At the end of 2017 there appeared a new book by the American photographer and historian, William Brumfield, who is professor of Slavic Studies at Tulane University (New Orleans) and a specialist in the architecture of the Russian North. Entitled Cherepovets, the book is devoted to the architectural heritage of the Cherepovets region.
The book was published by «Tri Kvadrata» in Moscow with the support of the Office of the Mayor of Cherepovets as well as the companies Severstal and Phosagro. This is the seventh volume in a series dedicated to the architecture of the Vologda territory. Previous volumes included Veliky Ustiug (2007), Kirillov and Ferapontovo (2009), Ustiuzhna (2010), Belozersk (2011) and Vologda (2012). Brumfield's book contains some 150 color photographs taken during his research and photography in the Cherepovets region over the past decade.
Brumfield first visited Cherepovets in 2005. He notes: «Although Cherepovets might seem to be just an industrial city, in fact it possesses a unique urban environment with a well-preserved historic core. Despite the loss of a number of architectural monuments, many more have been preserved, and some are being resurrected at present».
The book's text, in both Russian and English, examines the architectural history of Cherepovets as well as the church architecture in the surrounding villages and parishes of the Cherepovets region. The text begins with an examination of the prerevolutionary history of Cherepovets, a largely merchant environment with an extensive commercial and residential district. This section also surveys Soviet-era architectural projects developed in conjunction with the creation of one of the world’s largest steel mills.
The second part of the text surveys the architectural heritage of the region’s surrounding villages. Of special significance are parish churches, including wooden churches dating to the late 17th century. Also included are masonry churches, many of which were severely damaged during the Soviet period and now being restored for active parish use. The text includes endnotes with research sources.
The book’s photographic survey consists of a comprehensive selection of the author’s photographs taken during a period of some fifteen years. The first half portrays Cherepovets. The photographic documentation begins with the churches of Cherepovets and includes interior as well as exterior views. The following section contains a comprehensive survey of the well-preserved prerevolutionary center of Cherepovets, as well as imposing examples of Soviet architecture (houses, theaters, administrative buildings) primarily from the 1950s and early 1960s. The second half of the photographic section focuses on the architectural heritage of region’s villages, with detailed attention to religious architecture. Each caption contains the date of the photograph, essential information for the documentary component of the book.
The book can be acquired through internet sources or through the publisher's site triquadrata.ru
Теги: William Brumfield, Cherepovets