C O N T E X T 9 7 : N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 6 35 were made. Towards the end of my stay I had a televised meeting with the regional vice-governor. I suggested that Perm had a great deal to offer foreign visitors, and that they should not underestimate or undervalue the significance of historic neighbourhoods within the city. However, because of the decay of the original timber buildings, many of these areas were designated for demolition and redevelopment. I suggested that a conservation-led regeneration strategy similar to those adopted in Newcastle or Liverpool could help in providing refurbished buildings and promoting tourism. Onmy final day I was invited to a round table meeting at the House of Architects. I was able to describe UK principles of balancing the conservation of the historic environment with promoting good modern design. I described how these two forces could be seen as complementary and not in opposition to each other. I promised to have some of the UK documents on sustainable development and conservation translated and to pass these on to my professional contacts. I look forward to further opportunities to continue these discussions. buildings apart from the limited ‘state monument’ designation. I pointed out that Oxford, Perm’s twin city, with a population of about 120,000, has over 1,500 listed buildings. I suggested that if Perm wished to follow the example of its twin, it should quickly identify and protect many more of its historic buildings and sites. A few days later I visited the studio of a leading modern architect and the chairman of the House of Architects. On a tour of his recently completed buildings, he spoke of the need to modernise the city. He expressed concern that pressures for conservation of historic areas would inhibit development opportunities. By contrast, I met an environmental campaigner and a prominent advocate of the conservation of historic areas in Perm. He told me of the growth of interest in issues connected with environmental sustainability, but said that these views were seldom welcomed by developers and the authorities. I told him that such differences of opinion were a routine feature of the planning process in the UK. We discussed how widespread public consultation on planning proposals in the UK was used to generate public debate and make a full range of opinions available before decisions Robert Parkinson is an architect/planner who leads the conservation, design and landscape team in West Oxfordshire. He is currently the international secretary of IHBC and is chair of the South branch. He was the last treasurer of ACO and the first treasurer of the IHBC. Left: Uspenskaya Church in its wooded setting in the snow (Photo: Richard Sills) Right: The Peter and Paul Cathedral Left: Vsesvyatskaya Right: Sludskaya
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