Published on: 2026-10-14
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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Expedition participants with the folk group “Tavolga” (in the center – Alexey Matveenko, from right to left – Lyudmila Rots, Alexandra Yeremeyeva, Sofya Galkina)
From September 25 to 28, a graduate student of the Department of Architectural Design at SPbGASU Alexey Matveenko, his academic supervisor is an associate professor Alexandra Yeremeeva, as well as graduate students Sofya Galkina, Svetlana Bryukhanova and Ksenia Karpunina participated in an interdisciplinary scientific research expedition to Karelia – the city of Belomorsk and the ancient Pomor village of Nyukhcha. The trip became part of the work on studying the architectural features of the cultural centers of the Russian North and allowed the participants to become better acquainted with the historical buildings of the region and the way of life of the local people.
The expedition is connected to the dissertation research of Alexei Matveenko titled “Architectural Features of the Formation of Cultural Centers in Northern Conditions (on the Example of the White Sea Region).” His work is dedicated to preserving the region’s unique culture and finding modern approaches to organizing public spaces that would help support local traditions and maintain the connection between historical heritage and everyday life.
One area of work was the study of the architectural environment of Nyukhchi. Participants became acquainted with the features of the layout of a traditional Pomor dwelling, the arrangement of buildings relative to the river, and the compactness and multifunctionality of internal spaces. These solutions were shaped by the harsh northern climate and the lifestyle of the Pomors, for whom the home was not only a place of residence but also a space that united various aspects of economic and family life.
An architectural tour of the village, led by the creator and custodian of the ethnocultural center of Pomor life “Khlamnoy Saray” Nadezhda Semyonova, helped to consider historical buildings in the context of local traditions. For research, it is important not only to record the features of individual buildings but also to understand how their layout, location, and use are connected to the lifestyle of the community. This allows for approaches to rethinking historical spaces and adapting them to modern public functions.
View of the village Nyukhcha from the bell tower of the Nikolskaya Church
An equally significant part of the expedition was the acquaintance with the intangible cultural heritage of Belomorye. The stories of local residents about the life of the Pomors, the construction of houses and karbass boats, marine trades, and family traditions complemented the participants’ understanding of the historical environment. This information helps to see the people behind the architectural sites, their everyday practices and cultural connections, through which the traditional buildings retain their significance for the local community.
A special event was a Pomor wedding organized in Nyukhcha specifically for the expedition participants. Ancient rituals, northern melodies performed by the folk ensemble “Tavolga” under the direction of Tatyana Schmidt and wedding tradition symbols showed how cultural practices unite people and fill the space with social meaning. This experience is important for the study of cultural centers: they can become places not only for preserving objects and historical evidence but also for passing on traditions, holding rituals, and collective events.
The expedition materials will assist in the further analysis of the historical prerequisites for the formation of centers of folk culture and the interconnection of architecture with their contemporary functions. On this basis, Aleksey Matveenko is developing architectural and urban planning principles for organizing cultural centers in the White Sea region, focused on the needs of local residents and the development of tourism.
The theoretical provisions of the dissertation are also used in the preparation of master’s thesis projects by students of the Department of Architectural Design. Thus, the study of the region becomes the foundation for the design work, which must take into account both the characteristics of the historical environment and the needs of the contemporary community.
The expedition participants also visited the White Sea Petroglyphs Visitor Center. They thank the organizers of the trip: the chairman of the Pomor Culture Guild of the Russian Creative Union of Cultural Workers Lyudmila Rots, To Nadezhda Semyonova, as well as the folklore ensemble “Tavolga,” for their help in introducing the history, architecture, and cultural traditions of Belomorye.
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