We worked on the Pavshhinskaya Poyma embankment project for a total of eight years. The project was created through active discussion with the residents of the area, taking into account their needs and preferences.
The design and functions of the embankment are determined by the context. It is a ‘buffer zone’ between two large ‘clusters’: the dense residential development without courtyards and the large shopping and exhibition complex located on the opposite side of the river. The area is used by local residents of the neighbourhood as a community space and by residents of a city as a downtown area. These groups with different interests enjoy this space in diverse ways. The amphitheater is designed with ergonomically shaped backrests with different inclinations making it comfortable to both sit on and lay back as on a lounge chair. Residents from nearby can work on their laptops, sunbathe or do yoga, while those who come for a walk can listen to an evening concert, meet friends or relax by the water.
The promenade is designed with a variety of wide and narrow zones. In addition to visual diversity, such areas make it possible to avoid oversaturating the place and to make the key attraction points less crowded. We also separated the pedestrian flows by making an upper and lower promenade, which is easy to access with an extensive pathway system.
The courtyards of the high-rise buildings turned out to be a windy area. We designed beehive-shaped pergolas with swings, whose main function is to diminish the winds and provide shelter from sun and rain.
The design emphasises the natural feel of the space: healthy trees have been preserved and new moisture-loving maples and willows have been planted, which will soon provide shade meanwhile creating a lively atmosphere. It’s easy to access the water, where you can have a picnic or just sit by the river.
The paving pattern is inspired by the natural gradient of the river, changing gently from darker tones by the water to lighter ones by the shore. The ripples in the pavement pattern echo the ripples in the water. The retaining walls use arch concrete with a geometric pattern, emphasising the play of light and shadow.
The new lower embankment makes it easy to access any point of public space from the courtyards of the high-rise buildings (the ‘quiet zone’). The quiet zone was the first to be designed; this area has strong winds between buildings. With this in mind, the studio designed beehive-shaped pergolas with swings, whose main function is to diminish the winds and provide shelter from sun and rain. It was important to accurately design the landscape: a large number of pyramidal poplar trees have been planted around the perimeter of the courtyard to protect it from wind and noise. We also designed bespoke complex parametric benches, low stage areas and paving to suit the design concept for this area.
Data
Landscape architecture: Basis architectural bureau
Year completed: 2020
Photo credits: Dmitry Chebanenko for Basis architectural bureau
