About the Site

Nizhny Novgorod, called Gorky in the Soviet period, is a large industrial and trading city at the confluence of the rivers Volga and Oka, east of Moscow. It has many historic structures and innovative architectural examples from all periods of its history. In the 19th century, Nizhny was the leading industrial and mercantile city in Russia and was the centre for Russia's trade with Central and East Asia

The site chosen for the exhibition was a former industrial area on the banks of the River Oka close to where it joins with the Volga. This area comprises the first industrial buildings in the city, including the first railway station. The site was abandoned early in this century as industry moved to larger purpose-built regions on the other side of the river. Today the area contains a number of derelict structures overgrown by a wilderness of trees: an old pumping station, a water-tower, the remains of the railway station and some smaller ruins.

The site encompasses an interesting contrast of wild nature and man-made structures which have themselves become overgrown and passed into a state of nature. Above the site on the crest of the hill are three Soviet-era radio towers which in the Cold War period were used to jam Western radio signals. The site's position on the river bank facing the modern industrial zone also emphasize the links between history and landscape, nature and human endeavor.