The Heart of Tula

A bridge that looks like an ancient fish skeleton, an art object in the shape of a giant heart and no samovars or gingerbread – a contest project for improvement of the historical center of Tula from “4izmerenie”.

Written by:
Alla Pavlikova
Translated by:
Anton Mizonov

24 May 2016

Object

A concept, meant to reanimate the historical center of Tula, has been developed within a contest initiated by the government of the Tula region. The architectural bureau “4izmerenie” was invited to participate as the winner of a recent competition of reconstruction projects for “Tulskaya” metro station in Moscow, where the architects demonstrated great respect for the history and culture of the city. The participants of the contest of improvement projects for public areas of Tula were expected to propose ideas for creating a pedestrian area along Soyuznaya Street and reconstruction of a pedestrian bridge across the Upa – the main river of the city, which crosses it from south-east to north-west. However, the architects of “4izmerenie” looked at the task in broader terms, and, along with the pedestrian track, they suggested a whole complex of solutions: for reconstruction and restoration of the city’s fabric, clever organization of traffic and pedestrian connections, as well as for arrangement of comfortable and open public spaces, parks, squares and embankments. The architects of “4izmerenie” won by popular vote on the website of Tula government and will implement their projects of Soyuznaya Street, the bridge and entrance to the park.

One has to admit that the small historical center of Tula looks rather sad today: old buildings and whole streets have deteriorated, some buildings have not been used for a long time, and wasteground appeared in places of completely lost landmarks. The existing public areas look untended and segmentary, there are practically no connections between them, and the city’s squares and pavements serve as improvised parking lots. Another problem is the shallowed and stagnant Upa, whose approaches were long closed for the citizens.

zooming — The concept of renovating Tula's public territories. The tasks and isues. The current situation. Project, 2015 © 4izmerenie

The designed territory, including the Tula Kremlin and the central city square, is a lot, bounded by an extended and irregular hoop of Sovetskaya Street on the one side, and by the embankment area of the river – on the other. Within the defined boundaries, the architects suggested arranging a continuous pedestrian route, meant to unite all the significant spots of the historical center.

Soyuznaya Street, leading to the Kremlin, became the main pedestrian boulevard in the project. Here, besides the complex embellishment – planting of trees and flowers, sidewalk paving and street furniture – the architects proposed to renovate the existing houses and fill the wasteground with low-rise buildings of new hotels and apartment units. A similar scenario was proposed for the most of the remaining streets of Tula’s central part, where the built-up density is rather low. In summer, the boulevard is to be full of life: tourists, bike riders, street cafés. In the project, traffic on the adjoining streets and lanes is one-way. Besides, having narrowed down the traffic area on Blagoveschenskaya Street, in Blagoveschensky, Soyuzny and Denisovskiy Lanes, the authors broadenned the sidewalks, thus findng room for bike paths, bushes and green lawns.

The boulevard of Soyuznaya street ends with Krestovozdvizhenskaya Square. Up until 1933, a baroque church stood in the middle of it (1776-1825). When it was demolished, the square was renamed Chelyuskintsev Square; then the original name was returned, but the square itself presents a traffic circle with a parking lot by Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin and the government house. The architects suggest recreating the Krestovozdvizhenskaya Church and turning the square into a pedestrian zone. Not far, on the corner of Revolyutsii and Mendeleeva streets, the architects plan to build the so-called “Narodny Dom” (“Community Hall”), which, by their design, should become the new cultural and educational center of Tula.

The key task of the project is to bring back the Upa river to the city. Bifurcating, the river forms a prolonged island at the north wall of the Kremlin, just like in Moscow or in Paris. However, despite the whole attractiveness of the riverside landscape, the embankment zone, built-up with industrial facilities, is completely fenced off. In the project, the riverbed is made wider and cleaned, and the riverside territories are vacated, and along the whole river, within the boundaries of the historical center, there is a landscape eco-garden with a beach, a boating station, green embankment, a wooden strand and recreational areas by the water. In winter, it can be turned into a big skating-rink.

Two pedestrian bridges are built across the river – they connect the pedestrian areas and embankments of the right and the left river-banks of the Upa. The new bridge, in place of the old Chulkovsky Bridge, was designed in the style proposed by the authors for Tulskaya metro station in Moscow. The constructions interpret the image of the Tula accordion, and from the distance, they remind a sceleton of giant fish. Despite the boldness of this solution, with this new bridge, which the authors called “Harmonic”, they aim to preserve the memory of this place, by using the remained substructions of the old ruined bridge at the foundation of the construction. The second “Harmonic Bridge” is planned to be built along the existing road bridge, extending the line of Sovetskaya Street. On the north-eastern bank, opposite the Kremlin, another green embankment is forming, and at a distance, the authors plan construction of a modern business quarter.

