undergoes series of filtration through reedbeds (bioremediation) and carbon filters on its way to a polishing pond where it is exposed to UV from the sun. This water is then used for watering the landscape and is distributed throughout the campus via pumps and aqua ducts.

The simplistic design of the building was referred by the architect as  “intelligent dumb boxes” . At its core, the structure is a simple grid of beams and columns using cast in-place concrete. Use of post-tensioned prestressed slabs reduced the number of columns giving the spaces an open look and feel. The partition walls were constructed using flyash blocks. The team reclaimed old teak wood doors from abandoned buildings and refurbished them for use in the campus. Composite marble created using waste glass was used in various interior applications. The pavement was designed using waste stone pieces procured from quarries in a beautiful mosaic pattern that naturally emerged due to the irregular shape of the stones. All these elements give the buildings and the campus a lot of character.

The simplistic design and use of salvaged building materials not only made economic sense but also resulted in low embodied energy .

Considering the large open spaces in the building, adequate shading and rain protection was imperative. This was achieved by designing a smart layout. The dorms are planned with large exterior public areas that form a verandah preventing direct sunlight from reaching the rooms. Vertical bamboo screens used on the periphery diffuses sunlight and provides rain protection.

Also, most of the classrooms are planned on the north side of the building to avoid direct sun. The light coloured walls and roofs ensure the depth of daylight penetration reducing the need for electrical lighting. The buildings are fitted with LED light fixtures.

The team from Transsolar KlimaEngineering designed earth ducts and solar chimneys in the building which is integral to the passive solar design strategy. Outdoor air enters a series of earth ducts located underneath the building where it cools down and then enters the classrooms. Warm air exits through the opening closer to the ceiling into the central duct of the building. The glazing of the solar chimney is exposed to sun which in turn heats the air inside the duct creating a large temperature difference between the duct and the classroom spaces. This creates a suction pulling the air out from the classroom resulting in natural ventilation in the space. The thermal mass of the exposed stone floors drives the process through the night once it starts radiating heat.

These passive design strategies sharply reduce energy consumption by an estimated 85%. With rooftop photovoltaic system offsetting the electricity demand and solar water heaters providing all water heating requirement, Avasara Academy is a high-performance NZEB.

This project proves that passive design strategies can provide thermal comfort even in a large building while sharply reducing the energy demand. The residual demand can be offset by a renewable energy system to achieve Net Zero Energy goal. Other thoughtful approaches in overall planning, smart water management and low energy material selection showcase that sustainability is a matter of choice and not a result of budget constraint.

Samuel Barclay | Founder, Casedesign

Samuel Barclay practised in Los Angeles with Studio Works Architects before moving to India in 2006 to work with Studio Mumbai and founded Case Design in 2013. In addition to his experience in the design and construction of architectural projects, he has worked on furniture, interiors, and exhibitions and founded the brand Casegoods in 2015.

Q. Is there a reasoning behind the placement of the bamboo louvers? Yes. The placement of screens and the density of bamboos used was based on the kind of performance required. For example, the north façade faces less sun and rains, hence they had less density screens whereas the south and southwest façades had not only more screens, but also a denser pattern of screens. Overall, there were three different density of screens used based on the requirements.

Q. How is the filtration of water done? Does the filter water carry any odour? There’re are two kinds of filtration systems in place: • Clean water: The water through the well is filtered through reverse osmosis before use as drinking water • Greywater: It is filtered through a series of reedbed system, carbon filters and sand filters before reaching the polishing pond. At this stage, before use, there is no odour in the water.

Q. Was the idea of a high-performance building explicit in the brief? Or was it a consequence of a smart and sensible design? It was not something that was specifically asked for, but they were very supportive of the idea when CaseDesign pushed for it.

Q. Can you please highlight the length of the underground air tunnel before it enters the area below Clint Channel? How do you prevent rodents from entering the spaces along with the cool air? The air travels around 16 meters in the earth ducts before entering the building. There are metal louvered grills at the entry to avoid rodents from entering the ducts and then inside, there are smaller meshes to prevent mosquitoes and flies from entering the building. These grills are removable so that a person can crawl inside during maintenances.

Q. What is the approximate air temperature difference outside and inside the buildings? The average temperature difference between the outside and inside is around 5 o C. However, depending on the day and weather conditions, temperature difference as high as 9 o  has been recorded. But temperature is not the only measure of comfort. Hence, the success of the system is also based on the air flow and the air movement that is created by the convection.

Q. How is the sound transmission from solar chimney ducts from one space to the another managed? Very simple baffles have been placed to keep the noise travelling from one classroom to another. But these aren’t sufficient. A bigger issue is the acoustics of the room. Implementation of the proposed acoustical treatments for these spaces is subject to budget availability.

Q. How does the dark color on the walls in the solar chimney effect its performance? Transsolar KlimaEngineering informed us that it’s more the material properties (thickness, material properties of the concrete, etc.) of the wall than the color of it.

View webinar presentation –  Avasara Academy

List of webinars

• Passive House Standard for NZEBs in Warmer Climates
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• SDE4 in Singapore: Net-Zero By Design
• SIERRA’s eFACiLiTY®: A smart high performance building
• ASHRAE HQ NZE Renovation
• Occupant perspectives: NZEB at CEPT University – CARBSE
• Godrej Plant 13 annexe: an IGBC NZE rated building
• Green journey of INFOSYS: High performance with low environmental impact
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This spartan girl’s school in Pune marked the debut of Case Design in India

For a while now, Mumbai-based firm, Case Design, has been designing—with great restraint and grace—sanctuaries for living amid urban chaos. And although these residences have now become a sort of calling card for the studio, their very first commission is one they are still working on a space meant as a ‘sanctuary for learning'.

