As a topic for research, Evgeny Ass suggested that his students turn once again to the most expensive, most problematic and politicized platform in the historical center of Moscow - Zaryadye. Despite the decision of the city authorities to create a large city park on this site and despite the successful competition, the topic of Zaryadye, in the opinion of the studio's diploma leaders, has not yet been closed. In this regard, the students were asked the question, is the park really the best and only solution for this territory and for Moscow as a whole? During the entire educational course of this year, they tried to answer the question posed, to comprehend the place in a new way, considering it as an integral part of the city.
The educational process began with an in-depth study of the spatial and functional organization of the historical centers of the largest cities in the world. A detailed historical analysis of the territory and at various times the project proposals developed for it made it possible to get to know the site in detail, understand its main features, and trace the stages of evolution. The next step was the joint development of a development concept and a master plan for Zaryadye. The complex and multifaceted work on the master plan, which involved not only the students themselves and their teachers, but also invited experts and consultants, was completed only in February. The last stage was the individual projects of individual buildings, built into the general master plan, independently designed by each student.
Evgeny Ass, studio manager:
“The topic“Pere-Zaryadye”arose as an attempt to rethink the approach to this territory, which was developed as a result of an international competition for the concept of the park“Zaryadye”. Like many of my colleagues, I do not consider the decision to create a park in this place as the most successful and the only one possible. Therefore, it was interesting to think about what this place would look like if, not taking into account its almost sacred significance, a decision was made there about the appearance of ordinary urban development. And already our first studies, consultations with experts, business representatives, cultural experts and transport specialists have shown that such a prospect is possible and not devoid of sense.
A huge research work has been carried out, which from a new and rather unusual point of view considers the site in the general context of the Moscow center. Design solutions cover not only Zaryadye, but also adjacent territories - Red Square, the Kremlin, Varvarka Street, Moskvoretsky Bridge, etc. Analysis of the site revealed many unexpected details about the life of the area, which today houses mainly administrative buildings, closed to the public, and most of the territory is not permeable, which is why there are very few visitors. In our general plan, we just tried to solve these problems.
The joint work of our studio on the master plan of the site went on for six months. We did not set the task of reproducing the old buildings, even the street grid was considered in the perspective of all temporary changes, and not literally following the original layout. Although, of course, the main historical routes, preserving the structure of the place, were taken into account. The students worked to create a development characteristic of an urban center, where most of the buildings are dedicated to housing, and their ground floors are reserved for public functions - from shops and cafes to book centers and art galleries. In February, the main structure of the master plan was approved, the functional composition of the buildings was determined, from which each student chose one for himself to create an individual project.
A rather diverse and functionally rich development was formed. The overwhelming majority of residential buildings include additional functions - cinema centers, libraries, galleries. There were also provided for two hotels and a school, necessary for a residential area, in which, according to our estimates, about 4.5 thousand people should live. As an additional cultural center of city-wide significance, a music university appeared on the territory of the district. We wanted such cultural hotspots to be present in the area, while deliberately avoiding the appearance of large-scale objects that could attract a large number of the public in order to avoid transport complications.
The result is a space with lots of greenery, pedestrian paths and boulevards. The embankment is unusually beaten, along which the tram line runs, crossing the entire Red Square. The draft contains many radical proposals, which became the reason for the continuation of the discussion around Zaryadye. This project inevitably aroused great interest and a wave of socio-political discussions that affected the entire historical center of Moscow. This does not mean at all that we are trying to cancel the order of the government and the results of the competition. But it seemed important to us to pose such a problem to the city. In my opinion, this experience was useful and instructive for the MARSH school and for Moscow urban planning in general.
As for individual projects, the students offered a lot of original and talented solutions. They were given a specific task to create a normal city, so no iconic structures were obviously supposed to be, on the contrary - it was required to design serious and high-quality structures. And they did a great job with it. The projects turned out to be quite diverse. It seems to me that the guys enjoyed this work and managed to penetrate deeply into the problems of Moscow and its historical center."
We publish diploma projects marked by the head of the studio:
Valeria Samovich. Residential complex with a theater
The complex and unusual project includes a group of residential buildings that, in addition to their actual residential function, accommodate a theater and other cultural institutions. The complex partly overlooks the embankment, revealing a beautiful view from the windows of residential apartments, and partly forms a pedestrian theater street.
Maria Kartseva. Multifunctional complex
Maria Kartseva has developed an interesting typology of an unusually wide building almost a quarter in size. A unique building with a rather complex central communications system unites a residential building, a hostel and offices.
Anastasia Weinberg. Higher School of Music
The project is interesting primarily from the point of view of urban planning solutions. The author decisively embeds the building into the quarter, turning its facades to two different streets at once.
Andrey Sviridov. Hotel
Andrei Sviridov proposed a risky project for a hotel building, the facade of which almost overlooks Red Square.
Daniil Makarov. Museum of Lost Houses
The project solves the problem of the interconnection of Varvarka Street, along which architectural monuments stretch almost in a continuous chain, with the projected Zaryadye districts.
