Kazan Anatomical Theater in the framework of the analogy "architecture -literature"
Problem statement. The importance of a balance between tangible and intangible heritage of historical cities and its preservation are fundamental to the interdisciplinary approach to historical landmarks examination. The objective of the present work is to apply the «Architecture-Literature» analogy to the significant landmark of the Kazan architectural text -the Anatomical Theatre of the Imperial Kazan University (1837) - aiming to characterise and study its universal semantic meanings. Results. The Latin inscription on the facade of the Anatomical Theatre 'Hic locus est ubi mors gaudet succurrere vitae' is the sufficient definition of the meaning of this Kazan landmark. The Theater is the perfect construction for its direct purpose - a place for dramatic turns in human destiny and for examination of the human nature. These meanings define the interest of the contemporary Russian homme de lettres (Y u.G. Zabusov, L.A. Danilkin, A. Sahibzadinov, and G.Sh. Yakhina) in this object-sign. For them and their readers it embodies the very spirit of the historical landmark, the way and meaning of lives, and the mission of its denizens. Literary concepts and terms can provide contemporary architects with understanding of urban realm as a space inextricably entwined with a mind transforming it. Conclusions. The achieved results can impact the development of interdisciplinary approach to examination of landmarks as of architectural phenomena of the urban environment they are situated in. Understanding the importance of intangible architectural heritage (in the present context we mean the specific description and depiction of classical architecture of the XIX century in literary texts) its essential to the identity and the spirit of any historical landmark.