Categories
Business

Coworking market in St. Petersburg is predicted to grow

In St. Petersburg, there are more than 50 coworking centers, flexible office spaces, and anti-cafes, experts say. Development of the coworking market in 2020 expected. More specialized flexible spaces will appear in the city.

Categories
Events

Modernists exhibition in Saint Petersburg

The exhibition named “Gustav Klimt. Golden Kiss” combines the works of four famous modernist artists: they all brilliant in their work: Gustav Klimt, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Alfons Mucha, and Egon Schiele. The event will be held in the Loft Project Floors from February 3rd to April 26th, 2020.

Gustav Klimt is an Austrian painter, graphic artist, and decorator. His name is usually associated with the Art Nouveau style. “Kiss” is the most famous and very characteristic painting of the artist, which also gave the name to the exhibition.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is the most famous master of Art Nouveau in France. The posters of Henri de Toulouse Lautrec did an excellent job of what they were intended: they advertised the gloss of the Parisian half-light, alcohol, vice, and cancan. It was the posters that brought the artist the coveted fame.

Alfons Mucha
“Dance” by Alphonse Mucha

Alphonse Mucha, who was called a brilliant artist during his lifetime, would now be called rather a brilliant designer. Indeed, for the sake of justice, it’s worth saying that his paintings, including the famous series “Slavic Epic”, were not nearly as popular as the replicated images of romantic beauties from posters and labels.

Egon Schiele is an Austrian painter and graphic artist, one of the brightest representatives of Austrian expressionism. The main theme of his creative work was the human body. He revised the views of academic painting, in which the body acted as an object for contemplation. For his life, which lasted only 28 years, Egon Schiele wrote and painted more self-portraits than all the artists known before him in art history. He often portrayed himself grotesquely, sometimes with traces of decay. Art historians compare his work with a portrait of Dorian Gray.

egon schiele
“Female Nude Lying On Her Stomach” by Egon Schiele

The exhibition will feature 80 reproductions of paintings in the technique of giclee, posters and drawings by artists, equipped with a description of the plots and the history of each painting. Tours will be available for guests, one can buy souvenirs as a keepsake.

The Giclee technique allows you to completely recreate immortal masterpieces on natural canvas, to reproduce all the nuances of color and chiaroscuro, to convey the character and texture of the brushstroke. Even such unique features as craquelures or hairs that have fallen from the brush are preserved. Thus, digital art reproduction is not an imitation, but an exact, facsimile reproduction of the original.

Categories
Society

Russia will need 105,000 migrants in 2020

The Russian economy will need 105,000 foreign workers in 2020. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova at a meeting of the Russian tripartite commission for the regulation of social and labor relations.

Categories
Real Estate

Housing prices in Russia will rise by 10-15% in 2020

New development in 2020 will rise in price by 10%, apartments on the secondary market by 6%. Such a forecast was made by real estate portal CIAN analysts. In some new buildings, where apartments are in demand, the price increase may reach 15%, developers say. The cost of housing will increase due to the transition to escrow accounts, lower supply volumes, and mortgage rates.

Categories
Travel

Over 9 million tourists visited Saint Petersburg in 2019

2019 was a record-breaking year for the Saint Petersburg tourism industry. For the first time in history 9.1 million people visited the city in 2019. The tourist flow to the Northern capital increased by 10% compared to 2018.

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Business

The number of hypermarkets has decreased in Russia

The share of discounters in the total area exceeded 55%

The Ministry of Industry and Trade analyzed the development of the retail real estate market in 2019. According to the results of last year, the share of hypermarkets and supermarkets decreased, while the share of discounters and convenience stores increased, the Parliamentary newspaper writes with reference to these departments.

Over the 11 months of 2019, the total discounter area increased by 1.8%. The share of discounters in the structure of the total area increased to 55.1%. The Ministry of Industry and Trade notes that last year there were prerequisites for reducing government intervention in the retail segment.

Earlier, analysts noted that in 2019 in Moscow, the main engines of trade were supermarkets near the house, coffee shops, and burger shops. Experts have announced the disappearance of large supermarkets from the capital’s street retail market.

The company Knight Frank believes that metropolitan shopping centers are expected to transform. Now more than 60 Moscow retail facilities built over four years ago need reconstruction. About 75 shopping centers that were built before 2010 do not meet the conditions of tenants and customer requests.

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Business

Top 10 highest paying jobs in Russia

It is not always possible to objectively measure a job income. The salary level of different professions may vary, and some representatives of a profession earn a lot more money than others and stand out among their peers. The income of top stylists is 300-400 thousand rubles a month, but the average salary of a qualified hairdresser in Moscow is 50 thousand rubles a month. There are not many “stars” in the professions. So, who gets the biggest salary in the labor market in Russia?