Situated on the outskirts of Pune in the village of Lavale, the Avasara Academy is a progressive secondary school for girls. Work on the project started in 2013 and the four-acre campus includes six buildings, one of which is ready and functional. The entire project is expected to be complete in early 2019. For Samuel Barclay, founder and principal architect of Case Design, Avasara was a giant leap towards establishing a design practice in India.

Landscaping is a major part of the academy's design, as the entire plot on which the school is being built is barren. “The site is beautiful and has a lot of potential, but it also requires tremendous effort,” says Barclay. “Collecting and managing simple resources like water have been two of the starting points for us. Everything grew out of that.”

Case Design is working with landscape designer Hemali Samant to green the area, and Copenhagen-based visual artist Malene Bach to oversee the use of colour in the different spaces. To enliven a land whose eventual purpose is to serve as a crucible for the growth of bright young minds, Barclay said his firm looked at revamping the landscape the way a farmer would. “We tried to take advantage of as much of the natural beauty as possible; everything had to be practical almost to the point of being essential. If something in the design didn't function, it couldn't be considered,” he says.

As is typical of Case Design's projects, it's in the tiny details—the door handles, latches, rustic charpoys, bamboo screens that adorn the facade—that their keen eye for craftsmanship is seen. The mosaic floors, marble cubbies and the blockwork walls made from recycled fly ash were meticulously crafted by frequent Case Design collaborator Rameshwar Bhadhwa and his team.

“We tried to make a building that was economically efficient in the places that it needed to be so that we could utilize financial resources and reclaimed materials in a way that communicated the thought and care that went into how they were made,” says Barclay.

Ostensibly an educational institution, Avasara is also a home away from home for the students and for Case Design, probably their biggest learning curve.

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It is a different idea of the web, which we might call slow web.

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Avasara Academy

Also available as DIVISARE BOOK #106

Settled into the valley slope above the village of Lavale, the 4.3 acre campus is located 10 km west of Pune and roughly 145 km southeast of Mumbai. As a part of the growing township of Knowledge City, the school is uniquely positioned to take advantage of locally shared resources while establishing its own identity as a leader in the education and the development of young women in India. Growing out of the agrarian hillside, the campus is a collection of simple structures arranged around an informal series of walkways, courtyards, gardens and terraces. Culled from local and universal examples of academic, domestic, public and sacred spaces, the architecture responds to site, program and climate, addressing the needs of the community to provide a sanctuary for learning.

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House in Pomar do Cafezal / Coletivo LEVANTE

Avasara Academy / Case Design

• Award Category: Educational Architecture
• Architects: Case Design
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  14200 m²
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
• Photographs Photographs: Ariel Huber
• Partner And Principal Designer:  Samuel R. Barclay
• Project Architects:  Ami Matthan, Dhwani Mehta, Shoeb Khan, Simone Picano, Ji Min An, Tofan Rafati, Anne Geenen, Aamod Narkar, Farhaan Bengali
• Landscape Implementation:  Farhaan Bengali
• Furniture Design:  Paul Michelon
• Intern:  Chirag Bhagat
• Climate Engineering:  Pratik Raval, Transsolar | KlimaEngineering
• Colour:  Malene Bach
• Interior Work And Finishes:  Rameshwar Bhadhwa, Mortar Construction
• Landscape Architect:  Hemali Samant
• Project Management:  AMs Project Consultants
• Civil Construction:  Vaichal Construction
• Structural Engineering:  Nikhil Inamdar, Strudcom
• Furniture:  Vishvakarma Furniture
• Founder Of School:  Roopa Purushothaman
• Head Of School:  Joseph Cubas
• City:  Maharashtra
• Country:  India

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A SOCIAL DESIGN LIBRARY

an initiative by Kokum Design Trust supported by Mahindra Foundation

AVASARA ACADEMY

download the article to read later

Written and Contributed by

Case Design Mumbai, Maharashtra

[email protected]

Avasara Academy is a first-of-its-kind secondary school and leadership academy that aims to cultivate India’s next generation of women leaders.

What is the project about?

“When the project began, it started with aspirations literally to just get the bones of a building up and to have some girls in some rooms and try to prove the idea that if you have girls in front of really strong teachers, pushed to think about how they can change the world, you will be able to produce leaders. We wanted to create an environment that espoused all our values, excellence and integrity. But more than anything, have this feeling of space, a sanctuary to be able to develop who you are as a person.”  – Roopa Purushothaman, Founder

Settled into the valley slope above the village of Lavale, the 4.3-acre campus is located 10 km west of Pune and roughly 145 km southeast of Mumbai. As a part of the growing township of Knowledge City, the school is uniquely positioned to take advantage of locally shared resources while establishing its own identity as a leader in the education and development of young women in India.  Growing out of the agrarian hillside, the campus is a collection of simple structures arranged around an informal series of walkways, courtyards, gardens and terraces. Culled from local and universal examples of academic, domestic, public and sacred spaces, the architecture responds to site, program and climate, addressing the needs of the community to provide a sanctuary for learning.  We have created moments of hospitality, social interaction, reflection, play, ritual, seclusion, performance, and comfort. Intended for a variety of uses, these public and private spaces aspire to give a sense of familiarity and intimacy to the young women living and studying on campus. We have very carefully designed the exterior bamboo shading and a setback from the dormitory rooms to create these semi-outdoor verandahs to avoid exposure to direct sun. Mosaic floor from quarry waste, charpai furniture, the coloured ceilings, reclaimed timber doors, exposed concrete work, local stonework, solar chimneys and panels provides for a year-round comfortable learning and living environment.

