SIEVIERODONETSK THE END OF SOVIET UTOPIA METACITY: EAST
SIEVIERODONETSK: THE END OF SOVIET UTOPIA When you walk along the broad streets of Sievierodonetsk and notice the multi-colored glass balconies, which, like a mosaic, form the image of the city, you will inevitably feel the connection with the neighboring Lysychansk and its glass factory. And there is a reason for that. Liskhimstroy Village, which later grew into Sievierodonetsk, was planned as another district of Lysychansk. We will later understand that residents of Lysychansk still think of Sievierodonetsk as of a “more successful younger brother�. However, the inhabSievierodonetsk streets
itants of Sievierodonetsk do not mention that story often, although they agree that Lysychansk was always considered to be a working proletariat city, while Sievierodonetsk was the city of scientists and engineers. Sievierodonetsk is the youngest and most densely populated (107 167 inhabitants) city of all that we visited during the project. The territory of the modern city was the “empty land” in 1933.
It is one of those legends that all the townspeople know and believe in. “The city grew up in the sand and that already is a miracle”. - Valentyna. The beginning of the development of the territory is associated with the construction of a chemical plant, the current Azot factory. The foundation of the factory was laid in 1934. As the chemical plant grew, Liskhimstroy village— the forerunner of Sievierodonetsk—also got bigger. In the late 1950s, the settlement turned into a township and became known as Sievierodonetsk, and in 1958 it received city status, thus separating from Lysychansk. It has received the status of a regional center, since part of the Luhansk Region
The first street that laid the foundation of the city
Scheme of Liskhimstroy settlement, year 1934
has been temporarily occupied. The planning of the city is clear. According to the 1990 project, the city is perpendicularly divided to the grid of 69 blocks and seventeen districts. In the city, the residential quarters neighbor a large industrial zone, actually taken only by the Azot plant; there are also regular parks and “artificial� green plantations around the city. Only several planned neighbourhoods have never been built.
When it comes to the history of Sievierodonetsk, the main focus is on the scale of industrial and civil construction. But still, the greenery that had a lot of attention at the planning stage is now underestimated. The greenery is directly related to fighting sandstorms and heat that constantly attack the city. The sand can reach everywhere—even through closed windows. One of the first teachers in
Sievierodonetsk mentioned that she could only teach the first two lessons, and after that all of the schoolchildren went out to dig out the school because it was all covered in sand. The desire to conquer this Sahara and transform their city into a green oasis was so strong that the people started to plant trees and greeneries and look after them on their own. One can say there is nothing accidental in this city. You can feel that regulated atmosphere even clearer if you come to Sievierodonetsk after Lysychansk. The old town here creates a more diverse fabric, combining diverse neighborhoods, a chaotic private sector, and wide boulevards of the Soviet period. You can feel the contrast. Sievier-
odonetsk does not have its own railway station; people come to the city from Lysychansk or Rubizhne. Little has changed in the city’s fabric since Soviet times. The changes can only be noticed in the use of what’s left: something is abandoned (like the airport or the ice palace) and something is taken care of, like the courtyards of residential buildings or school yards. It was interesting for us to find out that there are no derelict buildings in the city. All of the buildings that are for some reason empty have an owner. All of the interesting transformations are happening in the open spaces—the yards, parks, and gardens. The modern city inherited large green spaces that exceeded the Soviet normative. The spaces had both ecological and aesthetic function: they aimed to improve the situation with the environment and change the image of the city from industrial to the city of roses. Therefore, it is not surprising that the residents offered locations for potential transformation based on the idea of the city’s welfare improvement, from large parks to small yards. During the interviews, the townspeople named the following locations as potential candidates for transformation:
S
Ch
S
S
Ch S
S
Ch S
The weather map imposed on the selected locations * The weather map shows the factors that are strengthening (S) and challenging (Ch) the potential temporary transformation at a given time. S (strengthening factors): abandoned territories, good transport connection (public transport stops), high density of young people (educational institutions, young people’s favorite spots), the places loved by the locals. Ch (challenging factors): private sector (low-density construction), organized places.
1. The Eco Park 2. The Park by the Ice Palace 3. The Park by the Tank 4. The Courtyard of Children’s and Youth Library 5. “Parkove” (“Park”) Lake in the Park of Culture and Recreation 6. “Chyste” (“Clear”) Lake 7. Skimen Courtyard We will focus more on the places that were identified as the most suitable for the temporary transformation in the results of the analysis.
1. The Eco Park This park is one of those city public spaces that was created and exists thanks to the initiative of locals. With the efforts of residents, the vast area between the road and the multi-apartment building was transformed into space for entertainment and leisure. The main problem of space: the lack of shade in the summer. The initiative group that takes care of the space dreams of planting trees and additional settlement gardening for the territory, but so far, they cannot cope with the task.
