Abstract: The subject of this research is the conservative approach towards aesthetics of architecture in the philosophy of British thinker, aesthetician and theorist of conservatism Roger Scruton. The cultural situation of postindustrial society – consumerism and commodification of culture – requires new approaches in art history, which are capable of establishing protective trends in the social life. Scruton offers an alternative approach towards art, which represents not so much a return to the traditional values, as revival of cultural situation. Such situation implies the existence of art as a translator of traditional values that strengthen social ties. This article is the first within the Russian scientific literature to examine the aesthetics of Scruton’s architecture in the context of his conservative philosophy, which defines the scientific novelty and outlines new horizons for research in the fields of aesthetics of architecture and philosophy of modern British conservatism. The conclusion is made that Scruton's appeal to the topic of aesthetic experience expands the problematic from pure aesthetics to the unity of ethics, theory of solidarity, and axiology of traditional culture.

Keywords: social values, axiology, conservatism, solidarity, ethics, aesthetics, Roger Scruton, architecture, classicism, modernist style

Abstract: Folded morphogenesis, which with the emergence of reinforced structures in the early XX century received a strong boost to the development, is actively used in modern architecture. The object of this research contains three types of buildings: 1) with folded forms as the main composite element; 2) with concept based on Gilles Deleuze theory of folds; 3) that use thin folded reinforced concrete structures. The goal of this work is to determine the development trend of folded morphogenesis in modern architecture, as well as give a forecast to the development of folded morphogenesis. The criteria for analysis became the quantitative and qualitative indicators: duration of construction, duration of exploitation, cost of construction, capacity, total area, height, construction material, construction place, situation, aesthetic aspect, functionality, number of floors, utility, private or government capital, and the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The research results demonstrate that the development trends of folded morphogenesis are vectored from utilitarian to spectacular function, as well as excessive fascination of the architects with aesthetics of the folded forms.

Keywords: curvilinearity, Deleuzian paradigm, aesthetics, statistical analysis, development trends, morphogenesis, fold, modern architecture, compositional structure, utilitarity

Abstract: The subject of this research is the analysis of Yekaterinburg beautification project “Boulevard Strip” that includes the street quarter of Verkh-Isetsky Boulevard – Repina Street – Moskovskaya Street – Popova Street. The object of this research is the analysis of advantages and disadvantages of the project “Boulevard Strip”, from the perspective of which the recreational territories should form a uniform landscape and urban development system of the city. The main goals consist in the assessment of current state of the development of recreational systems of Yekaterinburg, and analysis of transformation and reconstruction of the “boulevard strip”. Yekaterinburg marks desolation of boulevards that yet are not subject to reconstruction in comparison with the new boulevards and boulevard rings that have already undergone a large-scale reconstruction, including with application of the principles of landscape urbanism. A popular boulevard is located within the structure of microdistrict, remote from road transport, designed for playground, active and passive recreation. These characteristics should serve as the basis for designing new boulevards.

Keywords: environmental friendliness, green architecture, landscape urbanism, city ​​frame, comfortable environment, recreational area, tabloid tape, boulevard, landscaping, attractor

Abstract: The article considers the problem of restoring the urban identity of a typical Ural city. In a historical context, typicality is understood as a commonality of origin. Currently, the Ural cities are in urgent pursuit of their own identity, which in the author sees as a reflexive social need of belonging to a place. It is reasonable to consider that the urban landscape plays an important role in the formation of identity. The article gives examples of the formation of social identity based on cultural landscape of the city. It is established that the industrial heritage of the Ural industrial city manifests as the grounds for the formation of its identity. Architectural and landscape reconstruction serves as the key method for the formation of identity. The author gives recommendations pertaining to implementation of such reconstruction. The main conclusion consists in the statement that a typical way of formation of identity of the Ural industrial city is the architectural and landscape reconstruction of its central area, which includes the following objects: city pond, dam, plant facilities and temple on the premises, house of the mining engineer. Namely the architectural and landscape reconstruction of this industrial heritage allows restoring the urban identity.

Keywords: Ural mining and metallurgical civilization, urban brand, brand name, territorial identity, identity, cultural landscape, landscape, architectural and landscape reconstruction, city identity, identity with the city

Abstract: The subject of this article is a monographic research of the Senior Scientific Associate of the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences A. V. Belova, which is focused on the large-scale transformations that took place in urban life of the Russian Empire during the reign of Catherine II. The author of the monograph seeks to characterize the reforms based on the example of four provinces of Central Russia: Moscow, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, and Kaluga. This work vastly uses published and unpublished sources, as well as a significant array of research literature. The peer-reviewed work leans on the principles of historicism, reliability, objectivity; methodological framework includes systematic approach and comparative method. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that the author attempts to give comprehensive characteristics to preparation, implementation and consequences of the city reform carried out by the Empress Catherine, attracting the materials from four Russian “indigenous” provinces. The author believes that despite certain doubts of both, contemporaries and future historians, especially of the liberal school, namely the reforms of Catherine the Great laid the foundations for the fundamentally new type of a city that met the requirements of the time.

Keywords: beautification, economy, administration, contradictions, Central Russia, Catherine the Great, reform, city, achievement, experience