Project Funded by

Stakeholders involved.

Collaboration amongst a diverse group of builders, designers, farmers, artists, craftsmen, and engineers who share the belief that collaboration and empathy lie at the core of all good work. We worked with Pratik Raval, a climate control engineer from New York and Malene Bach, a visual artist from Copenhagen for colour. Hemali Swant and local farmers were a critical part of our landscape design interventions. Some of the other collaborators were Punamchand Suthar, Carpenter; Rameshwar Bhadhwa, civil contractor; Malekar Pandurang Gharat and Jayesh Pandurang Gharat, builders.

What is the impact?

One of the things we have really focused on is the careful use of resources, from money, energy, time, effort, materials like stone waste, reclaimed wood, bamboo, concrete. From the local farmers we learned the use and management of water which is an important element of our design. Avasara’s partners include some of the world’s leading academic institutions, such as Yale University, which provides developmental resources and unique learning opportunities to the students. Avasara Academy is rooted in holistic learning: while its residential campus is being built, it has used an extended school day to maximize time with its students. Ultimately, Avasara Academy’s boarding school model will provide a rich environment for continuous learning and growth, both academic and personal.

Gallery: Images by Case Design in collaboration with Ariel Huber and others | © all rights reserved

Links to read more:

A link to the project.

About Case Design:

Based in Mumbai with projects in India, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Case Design is an architecture and design practice committed to exploring the design process through acts of making. We believe that objects and spaces deeply impact our relationship with the world around us and seek to create moments of quality inspired by observations from our daily lives. These experiences, both spatial and formal, are situationally grounded, considerate to human interaction, and are inherently imbued with content and meaning. As a collection of people with diverse backgrounds, we also believe that collaboration lies at the core of all good work. Regardless of method or medium, the greatest form of sustainability is to produce work of lasting value. In that spirit, we aspire to create things that are simple, beautiful and functional.

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Novgorod for Day Trip From Cruise Ship in St. Petersburg - Veliky Novgorod Forum

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Our original plan for this cruise was to use the "Moscow option" and spend our second day not in St. Petersburg, but in Moscow. However, the second day is a Thursday - when the Kremlin is closed. The second day is the only day that the long trip to Moscow is possible. But there is no point in going all the way to Moscow without seeing the Kremlin! Major disappointment!

Plan B - Instead of Moscow, our guide suggested that we might want to go to Veliky Novgorod on our second day,Thursday. I haven't found too much about it other than that it's one of the oldest cities in Russia and it has lots of churches. One church is okay, but we're not really interested in visiting lots of them, and if we make the long trek to Novgorod, it has to be for much more than a church. What else is there to see and do in Novgorod? Is it worth the 2.5 - 3 hour drive each way in the car between St. Petersburg and Novgorod? Or are we better off staying in St. Petersburg and seeing again what we did last time? I loved St. Petersburg, so revisiting sights wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. However, if there is somewhere outside of St. Petersburg that is incredible, fabulous, amazing - then, I'd like to go there, too. Does Novgorod fit that description? Alternatively, if it doesn't, can you suggest a place outside of St. Petersburg that does? Preferably a place that is closer to St. Petersburg? Or even a place within St. Petersburg that is off-the-beaten-path that we might not have seen last time we were there?

Thanks for your help!

3 replies to this topic

Who is your guide? We'd like to hire her, too :)

It is a pretty long way and bumpy road to Novgorod The Great if nothing hasnt changed recently, which Im sure hasnt. And yes you are right -it is all about churches and religious heritage, its an ancient Russian city - there are houndreds of churches and monasteries. One of the attraction of Novgorod which is different is The open-air architectural-ethnographic museum "Vitoslavlitsy", which provides a whole complex of genuine folk wooden architecture, including ancient churches of the 16th — 18th centuries, peasant houses of the 19th — early 20th centuries, exhibitions of folk art and everyday life items of Novgorod peasants of the same period. But again if you are not much into OMG another church.

Yes, Novgorod is famous first of all thanks churches, cathedrals and monasteries, but these churches are different from St. Petersburg churches. First of all they are much older. Novgorod was a very important center in the past, for several years it was even our official capital but now it’s a real province with very slow and calm provincial life. Some information about Novgorod and tourists cites their you can find here http://www.bestguides-spb.com/tour-novgorod.html I love Novgorod and tour to Novgorod could be very interesting. Please notice that guides from St. Petersburg are not allowed to provide tours of Novgorod churches/museums. If you are only two it could work but with a bigger group I’m afraid it could be problems.

Despite my very special feelings about Novgorod (I really love it!) I would suggest you to visit Moscow even on Thursday. Moscow has so much beside of Kremlin which you will see from outside: the Red Square, St Basil Cathedra, the unique metro!, Arbat street, Tretyakov gallery, Novodevichy monastery and so on…

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Veliky Novgorod Hotels and Places to Stay

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Novgorod “la grande”, cuna de rusia.

Posted on junio 19, 2015 by oscarnunezcrespo

El Kremlin (ciudadela) de Novgorod

• PRESENTACIÓN

Novgorod, “Ciudad Nueva” (llamada también Veliki Novgorod “Gran Ciudad Nueva”, para diferenciarla de la otra población con un nombre similar, Nizhni Novgorod, que se halla al este de Moscú) es una histórica ciudad rusa, capital del oblast (distrito, región) del mismo nombre, y situada, de Norte a Sur, entre San Petersburgo por un lado y Tver y Moscú por otro, y de Oeste a Este, entre el oblast de Pskov y los países bálticos, de un lado, y el oblast de Vologda y los territorios del Mar Blanco.

