Archi.ru:
How and why did the Green Moscow project come about?
Elena Gonzalez:
- The Green Moscow project is part of the ArchMoscow NEXT exhibition, dedicated to the future of architecture, young architects and the changes that await us in the foreseeable future or are already taking place. It seems to me that Green Moscow is a fairly successful and partially completed project, considering the reconstruction and transformation of green areas and parks in Moscow. But we didn’t want to dwell only on well-known examples of park reconstruction. The goal was to show all the variety of green areas in Moscow. Each of them has its own story, its own characteristics and problems. It was very important to somehow reflect this aspect, because unification, a single approach to absolutely different and dissimilar green areas of the city can lead to sad results.
For example, VDNKh is a completely specific entity that requires an exclusively individual approach. Such large natural areas as in Strogino with their mini-urban communities and rich landscape offer different and no less interesting solutions with an emphasis on environmental issues. It is clear that today everyone admires Gorky Park, and there are reasons for that. But there is a danger that the techniques that were successful for Gorky Park will simply be replicated throughout the city, this template will be applied without looking back at the unique features of each individual park. Green Moscow is trying to show the importance of preserving the individuality of every green corner of the city.
Tell us about the parks presented within the framework of the exposition
- The exposition is structured in such a way as to present the whole variety of typologies of green areas. In total, we got five of them - from a small square, such as the Bauman Garden, to large parks, such as VDNKh. Separately, the experience of landscaping in the residential area of Strogino and two large park areas that are currently in the stage of competitions are presented - Zaryadye and Dynamo.
As for Zaryadye, it is still not completely clear how this territory will develop in the end, given that the attitude of the authorities towards it changes too quickly and too often. Nevertheless, a competition is currently being held, which is personally supervised by the chief architect of Moscow, and the first results are already known.
The second competition presented in our exposition is dedicated to the park area of the Dynamo stadium. It is not so large-scale, but no less interesting and significant. Here we are talking about a completely different example of intervention in the park environment, since it is of a local nature, and also involves the restoration of fragments of the historical environment. The competition is held by VTB Arena. We conceived this exposition as a removable one to show the project in development, and have already installed competition projects to get acquainted with them.
As far as I know, a rich event program is planned at the end of the exhibition within the framework of the Green Moscow project. Who is it for and what will it include?
- Indeed, the exhibition ends, but we are not closing the project. Now each of the exhibitors is preparing their own events, which should familiarize the residents of the city with the problems of the territories. Most of the events will be related to field visits. I think that a sighting tour of the territories will begin in July and will affect not only the parks presented at the exhibition, but also other areas that are significant for the city, for example, Lefortovo Park, etc.
The nearest planned event is a discussion of the competitive projects of the Dynamo Park, which will take place on June 19 in the School pavilion. We also expect to organize a number of excursions in the VDNKh park. There is something to see. VDNKh differs from all other sites in that it is an inseparable complex of buildings and green areas - the so-called botanical theme in architecture. Something similar is now happening in Gorky Park, where architectural structures and small forms are being actively introduced, but this theme is not so expressed there. In addition, at the All-Russian Exhibition Center, we also want to organize public discussions on the further development of this territory, in particular, it is important to understand what typologies of green zones can be represented there and how they should interact with each other.
We are planning a trip to Strogino. A lot has already been said about this project, but in fact, not everyone understands what its main value is. Minipolis Strogino is the result of active communication between the developer and residents who are directly involved in the development of residential areas. A special site has been created, which is still functioning, there is a fairly lively community where all issues of interest to the public are discussed. And despite the fact that the residential buildings themselves do not cause much interest from an architectural point of view, a comfortable green environment has been created. I think that visiting Strogino will be extremely useful, and first of all - for the townspeople.
The Muzeon Park is now in the active stage of transformation. Some of its territories are closed for reconstruction. In this regard, we have planned to discuss the reconstruction project; further plans for the development of the park, which have already been partially implemented, will be presented separately. In my opinion, it is very interesting to observe the process itself, how all this is carried out in practice. This is a rewarding experience.
