We are in an alternative central Moscow of the 1960s, where World War Two never occurred and following the collapse of Stalin’s rule, a new architectural language and form of government are needed.

Throughout the 20th century, Russian culture can be seen to have oscillated between anarchy and dictatorship. The Ministry of Animation seeks a compromise between the two – democracy – to improve the relationship between the government and its people.

This conflict between order and chaos is manifest through fire, which burns a part of the building down every few years and encourages a sustainable renewal of the political agenda. The ministry follows in the footsteps of the 1943 protest at the Palace of the Soviets. Then, a Stalinist building was reappropriated for Moscow’s creative mavericks and burned as a symbol of change once discovered by the state.