An open discussion «Architectonics of habitable space and problems of the urban environment of St. Petersburg» was held in the Nevsky Town Hall with the participation of Vice-Governor Vladimir Knyaginin, specialists and teachers of the Institute of Spatial Environment Design of Ƶ, as well as representatives of the Foundation for Support of Innovations and Youth Initiatives. Experts from the Ƶ presented to the Government of the Northern Capital the concept of transition to a polycentric structure of the city, which includes the development of residential areas, the creation of continuous green pedestrian zones from the center to the periphery and the revision of the organization of public and personal transport flows.
«The unique urban environment of St. Petersburg is under threat of destructive transformations. If a certain culture of working with the urban environment has developed in the historical center, then it is necessary to create it in new areas. The very «Petersburg style» that we are talking about should correspond to the entire territory of the city, and not only as facade solutions, but also in a reasonable organization of space, focused primarily on a person with his diverse needs,» commented a member of the St. Petersburg Union of Designers, acting Evgeny Lobanov, Head of the Department of Equipment Design in Environmental Facilities of Ƶ.
Member of the Union of Architects of Russia, Acting Head of the Department of Spatial Environment Design of Ƶ Alexander Feshin presented the basic principles of creating a comfortable living environment of a modern city. Sofia Shamanova, assistant of the Department of Spatial Environment Design at Ƶ, named the main problems of organizing the life of citizens. Among them: pedestrian and transport communications that are not always reasonably organized, lack of green spaces, unsatisfactory quality of residential development and public spaces.
To solve these problems, Associate Professor of Ƶ Evgeny Lobanov presented a number of projects carried out by students under the guidance of the famous architect, professor of Ƶ Boris Ustinov and other university teachers.
The speaker stressed the importance of the transition to a polycentric structure of the city. Among the solutions to this problem are the development of cultural and business centers in residential areas, which would allow redirecting some of the flows from the historical center of the city, as well as the creation of a system of linear parks, continuous landscaped pedestrian zones with places for public events connecting the center and residential areas. An important role in this process will be played by the development of a public transport network, the creation of elevated high-speed transport branches, the use of existing railway tracks inside the city not only for freight, but also for passenger transportation.
In addition, the experts of Ƶ proposed to reconsider the priorities in the organization of traffic flows in the city. It is necessary to put pedestrians in the first place, cyclists in the second, public transport in the third, and only personal cars in the fourth. To do this, a network of bike paths should be created, underground parking lots at residential complexes should be built, the movement of bicycles and scooters on sidewalks should be prohibited, as well as parking cars in courtyards and along driveways.
Improving the quality of layouts and the level of security in residential complexes will be achieved through the reasonable organization of functional zones and distribution of flows inside residential units, ensuring through ventilation and good noise insulation of apartments, abandoning dead-end corridors in sections. It is equally important to organize places for different types of activity and adaptation for low-mobility groups of the population.
As for the complex renovation, its mechanisms should be revised so that residents of resettled and demolished houses are provided with apartments of equal size in the same area. And when constructing a new building, the principles of aesthetics and functionality must be observed.
The solution for the suburbs of St. Petersburg was proposed by the General Director of Architectural Systems LLC, Associate Professor of the Department of Spatial Environment Design of Ƶ Andrey Zuev, presenting the concept of the annual exhibition and sale of individual residential construction. He noted that the demonstration of the achievements of the construction industry of low-rise buildings will form a permanent developing industry of suburban residential spaces, as well as stimulate intraregional tourism.
Reference: The discussion was held within the framework of the non-profit project "St. Petersburg style in design". Its purpose was to analyze the architectural and urban problems faced by St. Petersburg. The main focus of the discussion was aimed at finding patterns in the planning of the urban environment and analyzing the impact of architecture on the lives of St. Petersburg residents.