Urban Landscaping in Kyiv for Euro-2012 | Acanthus Studio Architektury krajobrazu

Design team: landscape arch. Jakub Botwina landscape arch. Michał Szaruga PhD landscape arch. Elzbieta Myjak-Sokolowska arch. Stanislaw Botwina Undoubtedly, the designed area reveals a huge historical potential - its location and landscape character are of a special character. Its advantages are nevertheless disrupted by its actual chaotic traffic system and random investments. Our project has aimed at the design of a harmonious landscape of this part of the city which would emphasize its close connection with the river. To realize these aims, it is necessary to introduce complex actions which, in the first place, would solve traffic problems as well as ensure the citizens' access to the river as in its historical retrospective. The following assumptions will be introduced to make it possible: 1. Special protection and preservation of the historical and cultural values; 2. Protection of natural values; 3. Development of educational and tourist functions; 4. Partial covering of the highway along the river; 5. Connection of the upper part of the city with the embankment in the way perpendicular to the river; 6. Improvement of the traffic system, designation of numerous bike routes, indication of parking areas; 7. Development of the assisting infrastructure – shops, restaurants, toilets, etc. 8. Appropriately shaped vegetation. 9. Creation of public space for pedestrians at Evropiejski Sq. And its connection with pedestrian lines along Khreshchatyk str. towards Olimpic National Sportcomplex Sp – proposal of the underground traffic node for Khreshchatyk str. Volodimirskij Descent and M. Grushevskogo str. - underground roundabout. The designed area consists of three parts. The first part (the so-called coastal part) has a highly recreational and leisure character. The authors propose a partial excavation and a partial covering of the the existing highway (pic. panel 1). Such a solution will allow for the introduction of a ”recreational string” or a boulevard along the riverside of Dnepr. The proposed riverside boulevard is the main integrative element in the designed area. In the central part of the area nearby the Metro Bridge, where the highway gets closer to the riverside, the highway is conducted in the groove; above the road there will be numerous walking and bike bridges which will allow its users to get around in a comfortable way. Next boulevard will continue on the covering of the highway and will finish Posthova sq. A two-level traffic node at the intersection of the tunnel under Posthova sq at the crossroad of Naberezhne - Khreshchatyk str. with Borychiv Descent is proposed. When it comes to Posthova sq, the main idea of the designers is the creation of a homogeneous and user-friendly space for pedestrians which will be highlighted by the homogeneous pattern of the surface corresponding to the urban layout of the city. Irregular breaking if the square will allow for the introduction of the new service functions under the surface of the square (Panel 2 - idea scheme of developing Poshtova sq.), at the same time preserving a historical layout of the urban and architectural system of the square. At the closure of the main axis of the square compositional elements were designed in the form of the multi-level water cascades and fountains. Between the levels of the square service galleries were designed with the access to the commercial underground car park and the bus stop at Naberezhno - Khreshchatyk page running in the tunnel under the square. The new solutions will result in the homogeneous pedestrian space integrating Poshtova sq, with the riverside. Access to the bank of the Dnepr River in the vicinity of the Port and the indoor parking at the riverside is possible from the side of Naberezhno Khreshchatyk in the north of the square. An important element integrating all the details is the adaptation of the main communication system established by the tourist route. It is supplemented by the proposed bike routes along the foot of the slope being connected with the routes in the city (Panel 1 - Scheme of communication). The second part of the project is devoted to the slopes of the river. The area with the slopes and the parks makes the area of the protected landscape, where the main objective is to protect the area's natural values. It is expected to modernize the existing tourist routes, mainly "Edge", which will perform leisure functions. Routes will be enhanced with terraces and walkways allowing for the collision-free movement over the roads at Andrivskij descent and Georiv Krut alley and the associated infrastructure (including the information system, toilets, benches, lighting, bins). Within the so-called third part – the so-called urban part – mainly the location of cultural, educational, tourist, social and service functions is assumed. The functions will be supported by the appropriate communication system as well as its car-park background. As part of the historic fortress part the authors propose to limit traffic and designate specific parking zones. Public space such as city squares should be subjected to major design activities. The analysis of their current operation indicates the need for radical action to restore the proper function of the square which is well illustrated by the European sq. The authors propose its covering. This solution will allow for the collision-free underground communication as well as attractive and functional development of the square. For the first phase the team indicates a district (Panel 1 - scheme of master plan „Territory”). In our opinion, it is not possible to complete execution of the project by June 2012. Therefore, it is proposed to undertake activities related to the enhancing of space involving the abandonment of the accidental makeshift buildings, replacement of pavement sidewalks, benches and location of the containers with plants as well as the construction of pedestrian overpasses at Volodymyrskij descent on the tourist path along the slope. Consequently, it is necessary to consider a coherent system of visual spatial information for the entire site development.