Guy Eames is the international curator of the competition for the development of a master plan for the territory adjacent to the Almetyevsk reservoir on the Stepnoy Zai River, a well-known specialist in the field of "green building", who heads the largest association in the field of "green" construction in the Russian Federation - the Council for Green Building in Russia (RuGBC) and actively promotes the implementation of international and Russian environmental standards in the architectural and construction industry.
With what areas that you have seen before in Russia or abroad, you could compare the valley of the Stepnoy Zai River? Are there analogues? And if they do exist, can the technologies that are used in other countries be integrated into solving problems in the competition area? Does it make sense to use the experience of foreign countries or to more effectively form your own solution, which is relevant specifically for the valley of the Stepnoi Zai River?
Today, there are dozens of projects for the restoration of forest zones in the world, in many respects similar to the project of the Stepnoi Zai river valley. The presence of water resources in the project adds to their attractiveness, since water can be used as a medium for the restoration of an attractive landscape, a source of drinking water, for energy storage, for purifying water and ecosystems, for breeding birds and other purposes.
I immediately remember the recently opened resort Villages Nature Paris - a kind of restored paradise. It is very “green” - it uses technologies that help preserve the environment, one of which is a heat pump to heat the lake and use it as a pool with its ecosystem throughout the year. The thermal energy of the Earth can also be used at Stepnoy Zai, creating a spa resort, unique for this region of Russia, operating all year round.
I also remember the project of the famous European eco-city of Freiburg. It is one of the most attractive cities for living in Germany. The city went through a process of "rebuilding" after the closure of the French military base and the city's refusal to build a nuclear power plant. Now it is a famous city that uses solar energy for its functioning, has a high standard of living and is adapted for pedestrians. The city authorities regularly hold events in support of environmental conservation. The city is also known as a center for cycling.
A technopark and a university have been built in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi to develop the technologies of the future. The buildings are powered by the energy of the sun and charge electric vehicles. Students are engaged in research and development (and monetization) of new environmentally friendly technologies, numerous international investors and companies are attracted. The experience of Masdar City can be used in the Technopark of Almetyevsk.
Speaking of new technologies, I would like to mention the recent excellent attempt to measure the level of activity of people in the parks of Tbilisi - and apply this technology in our project.
Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing industries. For Germany, ecotourism is a national project for which jobs and new areas of activity are created. Among the solutions that can be presented in Almetyevsk are resistance to floods and extreme weather conditions (appropriate development of the river floodplain, since the location is prone to frequent floods), the revival of wildlife, the settlement of birds and animals that previously lived there, and the restoration of vegetation. The city is already known in Russia for its sporting lifestyle, which could become a breakthrough in the further development of outdoor sports facilities.
Transport solutions such as cable cars can add a wow effect by connecting the city of Almetyevsk with its forested park and ski center.
I think it is optimal to start working with water resources. International experience can play an important role in this matter. There are too few examples of the use of such solutions in Russia, so I would recommend involving international teams in the development. This is a very exciting process that I would gladly take part in!
Within the framework of the competition, the task was set to prepare a master plan to revitalize the territory adjacent to the Almetyevsk reservoir on the Stepnoy Zai River in the city of Almetyevsk, and turn it into a symbolic public space for city residents. This competition could become a pilot project for the rehabilitation of disturbed land plots and the preservation of valuable natural objects. How would you see the development of this direction on the scale of Russia?
For the Stepnoy Zai project to achieve its goal and change the situation for the better, it must be large-scale, be implemented at a decent level and have real attractiveness. This requires providing the team with adequate technological, financial and administrative resources. To achieve success, I consider it necessary:
1. Treat the project as a large-scale one and perform work at the highest level, corresponding to the level of not only Russian, but also international analogues;
2. The project must have unique advantages. Many examples can be cited, including renewable energy, transportation of the future, nature restoration and wildlife settlement.
3. Undoubtedly, the role of branding and marketing is important - none of the Russian cities has yet received the title of "ecological capital". Almetyevsk has the opportunity to become an analogue of Davos, where in the future annual conferences on sustainable urban development will be held, environmental organizations may be located, and international competitions such as Solar Decathlon may be held. Similar initiatives are being pursued by many of the world's petrochemical companies. This project can become a hallmark of Russia in terms of the energy of the future and comfortable living conditions.
