Architecture has always mirrored the philosophical, cultural, social, technological, and economic trends of its time, shaping its visual identity. Considering architecture as both the art of creating spatial environments and a multifaceted, complex activity, the exhibition-research project "Dictionary of Contemporary Architecture" formulates 25 key concepts and terms that describe current architectural approaches and ideas, directly influencing the work of architects today and shaping the face of contemporary, including global, architecture.
"We believe that architecture is shaping the contemporary world through the process of defining the future, — comments Anton Nadtochiy, ATRIUM co-founder. — By collaborating with our architects, clients, and users, we aim to capture the essence of the modern world in our designs. Over the past 30 years, this approach has led us to develop our own unique vocabulary that reflects both individual architectural ideas and a broader interconnected meaning. To celebrate this anniversary, we present 25 terms that we believe are essential for understanding contemporary architectural and philosophical discourse. We hope this glossary will not only shed light on our projects but also on the global trends that have shaped them, and will inspire more people to join us in shaping the future"
The Contemporary Architecture Vocabulary, developed by curators, is organized into six groups, each beginning with a letter that forms the name of the company — ATRIUM, which also serves as an acronym. The vocabulary terms are accompanied by short essays that explain the authors' perspective and place each term in the context of current professional discourse. Thus, the exhibition represents a study that is, on one hand, rooted in self-reflection and presents an authorial view of the profession, and on the other, formulates universal principles and theses underpinning contemporary architecture.
The exhibition’s opening coincides with the release of a comprehensive monograph, ATRIUM Vocabulary: Dictionary of Architecture (published by TATLIN). This book delves even deeper into each term, presenting them through the lens of the bureau's own development history. As with everything created by ATRIUM, the book is a fully-fledged work of typographic and architectural art.
General partner: Donstroy
Radio partner: Business FM
The exhibition is supported by the following partners: Clever Group, Grestyle, KSM, Surface Laboratory, ARHITAIL, Alutech, Ceresit, Hammer, Varton, Made, Alicecom, Donstroy, Diat, Barka, White Hills, Delos, Sixinch, Larta Glass, Smart, Atlas Concorde, Centersvet, Creative Team.
| Location | Shchusev Museum of Architecture |
| Project year | 2024 |
| Project team | Anton Nadtochiy, Sergey Nadtochiy, Vera Butko, Yuliya Shishalova, Petr Alimov, Alisa Silantyeva, Alena Slukina, Timofey Zhilin, Alena Loginova, Elena Argutinskaya-Dolgorukaya |