Separately, I would like to say about the program for the reconstruction of the Moskva River embankments. Work has already started on the Crimean embankment. There is a partially equipped embankment of Gorky Park. But this is only a small part of the project. It is important to understand that we are talking about a single walking route from Vorobyovy Gory to Krasny Oktyabr. Considering the importance of these territories for the city, we decided to organize a large excursion along the entire route in order to widely discuss this project. Our task is to show and identify the features of each individual site and try to understand what issues should be addressed in the first place.
Will your program affect small green areas - squares, courtyards?
- Bauman's garden was presented as an example of a small square in our exposition. And I must say that the situation with him is much simpler. Reconstruction has already been carried out there, and all the work received a positive assessment from local residents. This is a vivid example of how relatively small forces can achieve serious results, draw attention even to such a small park space without any cardinal transformations. But again, I want to warn against cloning this experience, despite the fact that it was successful. I would like to emphasize the importance of tailor-made solutions for each location. After all, what is good for Bauman's garden may be completely inappropriate in other parks. You should always take into account how and in what conditions this or that green zone was formed. If this is an artificial planting, then the approach should be the same; if it is a fragment of a natural natural formation, then the solutions should be appropriate.
Often, wild fields or groves fall into the built-up area, becoming part of courtyard spaces or remaining wastelands between buildings. How to treat these wastelands? How is the natural landscape? This is not a public garden or a park, but these are green areas within the city boundaries, which are often close in size and length to park spaces. This is also a separate question that requires an answer. By the way, this topic was touched upon within the framework of another exposition of the Arch of Moscow - "New Moscow", where city objects were presented. Among other things, several large territories were shown there - for example, the "Garden Quarters" under construction or Stanislavsky's factory, which is already functioning. Walking through the same courtyards of Stanislavsky's factory, on which a professional landscape architect worked, to understand how the spaces of green courtyards are solved there, is incredibly interesting. This is a completely different approach, different from what we are used to seeing in traditional courtyards and squares. And it is quite possible that we will have such an excursion. Together with a trip to Strogino and Bauman's garden, this will give a whole range of diverse approaches applicable to various typologies.
You said that the main goal of the Green Moscow project is to draw attention to the diversity of the city's green areas. Did you manage to complete the task?
- No, I believe that so far we have not been able to fully implement our plans. Partly due to the fact that during the festival all forces were thrown at the "New Moscow", which was presented, among other things, by the leadership of the Moscow Committee for Architecture and Construction. Against this background, Green Moscow found itself somewhat outside the public interest and attention of the press. To date, the park management has not shown itself in any way either. Now my task is, through excursions and other events, which I spoke about above, to try to answer the main questions regarding the further development of park zones, to interest not only professionals, but primarily residents of the city. I understand that there are a lot of questions, and people do not understand the situation very well. Observing one good example, they already demand a repetition of the pattern and, without knowing it, seriously impoverish and limit themselves. This situation worries me greatly. It is necessary to show how interesting and different green areas can be, so that the residents themselves demanded this diversity from the city authorities and developers.
The exhibition presented an analysis of the current situation. How do you assess the prospects for the development of park spaces in Moscow in the foreseeable future?
- It is difficult to predict anything here. But I think that in the near future the direction presented by another exposition of ArchMoscow "From the city to you" will develop and gain momentum. This direction is associated with the urban initiatives of the residents themselves. Already today there are many examples of such volunteer activities, and they are all interesting in their own way. On the other hand, there is the will of the authorities, and it does not always coincide with the wishes of the residents. This situation resembles the process of digging a tunnel from two sides, where the townspeople are digging at one end and the city authorities at the other, and there is no guarantee that they will eventually meet. It is profitable for the authorities to attract enthusiasts and volunteers, but the enthusiasts themselves, deep in their hearts, still cherish the hope of getting some kind of funding to implement their plans. A link is possible, but practice shows that the authorities are not in a position to organize volunteers, initiatives arise spontaneously and rarely fit into the tasks set by state bodies. In any case, we are not standing still, and this cannot but rejoice.