• FUENTES DE AGUA DULCE

Por Veliky Novgorod pasa el río Volkhov, justo al poco nacer del cercano lago Ilmen.

• HISTORIA REMOTA

Aunque las crónicas mencionan Novgorod como fundada hacia 862, el resultado de las excavaciones retrasan esta fecha en un siglo, tal vez debido a una interpolación posterior en los textos para dar más solera a la ciudad. Lo que sí existió en la zona fue una fortaleza varenga (vikinga), el Gorodishche , donde el líder varengo Rurik estableció su base de operaciones. La Ciudad propiamente dicha nace en el siglo X.

Novgorod se convirtió en el centro neurálgico de un nuevo grupo étnico, nacido de la asimilación por eslavos (la Urheimat eslava debió estar aproximadamente en Galitzia y Volinia) de pueblos de lengua báltica y de lengua finesa, a los que los escandinavos dieron nombre (Rus, por Rurik) y se convirtieron en su aristocracia.

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Catedral de Santa Sofía de Novgorod

En 882, el sucesor de Rurik, Oleg de Novgorod, conquistó Kiev y fundó el estado de la Rusia de Kiev. En torno a la vieja forzaleza, nace el Novgorov urbano y se convierte pronto, por su influencia cultural, política y económica en la segunda ciudad más importante de la Rus de Kiev. De  acuerdo con la costumbre, el hijo mayor del rey de Kiev, el príncipe heredero, era enviado a Novgorod a “entrenarse” gobernando el Principado. Cuando el rey no tenía tal hijo, Novgorod era gobernado por posadniks (alcaldes), como los legendarios Gostomysl, Dobrynya, Konstantin, y Ostromir.

De todos los príncipes, destaca la memoria de Yaroslav el Sabio, quien fue Príncipe de Novgorod de 1010 a 1019, mientras su padre, Vladimir el Grande, era Príncipe de Kiev. Yaroslav promulgó el primer código escrito de leyes entre los eslavos orientales (la  Russkaya Pravda ) y otorgó a la ciudad una serie de fueros (privilegios, libertades). Su hijo, Vladimir, promovió la construcción de la gran Catedral de Santa Sofía que aún se mantiene hasta hoy.

De cara al exterior, Novgorod tuvo importantes relaciones con Noruega (nada menos que 4 reyes noruegos se exiliaron allí huyendo de revueltas en su país). Tras la muerte en 1030 y canonización de uno de ellos , San Olaf de Noruega (quien además era cuñado del ya mencionado príncipe Yaroslav I el Sabio), se erigió en Novgorod la Iglesia de San Olaf, que existió hasta el siglo XIV.

También hubo fluidas relaciones con comerciantes del Norte de Alemania.

• LA REPÚBLICA DE NOVGOROD

En 1136, el príncipe Vsevolod Mstislavich fue destituido por los ciudadanos, hecho que se considera el nacimiento de la república de Novgorod. Al mismo tiempo, los lazos con Kiev se sueltan cada vez más durante el siglo XII. La Ciudad nombró y destituyó a muchos príncipes en los dos siglos siguientes, pues la monarquía no llegó a ser oficialmente abolida (pero tenían poca importancia política). La Ciudad-estado controló buena parte del Noreste de Europa, desde Pskov hasta los montes Urales, siendo uno de los estados más extensos de la Europa de su tiempo, aunque  su densidad de población hacia el Este y el Norte fue escasa.

Una de las figuras más importantes en Novgorod fue el posadnik , o alcalde, un alto cargo elegido por la Asamblea Pública (llamada el Veche ) de entre los miembros locales de los boyardos (la aristocracia). El tysyatsky , o «hombre de los mil», originalmente el jefe de la milicia ciudadana (quien más tarde adquirió funciones judiciales y comerciales), fue también elegido por el Veche. Otro importante alto cargo local fue el Arzobispo de Novgorod, quien compartía poder con los boyardos. Los Arzobispos, a su vez, eran también elegidos por el Veche, aunque a veces lo eran por sorteo, y justo después de su elección el metropolitano los consagraba.

Es poco más lo que se sabe sobre la estructura de gobierno. Los boyardos y el arzobispo gobernaron juntos la Ciudad, pero se ignoran los límites de las competencias de cada uno. El príncipe, aunque su poder fue reducido, era representado por su namestnik , o lugarteniente, y todavía representava importantes funciones como jefe de estado, comandante militar, legislador y jurista.

En el siglo XIII, Novgorod tuvo un importante comercio con la Liga Hanseática, aún sin pertenecer a ella.

Culturalmente, Novgorod prosperó durante el medievo, el hallazgo arqueológico de grandes cantidades de textos escritos por plebeyos (escribiendo en ruso medieval y no en el Eslavo Eclesiástico -lengua arcaizante equivalente al latín dentro de la iglesia ortodoxa rusa-) sobre cortezas de abedul demuestran el alto grado de alfabetización entre los ciudadanos. Asimismo, el Códice de Novgorod , el libro eslavo más antiguo escrito fuera de los Balcanes , y la inscripción más antigua en una lengua finesa fueron desenterrados en Novgorod.

