‘Cosmic Revisionist’ - how architecture is changing the future beyond the Earth
On 24-25 April 2025 in Moscow as part of the International Congress of Young Architects and Designers (ICM ARCH 2025) the workshop ‘Space Auditor: Orbital Verification’ will take place. Participants from different countries will design extraterrestrial objects under the guidance of astronauts, scientists and experts. We talked to Anastasia Medvedeva, the general producer of Yuri's Night, the organiser of the CosMos festival and the speaker of the workshop, about why space architecture is not a fantasy but a reality.
- Anastasia Sergeyevna, your professional path is connected with the popularisation of space. How does it intersect with architecture?
- When you organise festivals or are a member of the UN working group for the preparation of the Year of Asteroid Safety (2029), it is important to find new approaches. Architecture is the cornerstone of human consciousness, both on Earth and in space. It determines how we will live in orbit or on Mars. After all, if ‘being shapes thinking’, the architect's task is to create an environment that is not just functional, but also inspiring.
- What is your role in the workshop?
- To show young specialists how their ideas can influence large-scale projects. For example, stations are already being built in private space - this is a new field for experiments. We will look at what solutions are in demand now and what still needs to be created or rethought.
- How do you assess Russia's role in this sphere?
- We are pioneers. From the Sirius experiments to cosmism in architecture and urban planning: walking around Moscow, you see buildings inspired by space, or street names associated with cosmonautics. Russia remains a leader, but it is important to develop private initiatives and popularise space as a profession. For example, the work of Galina Balashova, who created the interiors of Soviet ships, is something everyone should know. At the same time, the whole world is now talking about the need to ‘colonise’ space. Our country has no colonial inclination: we do not want to colonise space, we are creating new places for life, not for competition and confrontation.
- What qualities do young professionals need?
- Three key ones:
1. Perseverance - not to stop, even if it seems that space is out of reach and the dream is impossible to realise.
2. Versatility - to develop in related fields, to understand the specifics of being in space from the point of view of medicine and psychology. A good architect can become a valuable consultant for space missions.
3. curiosity - don't be afraid of mistakes, they lead to discoveries.
- Why is it important to train space architects?
- There are hardly any! If we don't dream of life on other planets, we risk turning space into a ‘survival zone’. Architects should create not just portable modules, but comfortable spaces where you want to live.
- How do workshops and festivals like CosMos attract young people?
- They give them the courage to dream. At festivals, people find colleagues, projects and even love (laughs). And a workshop is a chance to create in a few days something that in 10 years could go to the Moon.
- The main challenge in popularising space?
- To show that dreams are realisable. Private rockets, university satellites, crowdfunding missions to the moon - these are already a reality.
- What risks do space architects face?
- First: to place the object in the rocket so that it survives the launch and is not damaged during unloading. Two: design space for comfortable living, not survival. Three: think about life support systems. A miscalculation and an entire settlement is at risk.
- How can Russia strengthen its position in space architecture?
- Talk about career opportunities from school. An architect of space stations and interplanetary settlements is a profession of the future, not a utopia.
- Where to start a career in space engineering?
- Start small: study engineering, 3D modelling, participate in hackathons. And don't be afraid to ‘build in space’ even terrestrial projects - it's a mental exercise. And read more science fiction - there is often more information there than in textbooks.
- What results do you expect from the workshop?
- To let the participants believe in themselves: their ideas can change the future. And that after defending their projects they say: ‘Now I'm ready for interplanetary challenges!’.
- What is your wish for the participants?
- Let them have confidence after the workshop: your steps today influence the quality of life in space for decades to come.
The Space Auditor workshop is not just a masterclass, but a launching pad for those who are ready to design tomorrow. As Anastasia says: ‘Architecture beyond Earth is not about sci-fi, but about how we push the boundaries of what is possible.’
To find out more about the workshop
On 24-25 April 2025 in Moscow as part of the International Congress of Young Architects and Designers (ICM ARCH 2025) the workshop ‘Space Auditor: Orbital Verification’ will take place. Participants from different countries will design extraterrestrial objects under the guidance of astronauts, scientists and experts. We talked to Anastasia Medvedeva, the general producer of Yuri's Night, the organiser of the CosMos festival and the speaker of the workshop, about why space architecture is not a fantasy but a reality.
- Anastasia Sergeyevna, your professional path is connected with the popularisation of space. How does it intersect with architecture?
- When you organise festivals or are a member of the UN working group for the preparation of the Year of Asteroid Safety (2029), it is important to find new approaches. Architecture is the cornerstone of human consciousness, both on Earth and in space. It determines how we will live in orbit or on Mars. After all, if ‘being shapes thinking’, the architect's task is to create an environment that is not just functional, but also inspiring.
- What is your role in the workshop?
- To show young specialists how their ideas can influence large-scale projects. For example, stations are already being built in private space - this is a new field for experiments. We will look at what solutions are in demand now and what still needs to be created or rethought.
- How do you assess Russia's role in this sphere?
- We are pioneers. From the Sirius experiments to cosmism in architecture and urban planning: walking around Moscow, you see buildings inspired by space, or street names associated with cosmonautics. Russia remains a leader, but it is important to develop private initiatives and popularise space as a profession. For example, the work of Galina Balashova, who created the interiors of Soviet ships, is something everyone should know. At the same time, the whole world is now talking about the need to ‘colonise’ space. Our country has no colonial inclination: we do not want to colonise space, we are creating new places for life, not for competition and confrontation.
- What qualities do young professionals need?
- Three key ones:
1. Perseverance - not to stop, even if it seems that space is out of reach and the dream is impossible to realise.
2. Versatility - to develop in related fields, to understand the specifics of being in space from the point of view of medicine and psychology. A good architect can become a valuable consultant for space missions.
3. curiosity - don't be afraid of mistakes, they lead to discoveries.
- Why is it important to train space architects?
- There are hardly any! If we don't dream of life on other planets, we risk turning space into a ‘survival zone’. Architects should create not just portable modules, but comfortable spaces where you want to live.
- How do workshops and festivals like CosMos attract young people?
- They give them the courage to dream. At festivals, people find colleagues, projects and even love (laughs). And a workshop is a chance to create in a few days something that in 10 years could go to the Moon.
- The main challenge in popularising space?
- To show that dreams are realisable. Private rockets, university satellites, crowdfunding missions to the moon - these are already a reality.
- What risks do space architects face?
- First: to place the object in the rocket so that it survives the launch and is not damaged during unloading. Two: design space for comfortable living, not survival. Three: think about life support systems. A miscalculation and an entire settlement is at risk.
- How can Russia strengthen its position in space architecture?
- Talk about career opportunities from school. An architect of space stations and interplanetary settlements is a profession of the future, not a utopia.
- Where to start a career in space engineering?
- Start small: study engineering, 3D modelling, participate in hackathons. And don't be afraid to ‘build in space’ even terrestrial projects - it's a mental exercise. And read more science fiction - there is often more information there than in textbooks.
- What results do you expect from the workshop?
- To let the participants believe in themselves: their ideas can change the future. And that after defending their projects they say: ‘Now I'm ready for interplanetary challenges!’.
- What is your wish for the participants?
- Let them have confidence after the workshop: your steps today influence the quality of life in space for decades to come.
The Space Auditor workshop is not just a masterclass, but a launching pad for those who are ready to design tomorrow. As Anastasia says: ‘Architecture beyond Earth is not about sci-fi, but about how we push the boundaries of what is possible.’
To find out more about the workshop