‘Domestic Theatre’ concept, 1970s

‘Domestic Theatre’ was a speculative concept for the development of living spaces that was created at VNIITE in the early 1970s by Evgeny Bogdanov (1946–2021), Vladimir Paperny (b. 1944), and Alexander Ryabushin (1931–2012); the first two were graduates of the MVKhPU (previously known as the Stroganov School), while the third had been their instructor.
After analysing international developments, they concluded that the living spaces of the future should consist of functional and thematic zones that were adjustable and interchangeable—just like theatre sets—to meet the changing needs of residents. They proposed a solution in which mobile units allowed a structure’s dimensions to be easily changed (as opposed to the rigid layout of traditional structures). Another take on this concept was the ,Domestic Information Machine’ (DIM) project.
The series of explanatory illustrations on the concept of ‘Domestic Theatre’ comes from the book ‘Living environment as an object of conceptual foresight. Materials for the experimental design of domestic appliances’ by Ryabushin, Bogdanov and Paperny, published 1972 by VNIITE.