On August 18, in Krasnogorsk, in the House of Government of the Moscow Region, a forum was held on the design and improvement of public spaces in the Moscow Region. According to the data of the Glavarkhitektura, about 50 projects of public spaces have been developed for 30 cities of the region over the past year. Many are planned to be implemented next year.
The chief architect of the Moscow region, Mikhail Khaikin, said that a large federal program "Comfortable urban environment" has been developed for the region. "Next year, the work on the formation of public spaces in the Moscow region will become even more," explained Khaikin, "Therefore, it is so important now to develop common approaches to design that will help us move in the right direction, create spaces for life that are in demand by the townspeople."
The first part of the forum was devoted to the optimization of the design process and current legislation in terms of issuing permits; talked about the creation of an information system for ensuring urban planning activities and changes in the procedure for developing a project for planning the territory. Projects and implemented examples of high-quality improvement were discussed in the second part of the forum, within the framework of a round table.
We publish several projects presented at the exhibition within the framework of the forum:
Epiphany square in Khimki
A number of improvement projects were presented by the head of the city district of Khimki Dmitry Voloshin. He spoke about plans to create a public garden in front of the Temple of the Epiphany. The temple is located near the central artery of New Khimki - Yubileiny Prospekt and partially enters the territory of the existing park. However, in front of him, according to the head of the district, a rather uncomfortable environment was formed: a market, stalls, parking lots, an old cinema. All this is supposed to be demolished, and on the vacated space to break up a square [it’s even difficult to say directly which is better: a market with a cinema or a square with a bronze angel, - ed.]. The central element will be a bronze statue in the shape of an angel, illuminated forged arches, glowing paving stones, and outdoor furniture. ***
Square named after Maria Rubtsova in Khimki
The existing square along May 9 street is planned to be reconstructed and improved on the initiative of the city authorities. The location of the park on a hill, parallel to the Leningradskoye Highway, which is important from an urban planning point of view, became one of the reasons for its transformation into an urban space saturated with activities. Here, in addition to modern lighting and outdoor furniture, playgrounds and sports grounds, as well as a skate park will appear.
Park "Podrezkovo" in Khimki
On a territory with a total area of about 10 hectares in the Podrezkovo area, a ravine and a city dump existed for a long time. At the same time, a residential area with more than 20 thousand inhabitants was deprived not only of any space for walking with children, but even of the central street. That is why the city authorities decided to clear the territory of the ravine, remove the old treatment facilities left over from the former ceramic factory, and organize an extended park with a network of pedestrian paths, lawns, flower beds, a fountain, viewing platforms and cafes on the vacated area.
Ten named squares in Khimki
The administration has allocated ten sites in the city for the construction of new squares. For them, projects have been developed that adhere to the general style of landscaping, design of street furniture and paving of pedestrian paths with built-in lighting in the form of constellations. To implement the plan, it is planned to attract private investors, in whose honor they promise to install commemorative plaques in each park. ***
Bykovka river embankment in Zhukovsky
The embankment is supposed to be organized on a narrow and long - just over a kilometer - strip between the curving bed of Bykovka and Fedotov Street repeating its trajectory. Currently, this space is occupied by unkempt thickets of shrubs and trees, behind which the river is practically invisible. There is no access to water, the steep descent of the relief interferes. According to the chief architect of the Mosgrazhdanproekt Institute Ivan Okhapkin, the traditional idea of the embankment improvement presupposes, first of all, the strengthening of the bank and the arrangement of a cobbled walking area along it. However, the project budget was so limited that the designers had to look for other solutions. The existing relief inspired them to create outrigger terraces - "balconies" from where you can admire the river. Wide balconies will accommodate urban furniture, cafes, and even dog walking areas. Walking promenades will appear between the view terraces, allowing the opportunity to go down closer to the water and sit on the grass.
Pedestrian street in Shchelkovo
This project has been completed. Park Street in Shchelkovo was turned into a pedestrian boulevard as part of the Comfortable Urban Environment program in 2016. The pavement zones the recreation and transit areas for pedestrians, there is street lighting, park furniture and flower beds. According to the head of the department of the Glavarkhitektura Yuri Sheredega, after the improvement, Parkovaya Street has become one of the most popular places in the city. ***
Shopping street in Zvenigorod
Another implemented example of the integrated development of public space is Moskovskaya Street in Zvenigorod. Here, in addition to the improvement of the territory, the facades of the buildings were restored, on the first floors of which there are new shops, souvenir and antique shops, restaurants, cafes and pastry shops. All this revived the street and attracted the townspeople and tourists.
City square in Lobnya
The project for the improvement of the square located in front of the Sports Palace in Lobnya, at the intersection of Lenin and Mirnaya Streets, was developed in connection with the preparations for the 2018 World Cup. The designers tried not only to provide for high-quality paving and landscaping, but also took care of the functional filling of the space. So the area will remain in demand even after the end of the championship. ***
Victory Park in Orekhovo-Zuevo
After reconstruction, the memorial space of Victory Park on the bank of the Klyazma River should become a resting place for the townspeople. In addition to the monuments dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, there will be sports grounds, bike paths, children's centers, and walking routes. Thus, the authors of the project plan to return city life to the park. ***
Walking promenade in Sergiev Posad
For Sergiev Posad, an improvement project has been developed along the Kopninka River. It is proposed to turn a lively place practically in the center of the city into an eco-walking route for townspeople and tourists. The promenade in the coastal area will combine leisurely walks with equipped recreation areas and small coffee shops with active sports on cycling and jogging paths. ***
