Social Architecture of the City: Historical Memory in a Modern Interior

Abstract

The article analyzes the concepts of architecture and social architecture, viewing the latter as a metaphoric construct reflecting the complex interactions between humans and space. The underlying premise is that architecture, as a cultural phenomenon and social practice, evolves in accordance with sociocultural paradigms, needs, and opportunities of society. In this context, architecture emerges as a tool for understanding and transforming social space, reflecting the dynamics of social relations and value orientations. A brief overview of various approaches to understanding social architecture is presented within philosophical, sociological, and business discourses, as well as within the context of network structures. Particular attention is paid to the historical context of the development of social space using the example of one of Moscow’s oldest districts — Zamoskvorechye, where architectural solutions and social practices demonstrate the interconnectedness between the organizational, functional, and social aspects of spatial development. The study demonstrates that social architecture was initially aimed at harmonizing social life in a specific spatial context, ensuring the satisfaction of the social needs of individuals and communities. Thus, the phenomenon of social architecture is considered as an integrative process that includes not only architectural planning decisions, but also socio-cultural, economic and political factors that determine the development and functioning of social space.