The territory, where Volga citie’s Gate is located, is a center of the Saratov’s Fortress. This place is the intersection of the main and ancient of the city. The uniqueness of the situation lies in the fact that the modernist embankment with a River Station are closely adjacent to the first square in the city - Museum square. So, the idea of the project is to set up a “dialogue” of squares using the contrast between the novelty and the historicity. During the River Station’s square design process it was necessary to preserve the pedestrian connections by organization of several scenarios of interaction with the territory. The main visual axes were taken into account to save and adjust them. It was necessary to achieve a gradual visual disclosure of the cathedral.
Goal: to organize a place of attraction for tourists and city residents, to establish a connection with the existing environment, landscape and history. Solution: creating a hybrid between a square and a building in the form of a building embedded in the relief. The building is an information and cultural center of the city, which houses rooms of different functional content, demonstrating the history and culture of the Saratov region.
The design process also included mapping the outline of previously existing Akimov’s house, which was forming the boundaries of the two squares. «Absolute glassiness» will allow to create a conflict-free environment that will emphasize the peculiarity of the place. The interaction of the embedded into the relief building with the open area transforms the large urban space into a square filled with history and landscape.
The square includes such elements as the main square with a dry fountain and an amphitheater at the entrance to the complex, a small Peter I’s square and a small amphitheater near Solyanaya Street. Also, recreational areas are allocated at various levels of the square with a solarium, active area, board games and work area and a shady square. Observation platforms have been organized due to the multi-level structure of the square.
The territory of the reconstruction project is the peripheral part of the historical center with preserved separate building areas of eclecticism and Art Nouveau period. The goal of the project is to develop an individual and the most careful approach to the reconstructed area. The technique of conflict-free reconstruction of the historical quarter is used.
Kutyakova Street is the one of the main streets along which various retail outlets are located. Chelyuskintseva Street is a quiet residential street that has partially lost it’s historical module. Two quarters of the territory under consideration requires the development of individual design methods.
Principle 1: Preservation of the historical module of the front facades, buildings and structures along the street front using architectural and artistic solutions. Principle 2: Creation of a protective strip as a public area along the road, which will allow to use the territory rationally and protect the cozy residential yards from the noise of an active street. Principle 3: Improving the quality of the environment using injection of public areas and green paths in the central parts of the quarters. Principle 4: Yards with no cars. Parking of a personal car is carried out in underground parking lots, parking spaces along the streets are designed, in some cases parking spaces in the yards are provided. (Chelyuskintsev st.)
The city retains its status, appearance, quality of urban life as a result of the proposed reconstruction method. Investors get a way to create a denser urban environment, tourists have a motive to visit, citizens get a diverse, comfortable environment with developed urban infrastructure.
The main goal: to create a comfortable urban environment, where space for living and resting is adjacent to places of work. The formation of the most open and permeable territory is an equally important goal. That is why a central green strip in the form of a park with sports and recreational functions that permeates the entire district. The central pedestrian axis of the district along the green strip, to which residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, and entertainment centers are oriented.
The number of building floors in the district varies from three to 18 floors. The typology of buildings and neighborhoods varies. Near the main transport highway - the quarters are denser, the number of storeys increases, a protective noise screen is created due to the two-story stylobate. Terraced houses with access to exploited roofs for residents of the upper floors are located near the main recreational space of the district. Mid-rise buildings with variable number of storeys, cozy inter-yard spaces, bike paths, organized storage of cars with parking at the entrance to the district form an accessible and comfortable environment
The most comfortable site was selected during the analysis. The first section is closed on the south side by the educational building, which creates a shadow for the audience. (the functioning of the projector), the shadow also has a positive effect on the comfort of being in the audience in the summer months. There are many trees and shrubs on the site, which is important for the summer audience and recreation: aesthetic properties, shading, sound insulation.