30.09.2020International
competition for the development of a concept for the modernisation of the Gorky
Central Park managed to engage nearly 200 architecture firms and companies from
33 countries. As a result, 23 individual participants and 20 consortia, which
brought together various bureaus, studios and companies, submitted applications
that met the selection criteria. The final list of applicants for victory and
the subsequent development of a renovation project for one of the oldest parks
in Siberia included representatives of 15 countries.
Most of the
participants are from Russia: 51 companies from Moscow, St. Petersburg,
Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Kemerovo, Tomsk, Yaroslavl applied
for participation. There are also Krasnoyarsk architects. As for foreign
countries, the UK companies lead with five applications, then goes the
Netherlands with three, the United States and France both submitted two
applications, and so did representatives from Australia, Germany, India,
Kazakhstan, China, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Japan.
«Since its
foundation, the Central Park has been one of the key symbols of the city and a
favourite vacation spot for Krasnoyarsk residents. The reconstruction of this
space should simultaneously preserve it from a historical point of view, and
make it even more popular, more comfortable and beautiful. For such a unique
task, we tried to attract the best architects, planners, and designers of
public spaces, – notes Evgeny Nikitin, CEO of RUSAL, one of the competition’s
organisers. – The jury will have to make a difficult choice. We are confident
that the finalists will be able to offer world-class solutions that can make
the park a common recreational resource for residents, along with the Historic
Quarter, Revolution Square, Surikov Square and the Yenisei Embankment. The experience
and ideas can become a source for the next transformations in Krasnoyarsk and
other cities of the region.»
On October 6,
the jury will announce three finalists to continue to fight in the second stage
of the competition and offer their vision on the concept of the Central Park.
«Of course,
the opinions of residents about what the park should become will be reflected
in the project, and the main problems in need to be solved are already clear.
This is the state of the infrastructure for walking, the need for new lighting
and playgrounds, comfortable modern furniture and spaces for winter
recreational activities, – said Mayor of Krasnoyarsk Sergei Eremin. – After
renovation, the Central Park should present a new level of improvement. We need
to turn it into an exemplary space.»
The jury of
the competition includes recognized Russian and international experts in the
development and renovation of public and historically valuable spaces. Among
them are the director for the development of regional parks in Antwerp province
(Belgium) Peter Verdick as the international curator of the competition, Irina
Krymova as a certified expert in conducting state historical and cultural
expertise, director of the Urban Policy Institute, adviser to the president of
the Union of Architects of Russia Evgenia Murinets.