• NOVGOROV SE SALVA DE LA INVASIÓN MONGOL Y RECHAZA ATAQUES OCCIDENTALES

Novgorod se libró de la conquista por los mongoles durante su invasión de Rus. El ejército mongol dio la vuelta a 200 kilómetros de la ciudad, no por su fuerza militar, sinó por temor a quedarse empantanados en las marismas cercanas. Aún así, quedo sometida al tributo que, en nombre del khan mongol, recaudaba el príncipe moscovita Alexander Nevski (actuando como poder colaboracionista local). Un episodio, en el que Nevski arranca la nariz a varios funcionarios de Novgorod que se resistían a pagar tributo al invasor,  generó una fuerte enemistad entre Novgorod (como símbolo de una Rusia 100% europea de ciudadanos libres ) y Moscú (un poder despótico semi-asiático de siervos). Con la decadencia del poder mongol, los moscovitas se van independizando y enfrentándose a sus antiguos amos (batalla de Kulikovo en 1380), pero ésto no cambia lo anterior: Moscú , con ínfulas de ser la tercera Roma y la sucesora de Constantinopla, es en realidad un nuevo khanato y empieza su afán expansionista hacia el Este, pero también contra el Oeste.

Mientras, Novgorod rechaza con éxito los insolidarios  y oportunistas ataques de cruzados suecos, daneses y alemanes, con la excusa de ser cismáticos, de haber roto con Roma, pero son rechazados (los suecos en 1260 y la Orden Teutónica en 1262).

• MOSCOVIA CONQUISTA NOVGOROD A SANGRE Y FUEGO

En los siglos XIV y XV, Novgorod lucha por su supervivencia frente a una Moscovia expansionista que resulta imparable, y su dependencia alimentaria de Moscú empeora las cosas. Tras la decisiva derrota novgorodiana en la Batalla de Shelón (1471), Ivan III anexionó a la fuerza la Ciudad al Gran Ducado de Moscú en 1478. La Veche fue disuelta y una buena parte de la población de la Ciudad fue masacrada o deportada.

Tras la anexión, Novgorod se convirtió en la tercera mayor ciudad de Moscovia  (30.000 habitantes hacia 1550) hasta la hambruna de1560 y la Masacre de 1570, en la que Ivan el Terrible saqueó la ciudad, asesinó a miles de sus habitantes y deportó a su nobleza a Moscú, Yaroslavl y otros lugares. Boris Godunov, el usurpador previo al ascenso de los Romanov, permitió su recuperación.

• HISTORIA POSTERIOR

Durante el Período Tumultuoso (a comienzos del siglo XVII) Novgorod fue ocupada por los suecos en 1611, y devuelta a Moscovia seis años después por el Tratado de Stolbovo. Se empezó a recuperar hacia finales de ese siglo, cuando se construyen la Catedral de la Señal y el monasterio de Vyazhischi.

En 1727, Novgorod se convirtió en el centro administrativo del Gobernorato de  Novgorod del Imperio Ruso. Entre 1927 y 1944, la ciudad formó parte del Oblast de Leningrado, para después ser la capital de su propio Oblast, creado después de esa fecha.

En 1862, Novgorod sale momentáneamente de su tranquilidad provinciana al inaugurar el Zar Alejandro II Romanov el monumento al “Milenario de Rusia”.

Cuadro representando la inaguración

El 15 de Agosto de 1941, durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la ciudad fue ocupada por la Wehrmacht, hasta que fue recuperada por el Ejército Rojo el 19 de Enero de 1944. Con frecuencia, los voluntarios españoles de la División Azul, destinados en el sector de Leningrado, visitaban Novgorod durante sus permisos. Durante la guerra, la mayoría de sus monumentos históricos fueron destruidos, pero fueron restaurados aquellos situados en la zona central en la posguerra.

En 1992, los principales monumentos de la Ciudad y sus alrededores fueron declarados Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco.

• NOMBRE OFICIAL DE LA CIUDAD

Hasta el año 1478 (fecha de la brutal conquista moscovita) la ciudad era llamada Gospodín Veliki Nóvgorod, ‘ Señor Nóvgorod el Grande’ ). Luego, hasta 1999 su nombre oficial era Nóvgorod . En esa fecha, adquirió su nombre actual, que es una reposición parcial del original.

• POBLACIÓN Y GOBIERNO MUNICIPAL

Según el censo de 2010, la ciudad tenía unos  218,717 habitantes en su área municipal de 90 km2 . Su actual alcalde (aunque  en el momento de escribir ésto, está a punto de ser forzado a dimitir) aún es Yuri Bobryshev .

• TRANSPORTE PÚBLICO INTERURBANO
• La autopista federal M10 lleva a Moscú y San Petersburgo
• Conexiones ferroviarias con Moscú, San Petersburgo, Minsk (Belarus) y Murmansk
• Línea de autobuses a San Petersburgo y otras ciudades
• El aeropuerto de Yurievo, que servía a Novgorod, fue cerrado al trafico aéreo en los años 90. Se ha convertido el antiguo aeropuerto militar de Kretschewizy en el nuevo aeropuerto civil de la ciudad (inagurado en 2010). El de Pulkovo en San Petersburgo es el aeropuerto internacional más cercano.
• TRANSPORTE LOCAL

Consiste en una serie de líneas de autobús y en 5 líneas de trolebús. La frecuencia de paso es de un autobús o trolebús cada 5 minutos aproximadamente.

