Alexander Minakov in his blog addresses the problem of the territory of the Baltic Station in St. Petersburg, which worries both residents and professionals. According to experts, the industrial and transit importance of the Obvodny Canal will decrease, and the role of the square as a “visiting card” of the city will increase. The urban planning laboratory under the leadership of M. L. Petrovich prepared several projects of the transport hub and the transformation of the adjacent territory: all of them are focused on pedestrians and passengers of public transport. However, the city authorities are going their own way: now the plans are to expand the embankments of the Obvodny Canal for the passage of cars and create a "highway of continuous traffic", which, according to the blogger, will cut the city in two and make this territory even more depressing.
The blog "In Harmony with Planet Earth" made a selection of the five largest projects of St. Petersburg, designed to do what nature did not. It included the Sestroretsky Razliv, the Staroladozhsky Canal, the New Holland Island, the dam and the “Marine Facade” alluvial areas.
While New York's High Line Park is haunted by everyone, Maxim Katz talks about a park over a freeway in Dallas, which was created thanks to the efforts of a non-profit organization. The positive impact of the park on the area was so great that the value of real estate here increased by 65%.
Evgeny Sosedov from Facebook reports that the Serpukhov branch of VOOPIiK has been recreated. Serpukhov is one of the most significant historical cities in the Moscow region. Its heritage is not only ancient monasteries and temples, but also rare monuments of civil and industrial architecture, perfectly preserved historical environment, unique city panoramas and landscapes. However, protection zones have not yet been approved in the city, many valuable buildings do not have the status of a monument, historical buildings are being destroyed, and high-rise buildings are being erected in the center. The new department included architects, local historians, entrepreneurs, caring local residents, among whom there were many young people. Also Evgeny Sosedov reports that in the coming weekend the Rural Church Center will organize a volunteer visit to the Church of Peter and Paul in the village of Pereslegino near Torzhok.
The Architectural Heritage Community publishes a detailed photo report from Izborsk after a large-scale restoration timed to coincide with the 1150th anniversary of the settlement. According to the readers, the renovation works "erased" the romance and the veil of antiquity there.
Vladimir Sverkalov, before the public hearings, at which the second stage of the development of block 21 in Samara is to be discussed, points out the shortcomings of the project. According to him, from the moment of construction, one cultural heritage site has been destroyed, two have lost their protected status, and a kindergarten is planned to be built on the site of another. In addition, it is proposed to increase the number of storeys, which does not comply with the regulations. The same author informs that the public movement "Samara for People" advocated the cancellation of the hearings, since the project violates the approved protection zones, and the event itself will take place during working hours 15 km from block 21.
Arkady Gershman talks about an incredible place in Krasnoyarsk - Tatyshev Island. 150 hectares in the city center are completely devoted to pedestrians and cyclists. Car access is closed, and the entire island is laced with a network of bicycle and walking paths. According to the author, “if it were not for high-rise buildings, it would be difficult to say that you are in the center of a million-strong city.” Readers do not believe that this is possible in Russia.
The RUPA planning community is discussing the upcoming Living Cities forum. Experts demand live streaming of events from the forum or access to content. Also, the community has published a document "On the Foundations of State Urban Development Policy" for review. Yaroslav Kovalchuk believes that the text is a set of good wishes and offers for comparison a foreign document - London housing standards.
A fascinating video of last year's events was published by the community "Nikola-Lenivets" on the eve of the night of museums on May 17. The new season promises to be no worse. You can familiarize yourself with the program and pay for the transfer here.
