Previously, we have already published the projects of the finalists of both competitions, built according to the ratings of works compiled by the jury (see projects for Khodynka and for Triumfalnaya). However, the final winners of these competitions were determined not by the judges of the competition, but by the customer and specialized departments. At a press conference in the Moskomarkhitektura on April 7, 2014, it was announced that the project developed by the Italian company LAND Milano Srl took the first place in the competition for the Khodynskoye field, which was the first and following a preliminary vote (this team also included architects Mario Cucinella Architects, graphic LeftLoft designers and artist Thomas Schönauer, Thomas Schönauer). And in the second competition, for Triumfalnaya Square, the winner was the concept presented by the Russian studio Buromoscow, Yulia Burdova and Olga Aleksakova, developed jointly with the Landscape Design Workshop Arteza.
Khodynka
Recall that competition for the architectural concept of the park on Khodynskoe Pole, organized by INTECO Group of Companies with the support of Moskomarkhitektura, took place in two stages: from September 2 to November 15, 2013, the first qualifying round took place, then, on December 19, ten finalists were determined, and on March 31, the final rating was announced, in which three prizes took LAND Milano Srl, Perkins Eastman and the landscape architecture studio of Maxim Kotsyuba, respectively.
We have already presented all ten projects of the finalists on our website, and even earlier wrote about the completed project of LAND Milano Srl and Charles Jencks - a park in a new district of Milan.
As the chief architect of Moscow Sergey Kuznetsov noted during the press conference, the choice of the customer and the specialized departments only confirmed the rating compiled by a highly professional international jury. Sergey Kuznetsov commented on this decision in the following way: “Our choice was dictated by such clear advantages of the project as careful integration of the existing infrastructure and landscaping into the structure of the park being created. Especially valuable here is the competent inclusion of cultural objects, in particular, the future NCCA. The park actively interacts with them, offers various scenarios for using its venues for holding festivals, placing all kinds of installations, etc.
Water bodies are not typical for this area, therefore, among the projects of the contestants, we noted those that compensated for the absence of fountains and other water elements that seemed too artificial and far-fetched here, for example, active work with the landscape and relief. Italians did it especially expressively and vividly. Their proposal is quite simple to implement, and unlike green spaces, which can only be grown after years, the relief immediately gives a visible and effective result. Of course, there will be many trees in the park, but they will not grow right away. And work with relief gives a variety of scenarios for spending time in the park. The winter program of use is also important for us - downhill skiing, sledging, an ice skating rink.
Another significant advantage of the project was the proposal for the sequence of implementation, which will allow you to start working very quickly, correctly allocate resources and complete the project within the specified time frame. Even factors such as the metro station being built nearby, which occupies a fairly large area for a construction site, were taken into account.
And, of course, we were not left indifferent by such cute ideas as involving the residents of the area in the process of creating a park, who, for example, can plant trees and shrubs in the park themselves. In short, the concept of the Italian bureau turned out to be the most thought-out of all."
Anton Kulbachevsky, head of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection, recalled the past of Khodynka, which previously served as an airfield. Today, the flying theme has been replaced by modern art: based on this, it was necessary to design the park. “In the winning project, we do not see a natural landscape close to natural, and there is no overly active landscaping,” Kulbachevsky commented. - These territories require a slightly different approach. The project budget does not allow planting large trees at once. And in general, Moscow is a city rich in green areas, it is not entirely true to follow the path of creating virgin nature in its central parts. Therefore, the modern and unusual project of the park of the Italian company seemed to us all the most relevant."
Sergei Kapkov, head of the Moscow Department of Culture, liked the Italians' project of the amphitheater for outdoor performances, as well as the concept of the park as a recreational area in front of the Museum of Modern Art, which marks the approach to such an important site for the city with a green line. But, according to Kapkov, this is a park primarily of local importance, which is so necessary for the residents of this rather young district of Moscow.
“This is a rare opportunity for the city to create a park practically from scratch,” noted Sergei Kapkov. - Residents of the district have been waiting for this for more than 13 years. Indeed, in the area of Khodynskoye field today there are about 30 thousand young families, and at the same time they have absolutely nowhere to go for a walk with their children. Residents want a unique and large park. Therefore, our primary task was to create a resting place for residents of the area. At the same time, the park has a very high semantic load, which is why it was so important to hold a serious competition. In terms of its significance, this project is practically not inferior to the Zaryadye Park”.
I must say that the idea of creating a park on Khodynskoye Pole was very actively supported by the residents themselves, who had the opportunity to participate in the selection of the winning project and openly express their opinions. One of the jury members, the leader of the Za Park public movement Oleg Larin, took part in the press conference and noted with pleasure that the opinion of the residents completely coincided with the choice of the judges: they almost unanimously supported the concept of LAND Milano Srl. At the same time, he expressed the hope that the implementation would be no worse than the presented pictures.
