HACIA LA NUEVA SOCIEDAD COMUNISTA: LA CASA DE TRANSICIÓN DEL NARKOMFIN, EPÍLOGO DE UNA INVESTIGACIÓN / Towards the new communist society: the transition House of Narkomfin, a research epilogue

Abstract

RESUMEN  En el contexto de inestabilidad y cambio vivido en la URSS durante la decada de 1920, un grupo de arquitectos dirigido por Moisei Ginzburg abordo el tema del alojamiento de masas. Su mision no seria solo dar solucion al problema de la vivienda, sino redefinirla como el marco adecuado para una sociedad sometida a un cambio sin precedentes. La respuesta se desarrollo a traves de un proceso de investigacion que duro mas de cinco anos, en tres aproximaciones sucesivas que culminaron con el edificio Narkomfin. La primera, de caracter conceptual, se formalizo en el Concurso Amistoso de 1926. La segunda se articulo a traves de la investigacion del Stroikom bajo premisas cientificas y metodologicas. Finalmente, las conclusiones tipologicas alcanzadas en esta segunda etapa se materializaron en la construccion de algunos ejemplos, entre los que destaco el edificio Narkomfin. Este ultimo acercamiento, de caracter empirico, ha sido tradicionalmente examinado por los expertos como un hecho aislado. Sin embargo, su estudio debe trascender necesariamente el genio del autor-creador en favor del proceso de investigacion al que pertenece. Solo desde este punto de vista cobra sentido la consideracion de Ginzburg sobre su propio edificio como un medio propositivo y no impositivo: un proyecto concebido como una herramienta de transicion hacia una sociedad mas avanzada. SUMMARY  In the context of instability and change experienced in the USSR during the 1920’s, a group of architects directed by Moisei Ginzburg approached the subject of housing the masses. His mission would not only be to solve the housing problem, but to redefine it as the framework suitable for a society subjected to an unprecedented change. The answer was developed through a research process that lasted more than five years, in three successive approaches that culminated with the Narkomfin building. The first, conceptual in character, was formalized in the Friendly Competition of 1926. The second was articulated through the research of the Stroikom under scientific and methodological premises. Finally, the typological conclusions reached in this second stage were materialized in the construction of some examples, among which the Narkomfin building was highlighted. This last approach, of empirical character, has traditionally been examined by the experts as an isolated fact. However, its study must necessarily transcend the genius of the author-creator in favour of the research process to which it belongs. Only from this point of view can sense be made of Ginzburg’s consideration of his own building as a proactive and non-imposed environment: a project conceived as a tool of transition towards a more advanced society.