• ECONOMÍA DE SU REGIÓN (OBLAST )

El producto regional bruto de la región de Novgorod es 87.600.000.000 rublos, que es aproximadamente el 0,3 por ciento de producto Interior bruto de toda Rusia . Aproximadamente el 91,8 por ciento se destina a la industria de la transformación, de los cuales 31.1 por ciento en la industria química , el 20,1 por ciento a la producción de alimentos y el 12,3 por ciento a la industria de transformación de la madera . 7.9 por ciento hace que el campo de la energía (electricidad y la producción de gas y distribución de agua) y 0,3 por ciento de la extracción de materias primas (arcilla, piedra caliza, arena de cuarzo, turba). Otras industrias son la ingeniería mecánica , industria de la pulpa y el papel , la metalurgia ferrosa y la industria de combustible . La tasa de desempleo es del 1,2 por ciento , más baja que la media de Rusia (2 por ciento).

Nóvgorod es la sede de uno de los mayores productores de fertilizantes en el mundo, el grupo Akron . La empresa alemana Pfleiderer, que se especializa en la producción de materiales a base de madera, desde 2006 opera una planta en Nóvgorod, adquirida por IKEA (Swedspan) de 2012.

• PARQUES, JARDINES Y PLAYAS
• Parque del Kremlin
• Playa fluvial del Kremlin, en el Volkhov
• VIDA CULTURAL Y OCIO

Novgorod tiene dos salas de cine : la «Novgorod» y el «Kinozentr» con tres salas.

Además, cuenta con tres teatros : el Teatro Dramático Fyodor Dostoyevsky , fundado en 1853, la Ciudad Teatro para Niños y Jóvenes «Malyi», fundada en 1990, y el Teatro Folclórico «Kudesy» , que celebra cada año alrededor de 2.700 conciertos, con más de 400.000 espectadores.

También existe una orquesta filarmónica en la ciudad .

Sede de la Filarmónica

En Novgorod hay una estación de televisión local «Novgorod Oblast Television”

«El Almirante» , es el más importante club nocturno (macrodiscoteca) de Novgorod.

• PUNTOS DE INTERÉS TURÍSTICO

El Kremlin, con la catedral de santa Sofía y otros edificios antiguos dentro de su perímetro

• La Corte de Yaroslav (Dvorishche) es un conjunto arquitectónico construido en los siglos X-XI a las orillas del río Volkhov. Fue una gran barriada formada por casas residenciales, iglesias y una amplia plaza en el centro. En la plaza se reunían los miembros de la Asamblea de ciudadanos de Nóvgorod. Además, aquí se situaba la corte del príncipe, donde posteriormente se construyó la Catedral de San Nicolás (comienzos del siglo XII) .

Actualmente, en el territorio de la Corte de Yaroslav, a parte de esta catedral, se conservan varias iglesias, como la Iglesia de San Juan Bautista , la Iglesia de Mujeres Mirróforas , la Iglesia de Santa Paraskeva, la Iglesia de Procopio, la Iglesia de San Jorge, la Iglesia de la Asunción, y también el conjunto arquitectónico del Mercado y una arcada de piedra blanca. Durante la época soviética, prácticamente todos los edificios de viviendas fueron destruidos, y la mayoría de las iglesias ahora sólo son museo. El único edificio civil conservado hasta nuestros días es el Palacio de Catalina II , construido en el siglo XVIII. Se organizan visitas guiadas por la Corte de Yaroslav, que se conecta con el Kremlin de Nóvgorod en el lado opuesto del río mediante el Puente Peatonal .

El Mercado Antiguo en la Corte de Yaroslav

• Monumento al Milenario de Rusia (monumento erigido en 1862 a instancias del Zar Alejandro II, conmemorando los 1000 años del estado ruso)

Una imagen del monumento

• Catedral de Santa Sofía, dentro del Kremlin y construida en 1065 (con su impresionante campanario de 1439 y su Museo de las Campanas en el interior).

Catedral de Santa Sofía

• Palacio de las Facetas, vestigio del antiguo Palacio del Arzobispo , un raro ejemplo de arquitectura gótica, construida con ladrillo en 1433 en colaboración con los maestros alemanes. También situada intramuros del Kremlin.

• Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Signo , construida entre 1682-1688
• Catedral de San Nicolás
• Iglesia de la Natividad de la Virgen del Monasterio de San Antonio (del siglo XII, erigida sobre un antiguo templo pagano dedicado a Perun). A orillas del lago.
• La Iglesia de la Natividad de la Virgen
• Monasterio de San Jorge (Yuriev)
• Museo de la Torre Kokui (una de las torres del Kremlin, habilitada como Museo)

Torre Kokui

• Museo de Bellas Artes (edificio de estilo neoclásico en el límite de la ciudad nueva con la zona de las murallas del Kremlim)

• Iglesia del Salvador en la colina Nereditsa (siglo XII)
• Iglesia de Teodoro Stratilates sobre el Arroyo (de 1361, conserva pinturas del la época, obra de Teófano el Griego )
• Museo Vitoslavitsy de Arquitectura Popular en Madera (un conjunto de 20 construcciones tradicionales en madera procedentes de toda Rusia y reinstaladas a las afueras de la ciudad)

Uno de los edificios que se pueden ver en el Museo

• Monasterio del Espíritu Santo (siglo XII)
• Gorodishe de Rurik

El Gorodishe de Rurik (residencia de este príncipe vikingo en el siglo IX)

• PARA SABER MÁS

http://visitnovgorod.es/

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Take a walk through the most ancient Kremlin in Russia

The Novgorod Kremlin, which is also called ‘Detinets’, is located on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The first fortified settlement was set here during the reign of prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise. During these times, all the state, public and religious life of Novgorod was concentrated here. It was the place where people kept chronicles and copied the texts of books. The Novgorod Kremlin, the most ancient one in Russia, was founded here in the 15th century.