The winning company will implement the park project jointly with the Moscow Department of Culture. First of all, a tender will be held to select a Russian team to adapt the project. Sergey Kapkov even outlined the implementation timeline - in the region of two years, from 2014 to 2016, and outlined the cost of the project - about 536 million rubles.
Triumphal
Concerning competition for the development of an architectural concept for integrated landscaping and prospective development of Triumfalnaya Square, then the project won here, demonstrating the most tactful attitude towards this long-established and historically important part of the city. Sergey Kapkov emphasized that Triumfalnaya Square is a very complex object, which has been discussed for a long time by both professionals and the public: “It's one thing to set up a park on a vacant lot (I mean Khodynskoe field - author's note), and quite another thing is to transform a multi-layered space old town. The purpose of this press conference is to show the most sparing concept, in the opinion of the jury, of all the concepts presented for the competition."
The competition was held on a tight schedule: the official start was given on January 22, and the works were accepted until February 23, 2014 inclusive. During this time, 127 applications for participation were received and 44 projects were made. The customers of the competition were GKU "Directorate of Overhaul", which will be responsible for the implementation of the project, the organizers are the Department of Overhaul and the Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning of the city of Moscow.
We have already introduced our readers to the finalists of the competition, which were the ST Raum A bureau, which took the first place in the jury's rating, Buromoscow and Wowhaus.
So, the winner was the team that was in the second place in the ranking. As Sergey Kuznetsov explained, in terms of the number and quality of possible improvements, the Buromoscow concept seemed the most realistic. Previously, all three projects of the finalists were assessed as in need of revision, and in general the competition was aimed at finding an idea that would become the basis for the implementation of the idea. A detailed analysis of the situation, according to Kuznetsov, showed that it was Buromoscow who proposed the best option for the further development of the area.
“We have chosen the slogan of the legendary literary group SMOG as the motto of the project: Courage, Thought, Image, Depth,” says Olga Aleksakova, the author of the project. - Courage - on the scale of the square, the iconic space of the urban void, which must be preserved as much as possible. Thought - in the possibility of multifunctional use of the area. The image of Triumfalnaya Square is a square of youth, freedom and romance. The depth of the approach is the result of careful and layered design."
The solution for landscaping in the form of a square of large-sized trees, bordering the entire space of Triumfalnaya Square, was highly appreciated. The original project assumed a slightly different solution, but after reaching the final, the authors slightly modified their project. “We wanted to emphasize the stunning space that forms the square, for this we proposed to align it and give it a clearer shape. Backstage of lindens and chestnuts accentuate the foreground, preserving the view of the Garden Ring perspective,”says Yulia Burdova,“and due to additional pavilions, the area has become more functional”. Anton Kulbachevsky stressed that “this will be the only green island on Tverskaya Street, which, unfortunately, has lost all its greenery. Already grown, large-sized plants - linden and ash trees will be planted here. In addition to trees located along the perimeter, a public garden will also be built in front of the Beijing Hotel.
In addition, the winning project proposed a variety of ideas for filling the square with all sorts of events, and one of the primary tasks of the city is precisely to revitalize public spaces, to attract citizens to the streets of the capital. Buromoscow offered the most interesting scenarios, including year-round use. According to Kuznetsov, a very beautiful, "architectural" work by ST Raum a. from the point of view of mass use, it does not have sufficient potential. The Buromoscow project has several times more elements that encourage spending time on the square: there are multifunctional pavilions, sheds with swings, year-round cafes, and city information facilities for tourists. All this will allow holding annual Christmas and New Year fairs, parties with street musicians, etc. on the square.
Sergey Kapkov singled out as a significant advantage of the winning project an attempt to create a living, but quite quiet, "tactile" place in the center of a noisy metropolis. The square surrounding the Mayakovsky monument interacts well with such significant city objects as the Concert Hall named after V. I. Tchaikovsky and the theaters of Satire and Mossovet, not to mention the metro station located here, which creates a through transit traffic. According to Kapkov, the proposed solution will allow the square to function according to the principle of a habitable and comfortable pedestrian space, free from cars and saturated with greenery and urban furniture.
The project is expected to be implemented rapidly - by the end of this year. Buromoscow architects should finalize the project as soon as possible, and in May it will be presented for public comment with all the adjustments made. Improvements will mainly affect details, for example, the typology of the pavilions; the essence of the idea will be preserved. Sergei Kapkov promised that the comments and wishes of the population would be taken into account as much as possible. The speakers also assured that the construction work does not even imply a temporary dismantling of the Mayakovsky monument: it will remain in its place. The transport scheme will not change significantly either, the turn to 1st Brestskaya Street will be preserved, as well as the technical exit to Tverskaya Street closed for ordinary cars, the passage between the square and the Concert Hall. Tchaikovsky will also become technical. Under the park in front of the hotel it is planned to arrange an underground parking.
