Daniel Shvedov
Terrace at the beach, Almetyevsk, Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniel Shvedov
Aerial view of the pool from the beach, Almetyevsk, Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Ivan Petrov
Aerial view of the Central Square, Bavly, Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Lenar Gimaletdinov
Children’s playground, Bogatye Saby village, Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniel Shvedov
View of the Cube container centre from the green beach in the Gorkinsko-Ometievsky forest, Kazan, Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniel Shvedov
Square on the Festival Boulevard, Kazan, Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniel Shvedov
Amphitheatre in the Black Lake Park, Kazan, Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniel Shvedov
Science and Entertainment Centre in Zdorovye Park, Almetyevsk, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Kaban Lake riverfront deck and Al-Marjani Mosque from the Kamala Theatre square, Kazan, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
The Public Spaces Development Programme, in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation, which won an Aga Khan Award in 2019, aims to address and restore landscapes and ecosystems. The designers and architects worked closely with nature research and preservation institutes to implement bioremediation techniques to depollute contaminated areas, as well as rehabilitate ancient forests, restore dried-up water bodies and protect endangered indigenous fauna and flora. This ambitious scheme promotes the importance of nature, even in locations defined by their industrial character, while working to protect the public good from the tendencies and interests of private ownership.
Aga Khan Trust for Culture/Daniil Shvedov
Boulevard at Sovetskaya Street, Mamadysh Town, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Beach, work of art in the shape of boat, and pergola at the Kamskoe More Riverfront, Laishevo village, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Wooden trails on the Festival Boulevard, Kazan, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Basketball court at the riverfront, Sarmanovo village, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Sports ground at the riverfront, Sarmanovo village, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Embankment in Apastovo, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Embankment in Apastovo, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Boulevard at Sovetskaya Street, Mamadysh Town, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
M. Jalil Park, Mezelinsk Town, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Krylia Sovetov Park, Kazan, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Bulat Rakhimov
M. Jalil Park, Mezelinsk Town, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
M. Jalil Park, Mezelinsk Town, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Boulevard at Sovetskaya Street, Mamadysh Town, Public Spaces Development Programme, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Daniil Shvedov
Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
AKDN
Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
AKDN
Parks and riverfronts planning projects carried out between 2015 and 2016, Public Spaces Development Programme, various locations, Tatarstan, Russian Federation.
Institute for Social and Urban Development of the Republic of Tatarstan / Natalia Fishman
Public Spaces Development Programme
Award Cycle: 2017-2019 Cycle
Status: Award Recipient
Country of origin: Russian Federation
Location: Various locations in Tatarstan, Russian Federation
Client: The Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation - Natalia Fishman-Bekmambetova, curator
Design: 2015-2022
Completed: 2017-ongoing
Tatarstan’s Soviet period, beginning in 1920’s, saw much modernist construction and hierarchical centralised planning, with diverse urban locations made to look alike. Many mosques and churches were destroyed, leaving their associated public spaces functionless. The post-Soviet era, since the Republic of Tatarstan’s foundation in 1992, brought freedom of movement and an exodus from rural towns. Also, a return to private real-estate ownership enabled wealthy individuals and businesses to buy up large swathes of land, notably in scenic lakeside and forest areas, thus limiting the population’s recreation options in most post-soviet countries.
The ambitious Public Spaces Development Programme seeks to counter these trends and to offer an equal quality of environment to all Tatar citizens, regardless of settlement size – as well as reinstating a sense of individual place in each. From its inception by the President of Tatarstan in 2015 until the end of 2018, it had transformed 328 spaces across each of the Republic’s 45 municipal districts, covering 33 villages, 42 towns and two major cities, and embracing both Soviet and longer-standing historical settings.
There are ten different project types: water bodies; ponds; embankments; beaches; parks; public gardens; boulevards; squares; streets; and walkways. Most include infrastructure for cultural activities. Unified way-finding signage, furniture and ornamental features reflect aspects of each place’s culture or history, and are produced locally to a high standard, incentivising small businesses. The spaces are conceived for year-round enjoyment, including during dark winters and heavy snowfall, through eye-catching lighting and sometimes winter sports facilities. The snowfall offered a further challenge of limiting construction to the period from May to November.
Some projects are initiated by members of the community, others by the state. In all cases the design and implementation process is highly participatory, based on strong engagement with local citizens and extensive consultation of economists, anthropoligists, dendrologists and others. An architectural bureau initiated by the Programme’s curator has become a magnet for young local and national talent, with many of its recruits going on to set up their own practices to oversee one of the larger projects. The positive changes seen are social, economic, cultural and ecological as well as physical. The success of this initiative has led to the introduction in 2017a similar programme at a federal level.