First, note that income level varies significantly in different regions. In Russia, the salary level is always stated as monthly as opposed to other countries where people are used to yearly salary. According to the Federal State Statistics Service, the average salary in Russia was 42,595 rubles per month in 2019, but this indicator fluctuated greatly depending on the region – for example, in it is slightly lower in Volgograd (30,097), Ivanovo (26,053) and Tver (30,764).

Traditionally, average high salaries are in Moscow (79 thousand rubles per month), St. Petersburg (58 310), in the north of Russia (Magadan Oblast, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, Yakutia, etc.), as well as in megacities; but this post will focus on the average income across different professions and provide a list of top 10 highest paying jobs in Russia.

high job income level Russia

Dentist. A doctor who is engaged in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the teeth, oral cavity and maxillofacial area. Dental surgeons and orthopedic dentists are considered the highest-paid. The average salary of a dentist in Russia is 70,000 rubles. Private clinics provide higher than salary than public ones. The maximum dentist salaries in Moscow reach 350,000 rubles.

Obstetrician-gynecologist. A doctor who treats gynecological pathologies, diseases that impede the conception and bearing of a child, controls the condition of the mother and the unborn child before childbirth and the birth process itself. Fertility doctors are especially popular, they deal with infertility problems in both men and women. The average salary of a gynecologist is 80 000 rubles. The maximum salary of a fertility specialist at a commercial medical center in Moscow is 500,000 rubles.

Drilling engineer/foreman. A specialist who organizes and controls the process of drilling wells for mining. An engineer assesses the risks associated with drilling: the possibility of collapse, environmental damage, and employee safety. A course on drilling engineering can be taken after finishing high school (11 grades), to be successful in this profession one needs to focus on chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The average salary in the country is 90,000 rubles. The maximum income is 180,000 rubles.

high paid jobs

Risk manager/Financial Risk Assessment Specialist. A specialist who can work for banks, insurance companies and enterprises in the energy sector. The duties include risk assessment based on statistics from past years and current conditions. Based on the research one comes up with a plan to prevent the economic and financial losses of the company. This profession is in most demand in large businesses. The average salary for this job is 100,000 rubles. The maximum income is 350,000 rubles.

IOS and Android developers. Programmers who create applications for smartphones, tablets and other portable devices on two popular platforms – iOS and Android. This profession is required in all commercial organizations that develop and support their own mobile applications. While the demand for developers far exceeds supply, their average salary fluctuates around 140,000 rubles, and the maximum is about 240,000 rubles. Mobile development courses are available on the Internet, at Russian and foreign online course platforms.

highest paying professions Russia

Big Data Analyst. A software engineer who works with large amounts of data of varying fragmentation degrees and structure. Working with big data opens previously inaccessible opportunities in a variety of areas – now Big Data analysis is widely used in IT, marketing, banking, public administration, and agriculture. Therefore, the average salary of a Big Data specialist is 140,000 rubles, and the maximum is about 250,000 rubles.

SAP Consultant. ERP consultant who implements IT automation solutions in medium and large enterprises. To become SAP consultant, one needs to have a university degree in IT or economics, good English skills and, preferably, German. All vacancies require at least 1 year of experience in implementing and maintaining SAP. Average salary: 160,000 rubles. The maximum is 350,000 rubles.

Java/Ruby programmer. A specialist who develops highly loaded systems, web applications and various kinds of programs in Java or Ruby programming languages. Not all Russian IT universities master these very popular languages ​​in the world, therefore, to master them, one needs motivation, perseverance and the ability to learn independently. The average salary of Java/Ruby developer is 160,000 rubles. The maximum is 470,000 rubles.

pilot is a high salary job in Russia

Civil Aviation Pilot. A very attractive profession, especially considering that it does not require higher education. But the competition among pilots is also high, so at least 150 hours of flying time, experience and international certification will be required to obtain the position of the first pilot. The average salary of the first pilot, captain of an aircraft in Russia is 150,000 rubles. The maximum is 650,000 rubles.

Ship captain. A very romantic and responsible profession. The captain is responsible for passengers, cargo and for the safety of the ship itself. Captains of large ships and ocean liners earn the most. Their average salary is 185,000 rubles, and the maximum is 500,000 rubles. But in order to become a captain, it’s not enough to attend a maritime academy, one will have to work as a navigator or as an assistant to the captain, get the experience of a navigator and only then get the coveted promotion.

