On 29 October, second-year students from the SPbGASU Department of Architectural Design participated in a thematic session, "Dialogue with the Urban Environment," held as part of the BRICS International Municipal Forum in St Petersburg. The event was organized by the Committee for External Relations and the Committee for Urban Development and Architecture of St Petersburg. The session focused on harmonizing the city's architectural appearance, color schemes for facades, architectural lighting for buildings, and preserving the historical identity of the urban environment.

Acting Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Andrey Surovenkov, delivered a report titled "Color in the historical environment of St Petersburg on the examples of SPbGASU student courseworks." He emphasized that color was not only an aesthetic category, but also an important tool for preserving the identity of a place, the legibility of urban ensembles, and building a respectful dialogue between the past and the present.

"Color isn't just aesthetics; it's a language of respect for a historic city. It expresses the identity of the place and the legibility of urban ensembles. It's important to find a balance between preserving the city's material layer and enhancing contemporary life," noted Andrey Surovenkov.

In his speech, he outlined the key challenges facing the visual environment of central St Petersburg: inconsistent facade colors, visual noise from signs and storefronts, fading paintwork, and unauthorized renovations. At the same time, according to the speaker, there is also a reverse risk—the "museumification" of the urban fabric, when the desire for preservation turns the historical environment into a static backdrop, losing its connection with modern life.

At SPbGASU, urban color issues are studied not only in theory but also through student projects, which serve as a laboratory for analysis and experimentation. Future architects conduct historical and coloristic analyses, photographic surveys, and map dominant features and palettes of eras, developing design recommendations for neighborhoods in the historical center of the Northern Capital. This approach allows students to view their projects as pilot models for potential urban solutions.

The university's proposed principles include a "subtle restoration" of the palette—a combination of neutral background facades with accent elements and careful coordination of modern inserts with the historical context. Tools include color passports for buildings and streets, pattern books for facades and storefronts, an open map of the city's "color codes," and guidelines for selecting durable paints and varnishes.

According to session participants, the implementation of such approaches contributes to a more cohesive streetscape, improved urban environment quality, predictable business solutions, and reduced conflicts between residents, authorities, and developers. SPbGASU proposed implementing joint pilot projects with the Committee for Urban Development and Architecture on selected streets of St Petersburg, as well as holding a student design competition as a form of public dialogue within the BRICS forum.