4. Today, creative rethinking of the project plays a vital role in popularizing projects. Searching for local heroes, filming documentaries - all this will make it possible to record the experience of Almetyevsk for further use throughout Russia. Through the film, the project can be presented at the Ecocup international festival, made the object of PR campaigns, and attracted stars to discuss environmental topics.
5. Industry events such as the Moscow Urban Forum and the Climate Forum can play a critical role in achieving project recognition.
6. To make a good impression on visitors and to facilitate further dissemination of information, you can attract people interested in the project. Among them can be architects, media partners and sponsors, local governments and all local activists who are not indifferent to environmental problems and ways to solve them.
One of the objectives of the competition is educational, that is, the creation of ecological educational and entertainment centers at parks dedicated to the problems of soil pollution, waste recycling, climate change, decarbonization and other challenges of our time. This is especially true for those regions where nature conflicts with anthropogenicity. An example is the Ariel Sharon Park in Tel Aviv, Israel. How do you assess the potential of the competitive territory in this regard? Do you know other examples of educational projects in the world and how they were implemented in other countries? Could a similar scenario be applied inrelation to the valley of the Stepnoi Zai River?
The main result of the project can be the creation of an entertainment program for training. The entertainment program can include almost all examples of city revival. I think it is important when a visitor has something to share based on his personal experience - information that he received in advance (searched for himself) or after his visit. Many cities are home to impressive museums, such as the Beatles Museum in Liverpool. I think a solid demo space works better than a demo under a multimedia roof, although the alignment looks good.
I immediately recall the experience of the American city of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, where I visited several times. This city, once called "the city of steel", was so dirty that you had to change your clothes twice a day, and the lights were on in the city even during the day! The animals in the river died. Today, Pittsburgh is a financially and socially attractive city for young families with a growing economy and a serious sports component - in the city center you can go kayaking, master hiking and so on. For these purposes, many non-profit organizations have been created.
In Moscow, I always bring foreign tourists to the Ecocenter on Sparrow Hills, and it makes an indelible impression on them. The center was built for schoolchildren, but it also serves adults very well. It presents the close relationship between nature and man - the circular economy, energy, the work of the ecosystem and its impact on health. Such experience can be safely used in the project for the development of the territory of the Stepnoi Zai river valley.
Building
The Crystal, built in London in 2012, showed just how fast technology is advancing. The £ 35 million building, which opened as an orientation and convention center for the Olympics, had already closed its doors to visitors as outdated by the end of 2019. Two conclusions can be drawn here: such centers should be continuously improved (which is possible in cooperation with technology parks) and such centers should be very active. A good example of the successful use of such spaces in organizing events and exhibitions is Moscow's Skolkovo.
Another successful example is Lee Valley Park in the UK. It runs along a 41 km (26 mi) stretch of the Lee River that flows into the Thames. Somewhat reminiscent of the magnificent Moscow Gorky Park, the Liya River Valley Park successfully integrates the natural ecosystem into the landscape of a large city, creating a unique area adapted for cyclists, hiking and other outdoor activities.
In Russia, there is a growing interest in nature (this is proved by the search statistics in Yandex). And national parks, ecotourism and outdoor recreation are becoming more and more popular. I think Almetyevsk is a natural zone for the development of an already existing love for sports, a responsible approach to life and everything that surrounds a person, interest in non-standard engineering solutions, to maintain a sense of pride in their place of residence. All this can become a good example for the whole of Russia! Despite the fact that the competition is held at the local level, it still fits into the global trend. How do you assess the role of such competitions in solving global problems? Each step towards sustainable socio-economic and environmentally friendly development in the form of landscape changes and the creation of new zones, environments and a positive balance between man and nature is an important stage in solving global issues related to the environmental crisis, depletion of natural resources, waste, land depletion and etc. The actual global impact of this project will depend on the intentions of the final decision makers and the ability of architects and developers to implement them. The project will be able to gain worldwide fame and become on a par with the already listed projects (Masdar City, Zaryadye Park, Villages Nature Resort, Ariel Sharon Park). In extreme cases, it will bring positive changes to the life of the local population and become a source of pride for them.
