The magazine "Building Technologies" in its latest issue published an article by Nikolai Lukyanov, who analyzes the activities of Sergei Kuznetsov as the chief architect of Moscow over the past first year of his work. The author notes that "after the change of the leadership of the Moscow Committee for Architecture and Construction, the core of the leading architects and design bureaus of the capital with successful experience of joint work formed a single team, actively shaping a new course in the development of the metropolis." According to Lukyanov, the revival of the Architectural Council, the introduction of the competition procedure, in a word, such "unexpected" dictatorship "by Sergei Kuznetsov is a thoughtful choice based on the professed urban planning ideology and analysis of existing realities."
By the way, one of the manifestations of the new urban planning course was the arrangement of the capital's embankments. According to the chief architect, Moskomarkhitektura is preparing a concept of technical specifications for an international competition for the improvement of embankments, RBC daily reported. The publication also spoke about the completion of work on the creation of a pedestrian zone on the Crimean embankment. It will open in September and will become part of a 10 km long walking route that will stretch from Vorobyovy Gory to Krasny Oktyabr. Afisha introduced the readers to the project of the pedestrian zone in more detail.
Meanwhile, in Novosibirsk, the story of the cutting down of green spaces continued. According to Sib.fm, the City Council deputies demanded that the mayor impose a moratorium on capital construction in green areas. And they also announced the creation of a special Commission on Parks and Squares, - reported "Sibkrai.ru".
Discussion around urban planning policy is not abating in Perm either. This time Alexander Lozhkin voiced his position regarding the master plan and the general plan of the city. According to the expert, critics of the master plan over the years since the start of its development have not offered a constructive alternative. Nevertheless, their position is: "Do not bother us (developers and architects) to build where we want and how we want." Lozhkin notes that it is necessary to build according to the rules that allow developing the urban environment and improving its quality. And in the end he states: "The decision on which way to develop Perm is political, and it will be made not by city planners, but by politicians."
The problems of the development of Russian cities in a conversation with the President of the Institute for Urban Economics Nadezhda Kosareva discussed the portal "Bulletin of Real Estate". The specialist spoke about the phenomenon of multi-storey suburbanization, which is ubiquitous in Russia, which consists in an increase in the density and number of storeys of buildings with distance from the center. As a legacy of the Soviet era, this type of development is beneficial to modern developers, although it provokes colossal problems. First of all - transport. Turning the tide, according to Kosareva, is still difficult because of the weak urban planning policy in cities, as a result of which the authorities often follow the lead of the developers.
And the ISTU website this week announced the theme of the 15th session of the International Baikal Winter Urban University. The conference will be held early next year and will be dedicated to the reconstruction and transformation of the built-up areas of Irkutsk.
Petersburg newspaper "Nevskoe Vremya" wondered what has changed in St. Petersburg over the past 5 years in terms of urban planning policy and heritage preservation. The publication addressed this question to experts. According to city rights activists, the situation with the preservation of historical monuments has generally improved: “the authorities have become more sensitive to the voice of the public. And the public itself has become more active,”says Yulia Minutina, coordinator of the“Living City”movement. As for the solution of transport problems, the expert opinion sounded disappointing: “the city authorities are still betting on ensuring the passage of personal cars, first of all. Although most of the townspeople travel by public transport. As a result, the transport hub is tightening more and more,”complained Vladimir Fedorov, co-chairman of the interregional public association“City and Transport”.
The V1.ru portal reported last week that Volgograd architects intend to seek to tighten the PZZ to restrict development in the historical center of the city. According to the chief architect of the city, “it is necessary to develop passports of cultural heritage objects so that we can decide what we are protecting. while there is no document that clearly states that the building was such and such with such and such decorative elements - it is simply impossible to demand its safety."
Continuing the theme of heritage preservation, the Novo-Nikolsky Cathedral, a monument of federal significance, is under threat of destruction in the Moscow region. The reason was a landslide that came down from the slope: now the cathedral is located at a distance of 7 meters from the edge of the cliff. The situation is critical, since experts predict a new landslide, and the authorities have not yet decided who is responsible for the protection of the monument, - said "Moskovsky Komsomolets".
And in conclusion, a few words about the report from the Kizhi reserve museum that appeared in Novaya Gazeta. The publication told about the restoration of the Transfiguration Church, which is in full swing. And also talked with the new director, whose appointment was previously opposed by the museum workers.