Please note that there are no top managers or executives on this list, it consists of specialists who are still lacking in the labor market in Russia, and their salaries are above the national average. In most demand are various types of IT specialists, medical specialties and employees with increased responsibility – pilots and captains.

big salary profession

How to get a high paying job in Russia

To receive a high income, one should focus on specific skills that are in demand. This list may be adjusted depending on the specifics of a position or an industry. Nevertheless, it is possible to outline the basic requirements for specialists who aim for a highly paid position:

  • working experience in the industry 5-10 years;
  • good knowledge of foreign languages ​​(at least English);
  • specialized education (especially large foreign universities are valued);
  • MBA degree;
  • high-stress resistance;
  • personnel management skills.

Feedback from previous employers is also important, therefore it is important for a highly paid specialist to maintain good relations with the employer even after leaving the company.

jobs of the future

Highly-paid professions in Russia for the next 5-10 years (promising professions)

Most often there is a demand for the workforce because the industry is developing rapidly, and the education system is lagging. There is not enough time to prepare a qualified professional for the tasks of the employer. The current highest demand in the IT field relates to the fact that universities do not train enough IT specialists to a level required by an employer. For example, one can become a programmer or information security specialist at a university or college, but at the same time, a person can grow professionally to the level of a development operations engineer, game designer or Big Data analyst at the expense of their own strong-willed and intellectual competencies. Therefore, such professionals will be in demand and have high salaries in Russia.

Another reason for high salaries Russia may be the demand for this specialist not only in the labor market but also abroad. This category includes software developers, athletes, pilots, captains of sea vessels. Russian employers must provide a position with a high salary, if not at the European or American level, then not much lower, otherwise the employee will want to move to a foreign company. This situation happened in aviation in February 2018, when experienced pilots began to leave for Asian countries because salaries and demand for their specialty are higher abroad. Russian airline Aeroflot was forced to raise salaries for pilots operating Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 to the declared level of 650,000 rubles per month.

Highly-paid industries in Russia where the employees will be in demand in the next 5-10 years are:

  • Information technology
  • Financial industry
  • Extractive and chemical industries

However, remember that the shortage of specialists in a certain area may stop, and the level of salaries will decrease. Therefore, choose a profession according to your liking and interests, so that you want to develop it and grow professionally.

Categories
Culture

What do the domes of Russian Orthodox churches mean?

Since ancient times, the Christian religion was filled with special signs that were embodied in the architecture of temples. What is the meaning of the shape, color, and the number of domes of the Russian Orthodox Church?

Color of the domes

Gold. The most common color of Orthodox domes represents eternity and heavenly glory. Temples with golden domes were dedicated to Christ and the great church holidays: Christmas, Present, Annunciation. Such chapters crown the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior and Kremlin cathedrals.

Today, domes are not lined with gold, but earlier the metal was dissolved in mercury, and then the resulting amalgam was applied to a hot copper sheet. The gilding process was very expensive and time-consuming. For example, it took 100 kilograms of gold to cover the dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral in Saint Petersburg.

St. Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg
St. Isaac’s Cathedral

Blue with stars. Temples with such domes are most often dedicated to the Virgin. The blue color symbolizes the purity of the Virgin Mary, and the stars refer to the Star of Bethlehem, which marked the birth of Jesus Christ.

Green. This color is considered a sign of the Holy Spirit. Most often, it can be found in churches dedicated to the Holy Trinity. One of these buildings is the Holy Trinity Church “Easter cake and Easter”. The idea to give the church the shape of traditional Easter dishes belonged to the customer of construction – Prince Alexander Vyazemsky.

Silver. This color in Orthodoxy is associated with purity and holiness. Churches dedicated to saints are crowned with silver domes – for example, St. Nicholas Church on Lipna near Velikiy Novgorod and St. Sophia Cathedral in Vologda.

The multicolored domes in the Orthodox tradition remind of the beauty of Heavenly Jerusalem. This is how the domes of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood look like in St. Petersburg and St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. Foreign travelers admire the colored patterns of the domes and compare them to the scales of a cedar cone, pineapple, and artichoke. This type of head was acquired after the fire of 1595 – then the temple was rebuilt.

St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow
St. Basil’s Cathedral

Form of the domes

The spherical dome in the Orthodox tradition symbolizes eternity. The Romans began to build temples with similar domes: in the 2nd century, they learned how to build ceilings of a large area without supports. The Roman pantheon built this way in 128 AD has survived to our days.

The onion dome in Orthodox architecture is the embodiment of prayer, the desire for heaven. According to researchers, such a dome on the base of the drum resembles a candle flame. Bulbous chapters are characteristic of Russian architecture of the 16th – 17th centuries.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

The tent, instead of the traditional dome, is interpreted in Christianity as the image of the Virgin or the Light of heaven. Tent temples were common in the 16th century, although similar churches were built before. Usually, they were constructed from wood: it was very difficult to repeat the design of the tent in stone.

