The competition for the concept of reconstruction of the Samara Zagorodny Park has become the largest in the region in terms of geography and the number of participants over the past 15–20 years. 185 students, architects and architectural firms applied for participation. As a result, 83 of them submitted projects. About half of the participants are from Samara.
Recall that the competition was announced at the end of summer at the initiative of the city authorities. The participants had more than two months to develop the concepts. In the projects, it was necessary to take into account the existing facilities in the park, the formed network of alleys and footpaths, the proximity to the coastline, as well as the requirements for the formation of an environment accessible to all.
The jury consisted of Samara architects, representatives of the authorities and public organizations, as well as guests of the city - Evgeny Ass, Totan Kuzembaev, Olga Aleksakova and others.
There are a lot of winners in the competition, as it was originally planned - 15. We will tell you about six projects that took the first three places.
First place
Maxim Bessonov, Yegor Gaidukov, Daria Duleva, Fedor Torgashev. MARCHI, Moscow
The concept that proposes to turn the park into a forest is called “City Forest”. From the name it is clear that the first place in this project is the creation of an island of nature in a growing metropolis. Of course, it is also planned to arrange a lot of public spaces here, to provide opportunities for active and relaxing recreation. Despite the renovation of the park, the authors propose to preserve the “memory of the place” by investing new life in the existing facilities. The townspeople will be able to take part in the transformation of the park into a forest by planting trees. The project provides for convenient navigation, arrangement of new entrances, creation of extensive infrastructure on the banks of the Volga.
Everyone, young and old, will find something to do here. Activities are provided for any age category. Also, meeting the requirements of the test project, the project complies with the principles of creating an inclusive environment, so everyone can visit the park.
Second place
Egor Korolev, architect, Tsimailo Lyashenko & Partners, Moscow, and Elena Smirnova, architect Rafael Viñoly Architects
This concept is based on the principle of minimal interference. According to the authors, the park does not need a large-scale reconstruction, it just needs a "general cleaning". The proposed changes relate to the functional filling of the territory, the creation of new objects and the general design code. Much is expected to be preserved - for example, the existing trees, paths and paths, an alley with attractions created in the Soviet era. But minor adjustments and additions make the park modern, comfortable and interesting for the townspeople.
Second place
Ksenia Golubeva and Igor Golubev, architectural studio "SOYUZ", Moscow
The main task of the architects was to preserve the “country effect” (the absence of the hustle and bustle of the big city). To do this, it is proposed to restore the forest and remove objects "littering" the natural environment, such as barbecue and pavilions with corn. Also among the proposed solutions is the creation of a looped route for visitors to the park, as opposed to the existing linear route. Particular attention in the project is paid to the creation of a unified environment, and for each functional area - sidewalk, path, bike paths, playgrounds and sports grounds - its own coverage is supposed. When building all objects and small forms, it is recommended to use strictly defined materials - wood, corten steel, architectural concrete.
Third place
Kirill Skachkov, Samara
The mission of this project is to unleash the potential of the territory through small but high-quality transformations. The existing functional areas are adapted to modern conditions and needs. All new objects are delicately entered into the context. For example, empty asphalt patches have been transformed into playgrounds and recreation areas.
Third place
Vitaly Stadnikov, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Economics, Oleg Nikitenko, Oksana Travyan, Daria Bondareva, Natalia Ott, Alina Georgievskaya, Olga Kosolapova, Marat Gareev, Daria Romanova, Sergey Saprykin. Samara - Moscow
Before proceeding with the design, the authors inquired about the opinion of the Samara people. More than 550 people took part in the survey about how they want the park to be. The desire of the townspeople is to escape from the tight monolithic environment into nature. Since today the park is mainly visited by families with children, the task of the architects was to make it attractive for teenagers, athletes, the older generation, as well as to create conditions for the recreation of people with disabilities.
Third place
Valeria Zaitseva, Serpukhov
According to this project, the park has four zones: an area for public events, an ecopark for walking and contemplating nature, an English park as the embodiment of the spirit of this place and a terrace that provides a connection with the water. Each visitor will be able to choose a suitable route for himself - walking or cycling.
All awarded projects until December 10 are presented at the exhibition in the Samara shopping center "Gudok". They can also be found on the competition page. The best solutions proposed by the contestants will be used to create a park reconstruction project for further implementation.
