SPbGASU hosted the V Regional Round Table “Modern approaches and methods of research work in architecture”, at which master’s students of the Faculty of Architecture presented their projects for the development of former industrial territories in the south-eastern part of St Petersburg (along the Okhta River and Kosygin Avenue), as well as projects for development of new territories in the north of the city in the area of Konnaya Lakhta and Levashovo airport.
“These territories are promising for creating a comfortable urban environment. In order to prevent their overly intensive development, leading to the emergence of featureless areas, the main task for architects is the comprehensive development of sites, revealing the architectural, social and natural potential of these places,” explained Maria Yakunenkova, associate professor at the SPbGASU Department of Architectural Design.
According to her, the territories along the Okhta River and Kosygin Avenue have great natural potential and developed transport and engineering infrastructure. However, for a long time, development here was carried out without a special system, and over time, residential areas and the large Ladozhsky railway station found themselves confined to the industrial belt. In addition, the public infrastructure of the area is poorly developed, and the natural potential of the Okhta River does not benefit the residential environment. The tourism potential of the area was also not revealed.
“Today, these territories require a new development vector that preserves the necessary number of industrial facilities to provide residents with jobs, but defines a system for creating a comfortable urban environment. The areas near Konnaya Lakhta and the new Levashovo airport are new areas for development. Here, master’s students had to not only create a modern urban space, but also identify the design code of architecture (a set of rules and recommendations on the appearance of the city),” said Maria Sergeevna.
Fedor Perov, PhD of Architecture, Associate Professor at the SPbGASU Department of Architectural Design, drew the attention of master’s students to the importance of a detailed study of the city’s general plan for the most correct design of its individual sections, which also require a preliminary survey. As an example of this approach served the work of master's student Lev Svetlichny. It presented an in-depth analysis of the southeastern part of the Northern capital.
Artyom Klyushin, general director of the architectural studio “ArtStep”, member of the Union of Architects of Russia, noted the importance of preserving the existing recreational environment in these territories and positively assessed the systematic work of students when designing public spaces along the Okhta River.
