KOTOUKA

ARCHITECTURAL-LANDSCAPE CONCEPT « K O T O U K A » T R A N S F O R M AT I O N M I N S K U R B A N P L AT F O R M

СКВЕР ДЛЯ ВСЕХ COMMUNITY «GREEN NETWORK»

detatched houses

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High storey buildings ÂŤ Ta m b a z Âť

To understand better the critical situation about the park, important to know that one year ago its fate united people in defence against construction of a church (half of all trees would have been destroyed).

People together with green network of Minsk were guarding trees, organising protests. A big research work was made about the bird species living in the square, as well as a list of recommendations about the future treatment of trees.

After successful defence the city government gave people freedom to manage the park as they want, but the city didn’t want to participate and to help.

Although people united for protection of the park, the relations between different social groups started to be critical when the moment came to answer - what we do now?

Kotouka park

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Blurred path

Lack of a center

Main glade- conflict in use

Absence of lower level plants

No boundaries between streets

Hard to climb on the hill

Problems Kotouka park

done!

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AREAS

R E P R E S E N TAT I V E PA R T

Functional load: to make possible to use a park both by parents with children and by people with animals, to create facilities for sport.

Front zone - classical picturesque park

SLEDGING SLOPE One of the most important elements of the park that unites people.

PLANT GROUPS To f u l f i l l a b c e n t m i d d l e a n d l o w e r level of plant groups.

FA I R Y TA L E F O R E S T Thickets of ivy create sensation of untouched forest.

«Stumpery» garden

ALLEYS People planted trees without knowing it will be a picturesque park in the future with three main alleys, which can be just better organised and fulfilled with lower leve plants.

Sport area

Concept

Green sitting space Playground

Fairy tale forest contains in itself a story of a park: once there was a «Field of Dreams» with numerous trash «treasures» from electrical engineering plant.

The main glade is a heart of park. One of the main tasks was to create different zones b y a c t i v i t y, n o t c h a n g i n g the relief, being neutral in architectural interventions, so that created elements are multi-functional.

1 | M a i n g l a d e

1 | M a i n g l a d e : p l a c e

Most popular and beloved place for everyone: for people with dogs, for parents with toddlers, for people who want to play active games, people who want a quiet rest on the grass. How to set levels of use?

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active games

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1 | M a i n g l a d e : c o n c e p t Kotouka park

so liter

views

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By simple tools (wooden walls, land levelling) common glade is divided into three main zones

view 2

1 | G l a d e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n Kotouka park

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To c h o o s e a p l a c e f o r a playground was a very difficult and arguing task.

People were changing their desicion about it more than architects did. In the end was made a decision to put a playground on the open and sunny meadow up in the park.

2 | P l a y g r o u n d

The main reason for that was a wish to create a detached and free space for children, open active change.

Picturesque part of the park has to be more quiet and natural.

What is special about the playground place, is its opennes and fixation to activities.Some paths are crossing here: the place will be always safely viewed by d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e p a s s i n g b y.

It is in the center of movement, same time detached from the park by heights and location.

2 | P l a y g r o u n d : p l a c e

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2 | P l a y g r o u n d : c o n c e p t Kotouka park

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view 1 C h i l d r e n ’s p l a y g r o u n d , a l o n g w i t h i t s l a n d s c a p e p a r t i n t h e c e n t e r of the square, is located on a sunny glade. The shape of the site i s d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e r e l i e f . Tw o s t r i p e s o f g r a s s , « r a i s e d f r o m the ground,» do not go against the natural height lines towards K r y l o v i c h ’s s i d e s t r e e t , b u t e m p h a s i z e i t .

Slides divide the site into two zones. In the shadow zone there are hills of different heights; on the other side there is a sandspace. Niche benches are mounted in the hill.The slides are arranged so that one side is always in the shade and the other in the sun.

2 | P l a y g r o u n d : e l e m e n t s Kotouka park

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л аб и р и н т

view 2

sto nes f o r cl i m bi ng

green hill

The second mountain contains a niche-labyrinth and a climbing wall.

Z o n i n g a l l o w s c h i l d r e n o f d i f f e r e n t a g e s t o p l a y s a f e l y, s a m e t i m e r e m a i n i n g t o g e t h e r.

sandspace

hill with a hole

c l i mbi n g

l a by ri n t h

A quiet zone of the sandspace is connected with the active zone of the slides by a tunnel pipe. Benches, mounted in the hill, psychologically make the parents part of the game.

2 | P l a y g r o u n d : e l e m e n t s Kotouka park

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Game tower is the accent of the playground due to its extended f o r m . I t ’ s a r e a l c h i l d r e n ’ s s k y s c r a p e r.

O n t h e s p i d e r w e b y o u c a n m o v e f r o m o n e l e v e l t o a n o t h e r, f r o m o n e « h o u s e » t o a n o t h e r. T h e f i r s t « h o u s e » i s e q u i p p e d w i t h a ladder for lifting to a level of 2 meters.

2 | P l a y g r o u n d : t o w e r Kotouka park

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A dramatic and mysterious part of the park can become the so-called «Fairy Forest» zone. Due to the fact that the soil in the far portion of the square is acidified, we have the opportunity to use plants whose natural growth zone is forest.

3 | « F a i r y t a l e f o r e s t »

The fairy-tale forest is complemented by the elements o f K o t o v k a ’s h i s t o r y : T h e F i e l d of Miracles, where all the children of the district found odd things, unloaded here by the electrical engineering plant.

The most dark and mysterious part of the park has to be preserved and recovered. Acid soil has to be treated carefully: not many plants can live here.

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ery T h e th ic k e t s of i vy emphas i z e the feel i ng of untouched for es t Cre ation of a buckwheel and a br i dge thr ough i t i n the hol l ow of a «fai r y for es t».

3 | « F a i r y t a l e f o r e s t » : c o n c e p t Kotouka park

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Frames

«Theatre»

Installations

By simple «frames» of branches some interesting views can be emphasized.

In one of the secluded corners of the «fairy forest» you can arrange a minic h i l d r e n ’s t h e a t e r. M a t e r i a l s f o r i t a r e prepared by nature itself.

Simple installation of wood is not just beautiful, functional and good for the game, but also incredibly interesting in the construction process. Even the smallest participant of the project will be able to express his creative potential.

3 | « F a i r y t a l e f o r e s t » : e l e m e n t s Kotouka park

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The sledge trail is an identity of the park. It existed before the trees grew up. The name of the park appeared due to this function of the place.

4 | S l e d g e r a i l

I t ’s a l s o n o t j u s t a s l o p e t o s k a t e , i t ’s a n e l e m e n t t h a t unites both people from the new skyscrapers and people from old houses.

4 | S l e d g e r a i l : v i s i o n Kotouka park

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4 | C o n s t r u c t i o n p r o c e s s Kotouka park

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4 | R e a l i s a t i o n Kotouka park

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6 | S p o r t p a t h Kotouka park

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to jump on

to jump over

to run through

to hang

to do sit-ups to stretch

to climb to hide

6 | S p o r t p a t h : e l e m e n t s Kotouka park

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7 | P a t h f o r d o g s Kotouka park

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to run differently up and down

to train accuracy to go through tunnel to jump

to go carefully up and down

to run and jump over and through

7 | P a t h f o r d o g s : e l e m e n t s Kotouka park

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simple and relaxing

simple

relaxing with a smell of flowers

minimalistic with a smell of flowers

8|Benches Kotouka park

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sofa with a smell of flowers

simple sofa

minimalistic sofa

classic

8|Benches Kotouka park

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Kotouka | 2017