Having covered the whole historical part of Tula in their project, the architects also wondered, how they could link it with the P.P. Belousov Central Park and Arts Square in front of the park entrance. This link is to be achieved through sidewalks and bike-paths along Engels Street. Besides, the authors schedule an additional tramway stop by Arts Square, which is ntended to be the main scene of action. Currently blocked by auto barriers and occupied with cars, by design it should turn into a lively place. The parking lots are not eliminated – instead, they are placed along the perimeter, to vacate the central part for city programs and events. The square is equipped with transformer-platforms for competitions, concerts and festivals: in closed position they can serve as a base for installations and exhibitions. On weekends, the square can turn into a market, and in witer time – a skating rink.

The diagonal paving of Arts Square with built-in LED lighting indicates the entrance to the park. Its entrance area is an ensamble of four compact wooden pavilions, whose facades present large letters. From the side of the square, the letters form the word “park”, and from the park-side – the word “Tula”. Inside the pavilions, there are cash desks, bycicle rental, an info point and a souvenir shop. As for the park itself, the architects proposed to modernize and functionally enrich it, preserving its unique eco-system, the birch grove and woodland. The chief attraction of the park should be an art-object – a big heart made of metal and translucent elements. If you come closer, on the multiple facets and surfaces of the symbolic “heart” of Tula, you will find navigating screens, see the historical panoramas of the city, read various proverbs, sayings and stories about Tula, or learn about famous people born here.

The authors of the project admit, that they have explored Tula and came to love it. They find it a city with great potential and the future tourist gem of Central Russia. But the city has to be dealt with comprehensively, not selectively – the authors say. That is why they went far beyond the task of the contest and had a look at the city center in broader context, but at the same time – in detail.

24 May 2016

Headlines now

The Mirror of Your Soul

We continue to publish projects from the competition for the design of the Russian Pavilion at EXPO in Osaka 2025. We are reminding you that the results of the competition have not been announced, and hardly will ever be. The pavilion designed by ASADOV Architects combines a forest log cabin, the image of a hyper transition, and sculptures made of glowing threads – it focuses primarily on the scenography of the exhibition, which the pavilion builds sequentially like a string of impressions, dedicating it to the paradoxes of the Russian soul.

Part of the Ideal

In 2025, another World Expo will take place in Osaka, Japan, in which Russia will not participate. However, a competition for the Russian pavilion was indeed held, with six projects participating. The results were never announced as Russia’s participation was canceled; the competition has no winners. Nevertheless, Expo pavilion projects are typically designed for a bold and interesting architectural statement, so we’ve gathered all the six projects and will be publishing articles about them in random order. The first one is the project by Vladimir Plotkin and Reserve Union, which is distinguished by the clarity of its stereometric shape, the boldness of its structure, and the multiplicity of possible interpretations.

Object

The Fortress by the River

ASADOV Architects have developed a concept for a new residential district in the center of Kemerovo. To combat the harsh climate and monotonous everyday life, the architects proposed a block type of development with dominant towers, good insolation, facades detailed at eye level, and event programming.

Object

In the Rhombus Grid

Construction has begun on the building of the OMK (United Metallurgical Company) Corporate University in Nizhny Novgorod’s town of Vyksa, designed by Ostozhenka Architects. The most interesting aspect of the project is how the architects immersed it in the context: “extracting” a diagonal motif from the planning grid of Vyksa, they aligned the building, the square, and the park to match it. A truly masterful work with urban planning context on several different levels of perception has long since become the signature technique of Ostozhenka.

Object

Generational Connection

Another modern estate, designed by Roman Leonidov, is located in the Moscow region and brings together three generations of one family under one roof. To fit on a narrow plot without depriving anyone of personal space, the architects opted for a zigzag plan. The main volume in the house structure is accentuated by mezzanines with a reverse-sloped roof and ceilings featuring exposed beams.

Object

Three Dimensions of the City

We began to delve into the project by Sergey Skuratov, the residential complex “Depo” in Minsk, located at Victory Square, and it fascinated us completely. The project has at least several dimensions to it: historical – at some point, the developer decided to discontinue further collaboration with Sergey Skuratov Architects, but the concept was approved, and its implementation continues, mostly in accordance with the proposed ideas. The spatial and urban planning dimension – the architects both argue with the city and play along with it, deciphering nuances, and finding axes. And, finally, the tactile dimension – the constructed buildings also have their own intriguing features. Thus, this article also has two parts: it dwells on what has been built and what was conceived

Object

New “Flight”

Architects from “Mezonproject” have developed a project for the reconstruction of the regional youth center “Polyot”(“Flight”) in the city of Oryol. The summer youth center, built back in the late 1970s, will now become year-round and acquire many additional functions.