Personally, I am an optimist and will do my best to achieve maximum results for the project. I must say that for real results an integrated approach is needed based on changes - in mentality, technology, economy. I consider this project a road to a better future and I think that it has the corresponding potential. I am optimistic that Russia can start planning a transition from the use of natural raw materials to alternative energy sources, and such projects could be the first contribution to ensuring Russia's future without using oil.
The requirements for the quality of the environment in the world have recently increased significantly, much attention is paid to the issue of decarbonization, directed against global warming. One of the key tasks of ensuring the quality of life of the population of the Republic of Tatarstan is the greening of the urban environment on the basis of sustainable, dynamic development of the economy, the creation of a favorable environment and the efficient use of natural resources. The initiator of the competition, PJSC TATNEFT, takes this problem seriously and declares a decarbonization policy. How could you assess the activities of PJSC TATNEFT and the Republic of Tatarstan in this regard?
I admire TATNEFT's decision to support and advocate projects such as the development of a master plan for the Stepnoy Zai River Valley in Almetyevsk, as well as openly expressing my support for greening the region. Nail Maganov, the head of Tatneft, supports many environmentally friendly technologies. For example, he recently reported on possible investments of Tatneft in renewable energy. In the corporate annual reports of TATNEFT, the concept of social and environmental responsibility, energy efficiency, information on investments in technologies for processing and recycling of petroleum products are presented in detail.
As a consultant in the field of sustainable development, I would like to note that in this area Russia lags behind the leading world powers for years. I attribute this to the economic crisis in Russia in the 1990s. While the West began to move towards sustainable development, Russia was rebuilding its economy. Oil market sharks like BP and Royal Dutch Shell have invested in clean technologies for many years and have long ceased to prove their commitment to environmental principles - BP even changed its name to "beyond petroleum", that is, "after oil." … This may in part be due to the West's growing concern about climate change and the environment, which has not yet reached a similar level in Russia.
In response to your question, I welcome the fact that Tatneft sees great potential for development in this area and is ready to support relevant initiatives.
As an expert in the field of environmental development, how do you assess the prospects for the use of environmentally friendly technologies, "green building" in general, and the potential for the implementation of such solutions in Russia? What do you think could be the role of the competition territory in promoting them?
Russia has enormous potential for the development of environmentally friendly green technologies and the construction of such buildings. When 10 years ago we organized the Council for Green Building in Russia with 30 founding members, many laughed at us and said that Russia will never have environmentally friendly “green” houses. Numerous arguments were cited to substantiate this opinion - extremely extreme climatic conditions, mentality, cheap energy, lack of economy skills. I chuckled back, feeling they were wrong. As a pioneer in the field of mobile phones, I heard the same thing in the mid-90s - the St. Petersburg market is too saturated, while our phones were used by 2,500 subscribers!
Today, more than 300 certified environmentally friendly buildings have been built in Russia, many of them meet international standards such as BREEAM and LEED. Some of them are built in accordance with the standards of passive houses, others comply with Russian environmental standards. The number of projects is growing every year, and the level of environmental safety is getting higher. In fact, this indicates an improvement in the design of new buildings and their equipping with more efficient engineering systems (heating, ventilation, lighting). Some of them are equipped with modern control systems (BMS - Building Management System), charging points for electric vehicles, the ability to collect rainwater for car washing or watering "green" roofs!
New solutions or formats have been tested in Russia within the framework of several exemplary projects. Zaryadye Park has shown the success of green roofs, L'Oreal Factory has proved that an industrial plant can become an environmentally friendly enterprise, fire services and the Ministry of Emergency Situations have shown how the development can be successfully focused on convenience and environmental friendliness (all 14 service complexes are certified for compliance with the BREEAM standard). I believe that the project in Almetyevsk proves the possibility of integrating the existing infrastructure of the city with a green park zone with places of recreation and entertainment of international level. The project can further advocate environmental technology in colleges and technology parks. I think a few unforgettable moments will allow Almetyevsk to be on the map as one of the largest Russian projects in the field of sustainable development.
