How to become an architect of your yard?

Time flies relentlessly! Four years ago, exactly the same day in the “MP” was published material by the author of these lines “How to create a mini park in eight steps“. There were skeptics who did not see the prospects in the project of complicity of residents with the authorities.

Recall that it was about the participation of residents in the design of a mini-park of their dreams next to their homes. This required not only a desire, but also the involvement of local executive authorities, municipal authorities in the planning process, as well as the exercise of public control at the stage of ongoing work. Have you been able to bring this initiative to life? Let’s figure it out.

Started small

As they say, a big river starts from a small spring. Well, and the improvement of park areas near the house – from the initiative of the residents. And the proposals of the authorities to take part in the design of courtyard areas were heard. So, in the districts of Losinoostrovsky, Maryino, Kuzminki, Bibirevo and Ryazansky, presentations of improvement projects took place several years ago. yardsterritories, which reflected the joint work of architects and residents in the framework of the program “My region“. Then the Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, noted that the pilot project was entirely based on the wishes of Muscovites:

“We decided to involve residents of high-rise buildings in the design of the improvement of their yards. Five houses participated in the pilot in Losinoostrovsky, Maryino, Kuzminki, Bibirevo and Ryazansky districts. Muscovites told what they want to see, and the architects figured out how to do it. The townspeople made their comments. When the projects are finalized, the landscaping work will begin.“.

About participatory design

Technology participating designing is used in the capital relatively recently. With its help, residents, urban communities, design and service organizations, representatives of local governments are involved in changing urban areas already at the design stage. Identification of actual requests and search for optimal solutions occurs already at the earliest stages of interaction.

These five districts where the project is being implemented were not chosen by chance. The selection took place on the basis of a number of criteria: remoteness of areas, outdated equipment, a yard area of ​​at least 1 hectare, and an established active community of residents.

Five bright, young architectural teams with experience in participatory design technology were selected to work on the pilot project. Among the implemented works is the improvement of such public spaces in Moscow as the park “Manor Lyublino“, Park of Light in Bibirevo, parks”Brateevskaya floodplain” and “Terletskaya oak forest“, a community center in the park “Kuzminki“, square “Ogorodnaya Sloboda» at Chistye Prudy, children’s interactive museum space at the Polytechnic Museum, modernization of the design plant «Bottle“, and others.

Participatory design sessions were held. During their conduct, residents spoke about the proposed projects, and also offered their own options. It is worth noting that the meetings were held both offline and online during the period of self-isolation.

When developing the concept of the courtyards, the architect teams were inspired by the identity of the place. For example, bureau specialistsFriendship“, working on the project of the courtyard on the street. Norilskaya in the Losinoostrovsky district, took off from the dacha past of this area and created a yard, according to project manager Alexandra Chertkova, “with a slight hint of a dacha motif.” Hence the name of the project –Cottage in the yard“. Here the space is shaped by flowering trees and shrubs, turning the grounds into “green offices”. Each “cabinet” is a separate functional area connected to others by a network of paths. Here is a cozy “tree house” for kids, and a natural playground for older children, and a recreation area under the crowns of fruit trees, and a pine tree, near which you can spend holidays or just enjoy the views, slowly swaying on a garden swing.

The desire of residents to create a natural environment unites all five projects. This was embodied in the choice of natural materials (wood, stone, wood chips, sand, etc.) for equipment, coatings and finishes, in the creation of a relief landscape using geoplastics and multi-level landscaping.

In the yards, the interests of all groups of residents were taken into account: playgrounds were zoned by age, older people received their own infrastructure in the form of quiet zones and special exercise equipment. Teenagers have also acquired separate spaces, who often have nothing to do in the yards.

What’s ahead?

By 2025, 95 percent of Muscovites will live near the metro — Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced such plans, speaking the other day at the My District forum in Gostiny Dvor. Also among the priority tasks of the authorities is to provide citizens with work close to home. And a complete infrastructure for study and recreation within walking distance.

“In the everyday view, Moscow is associated with the Kremlin, the City, Arbat and Tverskaya, with Zaryadye and Gorky Park, VDNKh, Moscow State University and the Bolshoi Theater,” the head of the city noted. – But if you ask a specific Muscovite, then in addition to these iconic places, he, of course, will name his district, where he grew up and lives. Cheryomushki, Bibirevo, Zelenograd.

That is why the city authorities undertook the implementation of the My District program: so that all residents have their own center of attraction, a park, decent schools and social service centers. Plus, the environment is important. In this regard, the mayor’s office is working in two directions: the construction of new departure routes and the creation of park areas located near the place of residence.

The complex of urban management helps to realize these tasks, the specialists of which have vast experience in turning the most dull urban spaces into flourishing, modern zones.

Meanwhile, the city authorities have approved plans for the improvement of the capital’s courtyards, school grounds and facilities of district importance for the current year, allocating 4.39 billion rubles for their implementation.

“In total, this year the prefectures of the administrative districts will improve 2,730 urban facilities. Among them are 55 parks, squares and other iconic objects, 193 territories of schools and kindergartens, and 2,322 yard territories,” the mayor’s office said.

Involving residents as the most effective way to work with the current environment

Another important difference of this program is the involvement of residents at the earliest stages of interaction of all stakeholders. Moreover, we are talking not only about the most diverse audiences directly among the users of the yard (children, adolescents, young mothers, the elderly, employees of the local service infrastructure), but also about representatives of local authorities and operating organizations. As Artem Ukropov, co-founder and managing partner of the bureau that worked in Maryina, notes, participatory design in an already established environment is much more difficult than in new areas:

“We often design public spaces expertly, working with yards that are just under construction and where there are clear but abstract target groups. Here, the difficulty is that you have to work with an already established audience, with established ways and habits. And our expert opinion, what this yard needs, may contradict the opinion of the residents. In fact, our main task in this project is to moderate the interests of all existing user groups and package their wishes in a limited space.”

However, this is perhaps the most effective way to design and implement changes that will be accepted by all adequately.

How to apply for the improvement of the park/square at the place of residence?

Muscovites can write to the portal “Our town“, as well as on the official Moscow Government website. If there are many applications for the creation of a park / square at the place of residence, then this territory can be included in the improvement program.

Who is responsible for the creation of public gardens in Moscow districts?

Residential parks are included in the Moscow state program “Development of the urban environment”. It is coordinated by the Department of capital repairs of the capital.

As part of the creation and improvement of parks at the place of residence, the councils of Moscow districts fix objects that need to be brought into proper condition, taking into account the wishes of residents. After surveys of the local population, the councils transmit the proposals of Muscovites to the prefectures of their administrative districts. In the prefectures and lists of addresses of objects for improvement are formed.

P.S. our yard is our little planet on which we grow up, go to school and work, and then enjoy the space around us, in the improvement of which we ourselves took part. Lush flower beds, flowering trees, fabulous small forms … Everything is in our hands and in our imagination. You just have to love the place where you live with all your heart. And then you can move mountains. Are you involved in the design of your yard or mini-park near your house?

Nina DONSKIKH.

Photo by Yulia Smagrinskaya