In Voronezh, a large international competition for the concept of renovating the reservoir has ended. The competition included two separate competitions: open for all interested architects and urban planners, and closed - for architectural firms that already have projects in their portfolio that are commensurate with the scale of Voronezh.
The purpose of both competitions was to solve the environmental problems of the Voronezh reservoir, popularly called the "Voronezh Sea". Its creation was completed in 1972, but already 20 years later this “sea” became unsuitable for recreational needs: the permissible concentration of oil products, organic substances, heavy metal salts and suspended solids was exceeded in the water. The participants of the competition had to develop an action plan for the renewal of the reservoir in the ecological aspect, decisions on the development of the reservoir banks, as well as the prospective development of the adjacent territory on a town-planning scale.
The open competition ended in July 2014: the jury selected three winners who received cash prizes. The results of the closed competition became known on November 20: in the final of the competition were two European workshops - from Spain and the Netherlands, among which the team of experts could not choose a winner: in the future, it is planned to use the ideas of both projects, which perfectly complement each other.
We bring to your attention the works of the contestants of the closed and open competitions.
Closed competition
Ecosistema Urbano
As a primary means of combating pollution, the authors propose the most, perhaps, the most obvious and effective option - stopping the entry of pollutants into the water. After that, a set of measures is proposed to purify water in the Voronezh reservoir: analysis and control of its quality, including the volumes discharged by the CHPP, drainage of storm water, renewal of treatment facilities, and modernization of the central sewerage system.
The concept of the Spanish team is based on 7 actions aimed at the sustainable development of Voronezh and designed not only to improve the environmental situation, but also to create the necessary infrastructure on the banks of the reservoir.
The first proposal of the team is to place islands of macrophytes, plants that absorb harmful substances, in shallow areas of the reservoir, which will help purify the water and stop the growth of blue-green algae. Another method of cleaning is special mobile platforms, at the bottom of which a monitoring and water filtration system is fixed, and the above-water part is used to accommodate various infrastructure objects: green recreational areas, sports grounds, "green" schools or summer cinemas.
The project also involves the development of an area near Vorgesovsky Bridge, which includes residential and office buildings and several ecological parks with ponds for collecting rainwater and mini-wind generators.
To strengthen the connection of the townspeople with the "sea" and to develop an infrastructure that attracts visitors, the architects propose to introduce several more measures: the installation of several swimming pools in the bay with already purified water; the creation of an ecotrail in the wetlands in the north of the reservoir, as well as the transformation of the Pridachenskaya dam into a multifunctional zone with bike paths, squares and beaches with rental of water sports equipment.
Another interesting proposal of the Spanish team was the development of a special mobile application, with the help of which city residents will be able to monitor in real time the temperature and quality of the water in the reservoir, the weather, check the map of public transport routes and other information about Voronezh.
MLA +
Voronezh Park
The team from the Netherlands also focused on two key tasks: the ecological rehabilitation of the reservoir and its inclusion in the life of the townspeople as a place of active recreation. Their large-scale idea is to create the Voronezh park on the reservoir, the territory of which could become not only a recreational space for citizens, but also a testing ground for innovative environmental solutions. For the park, in turn, there are three strategic goals: an ecopark, a people's park and an innopark.
Achievement of environmental safety of the environment is planned by maintaining high water quality, limiting land reclamation, creating a landscaped coastline with integrated environmental functions, as well as joint work of all water resource management agencies.
The “People's Park” strategy implies the creation of a safe and comfortable place for life, work and rest on the territory of the reservoir; places that every resident of Voronezh could be proud of. The program includes the reconstruction of buildings and areas around the reservoir, the development of educational programs and the promotion of water sports.
The strategic goal of Innopark is to stimulate the introduction of large-scale innovations in the sphere of urban development and the creation of a single center for water resources management for the Voronezh park, which would bring together many stakeholders.
Open competition
1st place. Budkud
"Sea of a Thousand Platforms"
In the project of the Polish bureau BudCud, the process of transformation and revitalization of the reservoir is divided into 3 phases:
1) 2015-2017. This period includes the creation of 9 test platforms-platforms, performing various functions: a solarium, a bath complex, a market, harbors and marinas. The gradual construction and implementation of platforms makes the project feasible both from a technical and economic point of view.
2) 2017-2022. It is planned, among other things, to deepen the reservoir, strengthening and expanding the coastline and thereby creating new areas for development. The remaining soil will not be used for the construction of artificial islands, in order to avoid the emergence of closed territories on them, accessible only to wealthy citizens.
3) At the third stage (2022-2025), the reservoir territory saturated with various recreational spaces becomes a new public center of the city.
2nd place. Landscape Company "New Garden"
"Old bed"
The team that took second place in the open competition also proposes to deepen the reservoir, using the released soil to create artificial islands and an alluvial shoreline. The outlines of the islands and shores repeat the previously existing contours of the Voronezh River.
To solve the environmental problem, it is envisaged to create a biological water treatment zone and floating macrophyte islands, as well as to reconstruct treatment facilities.
3rd place. SPC "Interra" KGASU
"Lake District"
The project also combines a reservoir ecosystem restoration plan and a social program. The environmental issue is being resolved by restoring the Voronezh River bed, forming a network of lakes connected by canals and creating treatment facilities.
The social part of the project involves the organization of environmentally friendly educational and business structures that will help solve the problem of lack of places in preschool and school institutions and the lack of jobs for young professionals. Several clusters are being formed - creative, business, entertainment and sports - as well as a new park that complements the green frame of the city.