St. Sophia Cathedral (11th century), The Millennium Of Russia Monument, Episcopal Chamber (15th century) and the main exhibition of The State Novgorod Museum-reservation located in a public office building of the 18th century are all situated in the Novgorod Kremlin. The exhibition will tell you about the whole Novgorod history from ancient times to the present day. There are also restoration workshops, a children’s center, a library and a philharmonic inside the Kremlin walls.

Send a letter with the State Novgorod Museum-reservation stamp

While visiting the main building of the Novgorod Kremlin museum, you’ll see a small bureau near the souvenir area. Two more bureaus like that can be found in the Fine Arts Museum and the Museum information centre. This is the Museum Post, the joint project of the State Novgorod Museum-reservation and Russian Post.

The tradition to exchange letters (at that time written on birch bark sheets) dates back to the 11th century so it’s hardly surprising that such a project appeared here. The bureaus are desks and mailboxes at the same time, so you can send your friends a postcard with a view of Novgorod right from the museum.

Find the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin among the figures of The Millennium Of Russia Monument

In 1862, 1000 years after the Varangians were called to Russia, a monument dedicated to this event was launched in Novgorod. To tell the story of Russia’s one thousand years, the sculptor used 129 bronze figures: from state and military leaders to artists and poets.

One of figures portrays Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin, a politician and reformer who was responsible for Russia’s diplomatic relations in the middle of the 17th century. He is believed to be the father of international and regular mail in Russia. He was also the person who came up with the idea of the first Russian Post official emblem — a post horn and a double-headed eagle.

Cross the Msta River over the first arch bridge in Russia

The steel bridge in Borovichi town that connects two banks of the Msta river was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The project of the bridge was created by Nikolay Belelyubsky, engineer and professor of St. Petersburg State Transport University. This is the first arch bridge in Russia.

In 1995, it was included in the national cultural heritage register. More than 100 bridges across Russia were developed by Belelyubsky, but only this one is named after him.

Cast a virtual bell

When in the Novgorod region, you’ll definitely hear bells ring and learn about the Novgorod Veche Bell. During the siege of the city, tsar Ivan III ordered to remove this bell from the bell tower and send it to Moscow. Legend says that the bell didn’t accept his fate, fell to the ground near the border of the Novgorod region and broke to pieces against the stones.

In the biggest Museum Bell Centre in Russia located in the Valday town, you can see bells from across the world and learn why Novgorod bells are unique. The museum’s collection represents bells from different countries and ages, some of them dating back to the 3rd century BC. You’ll learn about the history of casting and modern bell-making technologies and also play games on a touch table. For example, harness virtual ‘troika’ (three) horses with bells or cast a virtual bell.

Spot the pigeon on the cross of St. Sophia Cathedral

St. Sophia Cathedral was built in Novrogod between 1045 and 1050 by Kievan and Byzantine masters. It was conceived as the main cathedral of the city, and during its first years it was the only stone building in Novgorod. So where does the pigeon on the cross of the cathedral’s biggest dome come from?

Legend says that while tsar Ivan the Terrible and his Oprichniki were cruelly killing peaceful city folk in 1570, a pigeon suddenly sat down to the cross of the city’s main cathedral. It looked down, saw the massacre, and was literally petrified with horror. Since then the pigeon has been considered the defender of the city. People believe that as soon as the pigeon flies away from the cross, Novgorod will come to an end.

Visit a monastery, that was founded by Patriarch Nikon

The Valday Iver Monastery is situated on the island in the middle of the Valday lake. It is considered to be one of the most important and picturesque orthodox shrines.

The monastery was founded in 1653 by the initiative of Nikon who had just been elected Patriarch. Nikon wanted the monastery to look like the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos, including the architectural style and monk’s clothes. Legend says that Nikon saw the spot for the monastery in a dream.

Check out Fyodor Dostoevsky’s country house

Fyodor Dostoevsky, a famous Russian writer, first visited Staraya Russa town in 1872 during a summer trip with his family. They liked it so much that the next year they rented a house near the Pererytitsa River’s embankment and spent every summer here ever since.

Dostoevsky loved this house, called it ‘his nest’ and considered it the perfect place to work and to be alone. In Staraya Russa he wrote his novels ‘The Adolescent’, ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ and ‘Demons’. Today, this place is a museum where you can explore what Dostoevsky’s house looked like and see his family’s personal belongings, photos and letters.

Visit an authentic Russian ‘izba’ (wooden house)

If you want to really enjoy the atmosphere of the old Novgorod, you should come to the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of folk wooden architecture that is located on the Myachino lake not far away from Veliky Novgorod. In this open-air museum you’ll see the best examples of Russian wooden architecture, including authentic old ‘izbas’ (wooden houses), rural chapels and churches.

During the year, the museum hosts fairs of crafts and folklore, christmastides, and even an international bell ringing festival.

Learn what Brick Gothic looks like

The Episcopal Chamber of the Novgorod Kremlin is the only non-religious German Gothic building of the 15th century preserved in Russia. You can have a good look at the facets of the gothic cross-domed vaults inside the chamber. This is why this building is also called ‘Faceted Chamber’ or ‘Chamber of Facets’.

The chamber was part of Vladychny Dvor, the place where all important city events took place: court hearings, gatherings of the Council of Lords of the Novgorod Republic, ambassador’s receptions and feasts. The seals of the city’s lords were kept here. The decree of tsar Ivan III on merging the Novgorod Republic with the Moscow State was first announced in 1478 in Episcopal Chamber. This is when the name of the new state, Russia, was first pronounced.