Object

The Yauza Towers

In Moscow, there aren’t that many buildings or projects designed by Nikita Yavein and Studio 44. In this article, we present to you the concept of a large multifunctional complex on the Yauza River, located between two parks, featuring a promenade, a crossroads of two pedestrian streets, a highly developed public space, and an original architectural solution. This solution combines a sophisticated, asymmetric façade grid, reminiscent of a game of fifteen puzzle, and bold protrusions of the upper parts of the buildings, completely masking the technical floors and sculpting the complex’s silhouette.

Object

Architecture and Leisure Park

For the suburban hotel complex, which envisages various formats of leisure, the architectural company T+T Architects proposed several types of accommodation, ranging from the classic “standard” in a common building to a “cave in the hill” and a “house in a tree”. An additional challenge consisted in integrating a few classic-style residences already existing on this territory into the “architectural forest park”.

Overview

The U-House

The Jois complex combines height with terraces, bringing the most expensive apartments from penthouses down to the bottom floors. The powerful iconic image of the U-shaped building is the result of the creative search for a new standard of living in high-rise buildings by the architects of “Genpro”.

Object

Black and White

In this article, we specifically discuss the interiors of the ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh. Interior design is a crucial component of the overall concept in this case, and precision and meticulous execution were highly important for the architects. Julia Tryaskina, head of UNK interiors, shares some of the developments.

send.project

The “Snake” Mountain

The competition project for the seaside resort complex “Serpentine” combines several typologies: apartments of different classes, villas, and hotel rooms. For each of these typologies, the KPLN architects employ one of the images that are drawn from the natural environment – a serpentine road, a mountain stream, and rolling waves.

send.project

Opal from Anna Mons’ Ring

The project of a small business center located near Tupolev Plaza and Radio Street proclaims the necessity of modern architecture in a specific area of Moscow commonly known as “Nemetskaya Sloboda” or “German settlement”. It substantiates its thesis with the thoroughness of details, a multitude of proposed and rejected form variants, and even a detailed description of the surrounding area. The project is interesting indeed, and it is even more interesting to see what will come of it.

Object

Feed ’Em All

A “House of Russian Cuisine” was designed and built by KROST Group at VDNKh for the “Rossiya” exhibition in record-breaking time. The pavilion is masterfully constructed in terms of the standards of modern public catering industry multiplied by the bustling cultural program of the exhibition, and it interprets the stylistically diverse character of VDNKh just as successfully. At the same time, much of its interior design can be traced back to the prototypes of the 1960s – so much so that even scenes from iconic Soviet movies of those years persistently come to mind.

Object

The Ensemble at the Mosque

OSA prepared a master plan for a district in the southern part of Derbent. The main task of the master plan is to initiate the formation of a modern comfortable environment in this city. The organization of residential areas is subordinated to the city’s spiritual center: depending on the location relative to the cathedral mosque, the houses are distinguished by façade and plastique solutions. The program also includes a “hospitality center”, administrative buildings, an educational cluster, and even an air bridge.

send.project

Pargolovo Protestantism

A Protestant church is being built in St. Petersburg by the project of SLOI architects. One of the main features of the building is a wooden roof with 25-meter spans, which, among other things, forms the interior of the prayer hall. Also, there are other interesting details – we are telling you more about them.

Object

The Shape of the Inconceivable

The ATOM Pavilion at VDNKh brings to mind a famous maxim of all architects and critics: “You’ve come up with it? Now build it!” You rarely see such a selfless immersion in implementation of the project, and the formidable structural and engineering tasks set by UNK architects to themselves are presented here as an integral and important part of the architectural idea. The challenge matches the obliging status of the place – after all, it is an “exhibition of achievements”, and the pavilion is dedicated to the nuclear energy industry. Let’s take a closer look: from the outside, from the inside, and from the underside too.

send.project

Rays of the Desert

A school for 1750 students is going to be built in Dubai, designed by IND Architects. The architects took into account the local specifics, and proposed a radial layout and spaces, in which the children will be comfortable throughout the day.

