Public spaces vision for Surgut

Project year

2017

Team

Urbanica

Project role

Urban design, public space design

Clients

Construction association, Surgut administration

Challenge

The main goal of the project was to find the favourable (currently active) spaces and develop a vision for public space network in the city.

I have been working on detailed visions for each of six revealed public spaces: 2 embankments/riverfronts, 3 big parks (including main city park) and 1 small park.

Novye Kluchi Park. Visualization of cental square of the park — you can see walking path up in the trees, rope park, permanent illuminated art installation made of cor-ten steel, wayfinding and information stellas, illumination, bushes that contrast with snow in the winter

Visualization made by Ilya Belyakov for Urbanica

Saima riverfront. Due to existing activities, I proposed a skate/bmx park, bouldering & parkour amenities, playgrounds for various age groups, art installation on the roof of car garages and pedestrian bridges over the garage, acting as new connections between residential buildings and riverfront (currently there are none)

Visualization made by Artem Petryakov for Urbanica

Across the Saima Park riverfront. Existing riverfront is already in use by people doing yoga, but other activities are in demand, too. We proposed a swimming pool that turns into ice rink in the winter, as this location gives you great sights of the city. This point not only has sight but is visible from other parts of the city, so I proposed a permanent installation of the 7-meter cubic-style abstract fox illuminated from the inside, to be the symbol of the physical city, as the white fox is a symbol on the coat of arms of Surgut. The fox stands atop amphitheater stairs for people to enjoy the views. Two other proposed things, lacking now, are dressing cabin and kayak/boat rent

Visualization made by Artem Petryakov for Urbanica

Across the Saima Park riverfront in the winter

Visualization made by Artem Petryakov for Urbanica

Neftyanik Park, entrance

Visualization made by Artem Petryakov for Urbanica

Geologist neighbourhood riverfront. I proposed a two-level riverfront, with lower level being closer to water and intended for quiet walks and musings of nature across, in the park. Upper level is intended for cycling in the summer and kicksledding in the winter. Bicycle/kicksled rent is place on two msin points of the linear riverfront. As an homage to history of the place, I proposed to place a boulder, cut in two, and illuminating the rock structure — the neighbourhood name translates as geologist

Visualization made by Ilya Belyakov for Urbanica

Workflow

Team lead and chief architect presented the results of field study and gave us their ideas on public spaces of Surgut. I then made an additional distant research and started forming ideas for development of each public space, working closely with project architect Rita, who started to put our ideas on the plans/maps.

My main role in the project was to generate ideas for each of six spaces and work out in detail which functions and activity scenarios will be relevant in each of them, then deciding which built environment will be needed for those functions and scenarios. Together with Rita, we tried to discuss everything thoroughly to make every public space true to its roots, economically viable and also great to spend time in during any season for people of any age and interests. We also wanted to make each of places unique, that is why I came up with permanent art pieces that will be recognizable for each of the spaces — such as illuminated white fox, a boulder cut in half and illuminated from the inside. This will also help navigating the city and make meetings of people easier by creating new toponymics. You can see the proposals visualized above in the gallery.

I was responsible for the final visuals, so I talked to everyone who was involved in visualization of spaces and prepared briefs with explanations and pictures of how everything should look. I also did all descriptions of final proposals for our presentation.

Novye Kluchi Park plan