How many domes does the Orthodox Church have?

One dome reminds believers of the unity of God. One-domed temples were especially popular in pre-Mongol times. The most famous of them is the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl and the Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir. Both temples were built in the 12th century – they survived the devastating Mongol-Tatar invasions and exist to this day.

Two domes are infrequent and mark the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ.

Three domes are associated with the Holy Trinity. Three chapters crown the St. George Cathedral of St. George Monastery – the oldest monastery in Velikiy Novgorod.

Five domes are a symbol of Jesus Christ and the four evangelists: John, Mark, Luke, and Matthew. Five-domed churches are found in Russia more often than others.

Russian Orthodox church domes
Avraamiev Epiphany Monastery

Seven domes mark seven Orthodox sacraments for the Orthodox, seven Ecumenical Councils (congregations at which the main Christian dogmas were adopted) and seven main Orthodox virtues. Seven-domed cathedrals are not as common as three- or five-domed ones.

Nine domes are associated with nine angelic ranks. According to the Christian tradition, heavenly angels are divided into nine levels: cherubs and seraphim are closest to God, and angels and archangels are closest to man.

Thirteen domes remind of Jesus Christ and his associates, the twelve apostles.

Twenty-five domes mean the praise of the Most Holy Theotokos – the glorification of the Most Holy Virgin with 25 Old Testament prophets. In addition, the number 25 symbolizes the vision of the heavenly throne and the 24 elders surrounding it, described in the Revelation of John the Theologian.

Thirty-three domes symbolize the years of Christ’s life on earth. Such temples were built very rarely.

Categories
Travel

Luxury train travel in Russia: Trans-Siberian Express “Golden Eagle”

Train tours are a relatively new way of traveling. Using railroad tours in Russia make it possible to travel leisurely, contemplating the beauty of landscapes floating outside the window, not to mention this way of travel much more convenient than moving by bus.

For example, in order to get from Moscow to Vladivostok, you will need to overcome more than 9 thousand kilometers of track. The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway route in the world. Ordinary passenger trains travel this route at different times – the fastest train will arrive at its destination within a week. But moving by train with the poetic name “Golden Eagle” lasts 14 days, and this is a great way to relax from the bustle of the city.

This train is one of the most luxurious and expensive trains in Russia, and the route follows the atmosphere. This is a real tourist express train, which within 14 days of the journey allows you to visit the most interesting places on the road. Long stops in major cities are necessary for passengers to go on excursions, sightseeing, stretch their legs after sitting in a compartment or a dining car. That is why traveling on the Golden Eagle will never be boring and monotonous – this is not an ordinary passenger train.

The extreme points of travel are the cities of Moscow and Vladivostok. They are also included in the excursion program, and in addition to that, the train stops for excursions in places such as Kazan and Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Ulan-Ude and Ulan Bator (Mongolia), as well as Khabarovsk. Part of the way the train sets in motion a restored P-36 steam engine, which was restored and quite suitable for rail transportation.

Outside, the cars look quite ordinary, but inside you find yourself in real luxury and retro style.

Wagons here are divided into classes: golden and silver. In the golden carriage, the most spacious compartments – 5 separate rooms for passengers with an area of ​​7 square meters each. In the silver class, there are 6 compartments with an area of ​​5.5 square meters each. Each compartment has its own bathroom, a spacious bed, wardrobe, TV with DVD player and music center. The train has two restaurant cars and one car with a bar, as well as a luggage car for suitcases. There are even such amenities that you hardly expect to see on trains: a first-aid post, a beauty salon, massage rooms, and even a gym.

The cost of tickets on the route Moscow – Vladivostok depends on the class of car:

  • Silver Class: when placing in a Twin room – from 15 thousand euros, Single – 22.4 thousand euros.
  • Golden Class: from 18.6 and 27.3 thousand euros, respectively.
  • Imperial Suite: Twin room – 29.5 thousand euros, Single – price upon request.

The Trans-Siberian Express “Golden Eagle” was solemnly presented to the passenger public in 2007 at the Moscow-Smolenskaya station. Since then, it has been making regular trips from Moscow to Vladivostok, about 12 trips a year, but so far only in the warm season for passengers to enjoy sightseeing programs in good weather. The route passes through Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk. Every day a new cultural program awaiting travelers. This is a tour of the main attractions in each city; walks along the old streets and beautiful embankments; performances in the best theaters of the regions.

Luxury train in Russia
Categories
Society

A third of Russians are afraid of losing their jobs due to artificial intelligence

Every third resident of Russia fears that the development of artificial intelligence may indirectly threaten his own employment. This is evidenced by the results of a recent survey conducted in 30 countries. Every second Russian citizen suggests that they consider it necessary to regulate AI to protect jobs.