See the murals by Theophanes the Greek

The Byzantine Empire had a huge impact on the development of the Russian culture. Many works of art and architecture in ancient Russia were created by Byzantine artists and masters. Theophanes the Greek was one of them. He was born in Byzantine and created icons and murals in Constantinople and Caffa (modern Feodosia). After that he moved to Novgorod where he was commissioned to paint the walls of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Ilyina Street. You can enjoy his unique and expressive style if you look at the murals inside the dome of the church and the Trinity side chapel.

The most recognizable and the only monumental work of Theophanes the Greek that is preserved today is the chest-high portrait of the Savior the Almighty in the dome of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior.

Take a photo with an ancient Novgorod citizen who is learning how to read and write

In 1951, a letter written on birch bark dating back to the 14–15th centuries was found in Veliky Novgorod. Many decades later, in 2019, a sculpture designed by Novgorod artist and sculptor Sergey Gaev appeared on this exact site.

The sculpture portrays an 8–year old boy sitting on a stool and holding a piece of birch bark. At this age children in Novgorod started to learn how to read and write. During archaeological excavations in Novgorod, scientists often found ancient handwriting practice books and children’s drawings on birch bark sheets.

Feel like an ancient viking or prince Rurik’s guest

Novgorod is one of the waypoints of the famous trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks. The route passed through the Volkhov river. In the 9–10th centuries there was a fortified settlement of the Viking Age here.

Some scientists believe that Novgorod is named after this area which was called ‘Stary Gorod’ (‘Old City’) at that time. Some historians and archeologists consider this place to be the residence of Prince Rurik who was asked to rule the city in 862. That’s why this ancient settlement is called ‘Rurikovo Gorodische’ (‘Ruruk’s Old City’).

Learn more about the Soviet modernist architecture

On the bank of the Volkhov river near the Novgorod Kremlin, there is an incredible building that looks like a spaceship and contrasts strongly with the ancient buildings of the city.

This is the Fyodor Dostoevsky Theater of Dramatic Art that was built in 1987. It is one of the most striking examples of the Soviet modernist architecture. The theater was built for 10 years according to the project of architect Vladimir Somov.

See what an everyday life of Old Believers looks like

The Krestsy town in the Novgorod region has always been considered to be the center of the Novgorod Old Belief community, and it still is. Before the Soviet revolution there were three Old Believers churches here.

The Lyakova village, which is located not far from the town, used to be inhabited completely by Old Believers. You can learn more about their lifestyle in the local interactive museum. You’ll be introduced to Old Believers’ traditional crafts and ceremonies, drink tea with healing herbs and learn how to chop wood and use an old spinning wheel.

Buy a traditional embroidered tablecloth

A unique embroidery style that is now famous all over the world was born in the Staroye Rakhino village in the Novgorod province. By the middle of the 19th century, it had become a folk craft. Since then, linen tablecloths, towels and clothing items decorated with unusual ornaments have been popular not only among the locals, but also travellers.

In 1929, the first cooperative partnership of embroidery masters was created in Kresttsy. Later it turned into a factory that still operates today. The factory has a museum where embroidery traditions are preserved and new ornaments and technologies are created.

Find yourself in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, Staraya Russa town could be called ‘the salt cellar of Russia’. That’s because salt making was the main trade here up to the 19th century. A few years ago, the old craft was brought back to life, and construction of salt works began. Later, an interactive museum was launched based on the results of archaeological findings.

This museum recreates a typical medieval manor of Staraya Russa of the 12th century with living rooms, a bathhouse, workshops, a livestock pen and traditional peasant household items. In this museum, you can also buy salt which is made in the same way as 1000 years ago.

See the place where Suvorov started his Italian campaign

Alexander Suvorov’s manor in the Konchanskoe village, which has now become the museum of the great commander, was originally the place of his exile. Suvovor openly disagreed with the reform of Russian’s army based on the Prussian model, and Emperor Paul the First didn’t appreciate such behaviour. He first fired Suvorov and then sent him away to his family estate.

However, the exile lasted for only two years. The great commander started the military campaign straight from his house in the Konchanskoe. During this legendary expedition, he crossed the Alps and defeated the French army.

Become a real hiker

If you dream of having a hike in the Novgorod region, but at the same time you are afraid that a tourist’s life may be too hard, you should try the Big Valday trail. This is a five-day 59-kilometer walking route. Its central part goes right through the Valday National Park’s territory.

You won’t have to cope with difficulties and inconveniences of camping life here. The route is marked with signs, and there are camping sites where you can find everything you need for an overnight stay from shelters and places for a fire to toilets. The trail finishes at the Dunayevshchina village where you can take a bus back to Valday. To take the trail, you have to fill out a special form and register on the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation website.

Russian Post has launched a limited series of products dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Novgorod region.

In autumn 2020, Russian Post announced an open contest to create the design for its limited series dedicated to Novgorod region. The project was supported by the Government of the Novgorod region, ‘Russ Novgorodskaya’ (Novgorod Russia) project, the State Novgorod Museum-reservation and Yandex.

Stamps and envelopes are traditionally used to spread information about historic dates and figures and famous landmarks. Now we can also use parcel boxes, packaging tape and postcards. The limited series products will travel around the world, introducing the most popular Russian attractions to six million Russian Post clients daily.

The participants were to create the design for the limited series featuring three iconic attractions of the Novgorod region, the Novgorod Kremlin, the Millennium Of Russia Monument and the Belelyubsky Bridge in Borovichi. Moscow designers and graduates of the Higher School of Economics’ Art and Design School Alena Akmatova and Svetlana Ilyushina won the contest. Their project was chosen via an open vote and by the expert jury.