At a press conference dedicated to the announcement of the results of the competition, Sergey Kuznetsov promised that the project that won the first place would be implemented, but all three finalists of the competition would be involved in the work as experts and consultants, since each of the presented projects has its own unique advantages. We are publishing three projects that reached the final of the competition.
1st place. Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Consortium composition:
Hargreaves Associates (USA) - Landscape Architect
Citymakers LLC (Russia) - Russian architect
E. Ozhegova, Moscow Architectural Institute (Russia) - Consultant on the history of Russian landscape architecture
Marina Khrustaleva (Russia) - Consultant on the history of architecture of Moscow
Douglas Blonsky, Central Park Conservancy (USA) - Park Management Consultant
Buro Happold (Russia) - Engineering Solutions Consultant
Dmitry Onishchenko (Russia) - Botany Specialist, Arteza
Sergey Fokin (Russia) - Lawyer
Mobility in Chain (Italy) - Transport Specialist
Vladimir Dukelsky, Russian State University for the Humanities (Russia) - Archaeologist
Transsolar (Germany) - Sustainable Architecture Strategist
“The project of Zaryadye Park is based on the principles of landscape urbanism, where people and plants coexist on the same territory. Landscape urbanism creates an understandable system of interaction between nature and the city. People are not forced to follow certain routes, and plants can grow freely. Landscape urbanism is an opportunity to leave the city, and at the same time an opportunity to get closer to it. Nature creates an unexpected contrast to the city, in balance with culture. Four landscape zones characteristic of Russia have been transferred to the park: tundra, steppe, forest and swamps, which descend in terraces from the upper level of the site to its lower part, from northeast to southwest. They intersect with each other, lay on top of each other and enclose the main objects of the park. The use of sustainable development technologies will allow creating an artificial micro-climate in different parts of the park: through temperature regulation, wind control and natural light simulation. The park's design reflects the most striking features of the adjacent territories, which allows to combine the characteristic elements of historical buildings and pedestrian zones of Kitai-Gorod with the lush gardens of the Kremlin, thus creating a hybrid landscape - a combination of city and nature. As a result, the park, which naturally “grows” from its surroundings, will become a unique center of attraction for residents of Moscow, Russia and guests from all over the world."
Martha Thorn, Jury Member, Dean of External Relations at the Spanish School of Architecture and Design at IE University:
“With the Diller Scofidio + Renfro project, we liked the right mix of architecture and landscape. All the architectural elements are very successfully woven into the natural environment, some are even hidden underground. The hard, cobbled surfaces in this park are balanced with the soft, green ones. In addition, the authors have carefully thought out the variety of activities for visitors, not only in warm, but also in winter. This is a challenge project, this is a model of a park of the XXI century. Moscow, as a modern and dynamic city, deserves exactly this."
2nd place. TPO Reserve
Consortium composition:
Latz + Partner (Germany) - Landscape Architect
Maxwan architects + urbanists (Netherlands) - Urban planner
Buro Happold (International) - Engineering Solutions Consultant
Pfarre Lighting Design (Germany) - Lighting Designer
Prof. Dr. Stephan Pauleit / TU Munich (Germany) - Ecologist, dendrologist
Natalia Ikonnikova (Russia) - Sociologist, anthropologist (Higher School of Economics)
Ruperti - Expert in Value Management
Grun Berlin GmbH (Germany) - Park Management Consultant
“The main idea of the project is to create a park that enhances the quality and influence of the historical environment, and not a park as another monument competing with history, a park that is eternal and adapted to any changes in the future. The park functionally connects the iconic places of the urban environment, making them accessible and attractive for both Muscovites and guests of the capital. On the existing terrain, the participants create four levels of terraces. The upper level of Varvarka is a belvedere with views of the Moskva River. The terrace below is historical, with monuments and churches. New places in the park are mainly located on the third terrace and are connected by a pedestrian ring. The fourth and lowest terrace is a large space for large events. The variety of proportions and sizes is the possibility of holding any events. This means the park is ready for any future use. At the moment, the park and the Moskva River are separated from each other. Passage under the road is the shortest and best way to meet the water. Zaryadye Passage easily connects the park with the river. The new ornate river pier will become the main entrance to Zaryadye Park."
Martha Thorn, Jury Member, Dean of External Relations at the Spanish School of Architecture and Design at IE University:
“The concept presented by the consortium led by TPO Reserve is elegant, simple and beautiful. It has a lot of traditional things inherent in Moscow and Russia. We especially liked how the authors connected the park with the Moskva River”.
3rd place. MVRDV
Consortium composition:
Atrium (Russia) - Architect, Russian architect
Anouk Vogel (Switzerland) - Landscape Architect
Arcadis - Engineer
“Members of the team from the Dutch architectural bureau MVRDV are projecting onto a new surface all traces of the past and ideas for the future of Zaryadye. This colorful picture, saturated with various meanings, turns into a network of paths that cover the territory of the park with their lace and provide a connection with the city and with the embankment. 750 types of gardens laid out in Zaryadye provide the natural diversity of the park. All the riches of Russian nature will be presented at Zaryadye. Here, as in a kaleidoscope, elements of various natural zones are mixed: forests and steppes, ponds and country gardens, meadows and swamps. By bus or car, you can go down to the parking lot, where there are underground gardens and bright lights that illuminate everything around. The information center "Gates of Moscow" provides connection between the parking lot and the park. A domed observation deck crowns the hill, providing a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Two wide boulevards offer breathtaking views of the city. Ponds with aquatic plants and fountains are arranged along the contour of the former hotel "Russia", which provide coolness on hot summer days. The open spaces of the park, overgrown with tall grasses, are reviving the historic site as a new green area. And in the courtyards of Zaryadye, the image of a country garden has been recreated, where visitors can pick apples, play with children and have picnics. New pedestrian bridges connect the park, which stretches along the Moskva River, with the public space on the embankment. A labyrinth of paths connects the park with the adjacent streets, making Moscow a comfortable city for walking."
Martha Thorn, Jury Member, Dean of External Relations at the Spanish School of Architecture and Design at IE University:
“MVRDV presented a new model of the park. The authors have created not just a park, but a green mini-city inside the metropolis, linking the present of Moscow and its rich history."
Leading experts from the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Russia were invited to the jury of the international competition:
- chief architect of Moscow Sergey Kuznetsov;
- expert in urban sociology Saskia Sassen;
- Head of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the City of Moscow Alexander Kibovsky;
- Deputy Mayor of Barcelona for Urban Habitat Anthony Vives y Thomas;
- Head of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Anton Kulbachevsky;
- architect and urban planner Gaetan Royer; landscape architect Ken Smith;
- head of the Hong Kong studio The Development Studio Ltd. Keith Kerr;
- Dean of External Relations at the Spanish School of Architecture and Design at IE University Martha Thorne;
- landscape architect and artist Martha Schwartz;
- General Director of "Mosproject-2" Mikhail Posokhin;
- Deputy Mayor of Moscow in the Moscow Government for property and land relations Natalia Sergunina;
- landscape architect Peter Walker;
- Head of the Department of Culture of the City of Moscow Sergey Kapkov;
- environmentalist and Vancouver City Councilor Heather Deal;
- head of the architectural bureau "Project Meganom" Yuri Grigoryan.
Nastya Mavrina, Alla Pavlikova
