About Us
The Moscow Institute of Architecture (State Academy) MARKHI is the leading architectural institution in the country. It was established in 1749, now occupies a historic 19th-century building, formerly a palace, then a hospital. MARKHI prepares specialists with higher qualifications who are then successfully employed in a broad variety of architectural and design companies. The institute maintains contacts with numerous architectural and art institutes abroad. Among students, there are students from Russia, countries of the ex-Soviet Union, Europe, Asia and North and South America.MARKHI curriculum has received the accreditation of UNESCO-UIA.
MARKHI has inherited traditions going back to the first architectural school, founded by D. Ukhtomsky and continued by the school of V. Bazhenov and M. Kazakov within the Kremlin expedition. Many of the greatest Russian architects have passed through the institute. History lives on at the school through relatively traditional education. This does not, however, have negative consequences on student work.
Training architects of a broad profile includes also studying a variety of subjects on a corresponding department: town planning, the architecture of residential and public buildings, architecture of industrial buildings, architecture of rural settlements, theory and history of architecture, restoration - reconstruction of buildings, landscape architecture, regional planning and town master plans, principles of town planning theory, design of the architectural environment.
The Institute also trains post-graduates, and award the scientific degree - Candidate of Architecture (equivalent to the PhD in the West). The teaching staff of the Institute includes approximately 400 full-time teachers, amongst them there are 138 professors and associate professors, 66% of the teaching staff hold a PhD.
All the subjects studied in the institute are relatively united into blocks on the following main courses:
Humanities and Social Economic Subjects
General Mathematical and Science Subjects
General Professional Subjects
Contemporary Problems of History and Theory of Architecture, Urban Design
Architectural design (speciality «Architecture»)
Environmental design (speciality «Design of Architectural Environment»)
Emphasis is still placed on hand drawing and traditional arts are emphasised, including painting and sculpture. A computer lab teaches basic competency in a wide range of applied programs. The facilities also include sculpture workshops, painting workshops, a 3D printer, and a big library. The library is well stocked, with a rare book collection in accordance with the institution’s rich history. Students have many student associations, and often hold technological workshops and public events.