Over centuries, many world capitals have been altered, rebuilt, and redeveloped countless times. Major cities tend to struggle with perennial problems such as a critical lack of space and difficulties with planning of engineering and transport networks. The historical centers of megacities grow in layers, overlapping with one another and creating a unique urban environment that shapes urban identity.
Urban infrastructure in modern megacities is also always in a state of needing continuous repair and recovery. City authorities face immense responsibility: they don't just have to keep buildings from crumbling but also need to improve energy efficiency, safety, and comfort. Worn-down housing stock includes both architectural landmarks that require special treatment and areas of mass development. Today, Moscow, along with other world capitals, is carrying out a large-scale program of major housing renovations. The aim of the program is to improve quality of life and to extend the service life of urban buildings.

• Can major renovations extend a building's service life? What are the statistics of service life improvement after major renovations?
• What are the issues associated with major renovations and upkeep of mass housing development?
• What are the funding and administrative differences in the Russian maintenance and renovation scheme as compared to other cities?
• What are the legislative initiatives that have helped carry out high-quality major renovation? Should mass-developed areas be preserved, restored, and/or recreated?