In an action timed to coincide with World Architecture Day, which is celebrated annually on the first Monday in October, the Russian State Art Library (RSAL) was visited by students of the architecture and construction departments of universities, art historians, and readers interested in the history of architecture.

The programme opened with a master class on how to photograph architecture (Kak rabotat c objektom) conducted by the photographer and head of the Northern Pilgrim publishing house Sergey Obukh.

Guests were introduced to RSAL’s 100-year history, its structure, collections, and the extensive informational possibilities of the library.

RSAL specialists prepared ‘The Moderne in Russian Architecture’ exhibition of academic and popular publications. Included are the works of the greatest architecture researchers dedicated to the work of architects Fyodor Shechtel, Lev Kekushev, Fyodor Livchak, and others, and monographs dedicated to Art Nouveau in Moscow, St Petersburg, and the provincial cities of Russia.

A workshop was held for participants to learn about the possibilities of personally searching for materials in specialised databases, showing the potential of obtaining information online.

The day’s programme ended with a meeting with the director of the VOLKOVproject architectural bureau Andrey Volkov, who spoke about the importance of special literature in the training of architects and shared the specifics of the profession, its pros and cons.

The guests of the Day of the Architect at RSAL appreciated the versatile possibilities offered by the library for those who have chosen the profession of architect.