Object

The Dairy Theme

The concept of an office of a cheese-making company, designed for the enclosed area of a dairy factory, at least partially refers to industrial architecture. Perhaps that is why this concept is very simple, which seems the appropriate thing to do here. The building is enlivened by literally a couple of “master strokes”: the turning of the corner accentuates the entrance, and the shade of glass responds to the theme of “milk rivers” from Russian fairy tales.

send.project

The Road to the Temple

Under a grant from the Small Towns Competition, the main street and temple area of the village of Nikolo-Berezovka near Neftekamsk has been improved. A consortium of APRELarchitects and Novaya Zemlya is turning the village into an open-air museum and integrating ruined buildings into public life.

Object

Towers Leaning Towards the Sun

The three towers of the residential complex “Novodanilovskaya 8” are new and the tallest neighbors of the Danilovsky Manufactory, “Fort”, and “Plaza”, complementing a whole cluster of modern buildings designed by renowned masters. At the same time, the towers are unique for this setting – they are residential, they are the tallest ones here, and they are located on a challenging site. In this article, we explore how architects Andrey Romanov and Ekaterina Kuznetsova tackled this far-from-trivial task.

Object

In the spirit of ROSTA posters

The new Rostselmash tractor factory, conceptualized by ASADOV Architects, is currently being completed in Rostov-on-Don. References to the Soviet architecture of the 1920’s and 1960’s resonate with the mission and strategic importance of the enterprise, and are also in line with the client’s wish: to pay homage to Rostov’s constructivism.

send.project

The Northern Thebaid

The central part of Ferapontovo village, adjacent to the famous monastery with frescoes by Dionisy, has been improved according to the project by APRELarchitects. Now the place offers basic services for tourists, as well as a place for the villagers’ leisure.

send.project

Brilliant Production

The architects from London-based MOST Architecture have designed the space for the high-tech production of Charge Cars, a high-performance production facility for high-speed electric cars that are assembled in the shell of legendary Ford Mustangs. The founders of both the company and the car assembly startup are Russians who were educated in their home country.

Object

Three-Part Task: St. Petersburg’s Mytny Dvor

The so-called “Mytny Dvor” area lying just behind Moscow Railway Station – the market rows with a complex history – will be transformed into a premium residential complex by Studio 44. The project consists of three parts: the restoration of historical buildings, the reconstruction of the lost part of the historical contour, and new houses. All of them are harmonized with each other and with the city; axes and “beams of light” were found, cozy corners and scenic viewpoints were carefully thought out. We had a chat with the authors of the historical buildings’ restoration project, and we are telling you about all the different tasks that have been solved here.

Object

The Color of the City, or Reflections on the Slope of an Urban Settlement

In 2022, Ostozhenka Architects won a competition, and in 2023, they developed and received all the necessary approvals for a master plan for the development of Chernigovskaya Street for the developer GloraX. The project takes into account a 10-year history of previous developments; it was done in collaboration with architects from Nizhny Novgorod, and it continues to evolve now. We carefully examined it, talked to everyone, and learned a lot of interesting things.

Object

A Single-Industry Town

Kola MMC and Nornickel are building a residential neighborhood in Monchegorsk for their future employees. It is based on a project by an international team that won the 2021 competition. The project offers a number of solutions meant to combat the main “demons” of any northern city: wind, grayness and boredom.

Object

A New Age Portico

At the beginning of the year, Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport opened Terminal C. The large-scale and transparent entrance hall with luminous columns inside successfully combines laconism with a bright and photogenic WOW-effect. The terminal is both the new façade of the whole complex and the starting point of the planned reconstruction, upon completion of which Tolmachevo will become the largest regional airport in Russia. In this article, we are examining the building in the context of modernist prototypes of both Novosibirsk and Leningrad: like puzzle pieces, they come together to form their individual history, not devoid of curious nuances and details.

Object

A New Starting Point

We’ve been wanting to examine the RuArts Foundation space, designed by ATRIUM for quite a long time, and we finally got round to it. This building looks appropriate and impressive; it amazingly combines tradition – represented in our case by galleries – and innovation. In this article, we delve into details and study the building’s historical background as well.

Object

Molding Perspectives

Stepan Liphart introduces “schematic Art Deco” on the outskirts of Kazan – his houses are executed in green color, with a glassy “iced” finish on the facades. The main merits of the project lie in his meticulous arrangement of viewing angles – the architect is striving to create in a challenging environment the embryo of a city not only in terms of pedestrian accessibility but also in a sculptural sense. He works with silhouettes, proposing intriguing triangular terraces. The entire project is structured like a crystal, following two grids, orthogonal and diagonal. In this article, we are examining what worked, and what eventually didn’t.