Time to Create: Mikhail Piotrovsky on Architectural Ideas That Will Become Museum Exhibits

It has been just over a month since the launch of the 9th season of the Golden Trezzini Awards, but it feels like the momentum is already in full swing: more than a hundred entries from nine countries have been submitted, and fifty of them are already publicly available on our website. Judging by previous years, hundreds more projects are on the way, which will be observed not only by professionals but also by museum experts.

Let us return to how it all began on February 11 at TASS. The tone was set by Mikhail Piotrovsky, President of The Worldwide St Petersburg Club and Director of the State Hermitage Museum. His speech was dedicated to the "St. Petersburg code," which always sparks vivid interest. Piotrovsky reminded the audience that the Golden Trezzini Awards are a vital bearer of that very St. Petersburg architectural culture, which exists as a constant—from the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral to Pulkovo Airport. According to Piotrovsky, the award acts as a transmitter of these values, uniting all those who sincerely love our city, regardless of borders.

The main argument in favor of the Golden Trezzini is that projects here do not simply disappear into an archive; they become museum exhibits. Piotrovsky rightly noted that half of all great architecture actually exists only on paper. The competition gives these ideas a chance not to be lost, but to attain the status of art, preserved for history in the collections of the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. Furthermore, the fact that experts select works based on a "global St. Petersburg taste" only confirms that St. Petersburg remains a global capital that sets its own rules of the game.

Video of Piotrovsky's speech in English https://youtu.be/K61pN2Gp0ME?si=kb2Zzmc25fjKI_bu

The 9th season of the Golden Trezzini Awards is an opportunity for architects, designers, restorers, and students to make a name for themselves. Applications are accepted until September 15, 2026. Projects developed or completed after January 1, 2024, are eligible for nomination. Participation in the awards is free, and the grand award ceremony will take place on November 20, 2026, at the State Hermitage Museum.