The Weaving Sail Project Team
On 30 March, the design workshop of the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering hosted two significant events for senior school students: the defense of school projects and a career guidance workshop.
The event was organized for students from School No. 347, a specialized English language program in St Petersburg's Nevsky District. As part of the "Project Activities" program, eight pupils presented their work, including using the Renga software. The projects covered a wide range of topics, from architecture and robotics to linguistics, history, and economics.
The students defended their projects before school teacher Oleg Sukhorukov and a university expert committee. The defense was conducted in a format as close as possible to the student format, allowing the pupils to gain valuable public speaking experience.
During the break, the participants visited an exhibition dedicated to the preservation of the architectural heritage of Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Of particular interest was the opportunity to explore cultural heritage sites using VR technology.
The highlight of the day was the master class "Profession: restoration architect." Senior pupils not only learned about the specifics of this professional activity but also tried their hand at being one. As a practical assignment, they were asked to explore one of the buildings of Baron Stieglitz's Narva Flax and Jute Mill, located in the historic Parusinka district of Ivangorod.
Working in teams, the pupils completed all stages of professional analysis: they studied the building's history, assessed its current condition, documented defects, and proposed options for its modern use.
Following their work, the first team developed a concept for the "Stieglitz House" art space, including an exhibition center, craft workshops, and a regional museum. The second team presented a design for the "Weaving Sail" cultural space, featuring a concert hall, exhibition areas, coworking spaces, children's studios, and an observation deck on a water tower. In the final round, both teams successfully defended their projects, demonstrating a high level of preparation and creativity.
The event allowed participants not only to gain a deeper understanding of the architectural restoration profession, which can be mastered at SPbGASU, but also to learn about the university's other educational programs and admission requirements.
As Inna Sukhanova, Director of the SPbGASU Educational Center for Project-Based Learning, noted, the project workshop plans to further develop its collaboration with schools. She explained that such meetings help pupils assess their knowledge, develop public speaking skills, and make an informed choice about their future profession.
Students of the "Reconstruction and Restoration of Architectural Heritage" program, Maya Kaluzhina and Varvara Yeltsova, also took part in the master class, helping the pupils immerse themselves in the profession in practice.
The organizers are confident that such events are an important step toward developing a new generation of specialists in the field of preserving Russia's cultural heritage.
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