2. The Park by the Ice Palace The Ice Palace is the central sports building of the city, located on the main transport axis, the cen-
tral boulevard. The sports and concert complex was designed as a multifunctional venue for 5 000 spectators. Sievierodonetsk was a sports city of the “Union significance�, and thus, it could boast with such large objects. Moreover, at that time, a venue for so many people was necessary and justified. However, nowadays the palace and the surrounding areas are declining. The locals directed our attention to the park near the palace that can potentially be used as an open stage for music rehearsals and performances. The proximity of residential buildings makes it impossible to use different amplifiers, but the space could be very promising for chamber instrumental concerts.
The construction of the Ice Palace
5 and 6. “Parkove” Lake in the Park of Culture and Recreation and “Chyste” Lake There are two man-made lakes in the city: “Parkove” and “Chyste”. Considering the geographic conditions of the city, the large bodies of water like these are the real hallmark of people’s enthusiasm and hard work. The current inhabitants of the city do not mention the history of these lakes’ creation, but many complain of their ecological state and emphasise their importance. Absolutely all of the townspeople who we talked to mentioned “Parkove” and “Chyste” Lakes as places that they especially love in the city. - What
are the places you like the most in the city? -“The lakes, the center, and the forests”, said Nadiya, a volunteer. “Chyste” Lake is located in the south of the city. We were even told that once a local fish establishment farmed carp there.
It used to be the favorite leisure spot for the townspeople, a place with rich flora and fauna. The locals still say there are some birds and pheasants there. Even swans come here every year.
Nowadays, the lake is mostly used for sporting events and is popular as a leisure destination for different marginalized groups. In the long run, this area is perfectly suited for bicycle paths, walking health routes, and more relaxing recreation.
“Parkove” Lake is located in the Park of Culture
and Recreation in the north of the city. The park was created in a thick stand of pine trees. In some places of the park, it looks very “wild”, especially in winter, as if there was no park at all. The park used to be filled with different activities and silent reminders that can be seen in the ruins of the open-air cinema, the pompous group of the entrance buildings, and the remnants of the dance ring. Probably there were more functions in the park, at least it seems like it when you look at the reconstruction project from 1947.
Park of Culture and Recreation. The entrance group
The spirit of this place is formed by nature, the pine forest, the hills that were here long before the project, and the artificial lake. To revitalise this place, it is enough to install some lighting for reasonable money, so that people were not terrified to walk here in the evenings (and that is exactly what disturbs the local most), and to remove garbage and add some minor mobile services. The park and the lake are an important and significant place, and not only because it is a recreation spot. The locals say that the municipal budget has the funds for the development of infrastructure and for the clean-up of the lakes. Even the project documentation is ready, but the money hasn’t been allocated for years. One of the main obstacles to the implementation of all of the residents’ initiatives in this park is a communal enterprise that prevents any participation and assumes all the responsibility it cannot cope with. As mentioned above, the question of ownership and appropriation is very acute in the city. We could feel that clearly when, in the framework of the project, the Metacity: East team tried to find the “territory without the owner”. Therefore, it was decided to help the children and move a little further away from the center. We chose the
courtyard of the Kurlat Youth Library for further transformation. The library itself is quite a popular place among the population. The book collection is constantly updated, and various events take place there. In the end, the project of small house tree houses was implemented, designed by the children at a workshop before. Sievierodonetsk is undergoing an economic downturn and acutely feels the proximity of the military actions. Many people think that the mono city, which was supposed to meet the needs of the local plant, is not able to cope with all these challenges, is struggling to adapt to its new func-
tions of the regional center, and has not yet found its future. The city is scattered, there is no tangible coherence in it. It is only the perfect precise planning, as a skeleton, holding the city together, preventing it from dusting down to the sand it emerged from. This is the main threat one needs to address and keep in mind. But the greatest threat usually has the greatest potential. The locals are sure that the future of the city is in its citizens; their dreams and actions can transform the city. And we completely agree with that: today they make tree houses, and tomorrow they will restore the Park of Culture and Recreation on their own initiative.
Anastasiya Ponomaryova, urban curators Iryna Yakovchuk, urban curators
Reference: 1. Гузенко, Т. (1955). Парки Донбасса. Киев: Государственное издательство литературы по строительству и архитектуре УССР. 2. Каленюк, С., Ломако, М. (2009). Давня історія Сєвєродонецька. Лисичанськ: Прінтекспрес. 3. Забирко, Т., Яновская, З. (2015). Тропинками Чистого озера. Северодонецк: Петит. 4. Oswald, P., Overmeyer, K., Misselwitz, P. (2012). Urban Catalyst. The Power of temporary use.
Title collage: Anastasiya Ponomaryova Photo: Svitlana Kolodiy, Іryna Yakovchuk, Anastasiya Ponomaryova from the internet and books digital version is available on a web-site: www.urbancurators.com.ua