Cheboksary, the current capital of the Chuvash Republic, was founded by Ivan the Terrible shortly after the capture of Kazan. The city has its own history, but it is far less known than Kazan itself or Nizhny Novgorod. Today, Cheboksary is a large city with a population of about half a million, more of a port and industrial center than a tourist destination. Its main attractions – from the giant statue of the Mother-Patroness to several theaters and the famous Grand Staircase – are all concentrated downtown, around an artificial bay.



The Cheboksary Bay is a landmark in its own right. It was created as a result of the construction of a large hydroelectric power station on the Volga downstream, in Novocheboksarsk. When it became clear that the water level would rise, the bed of the Cheboksarka River was shifted and widened. This formed an estuary about a kilometer wide and five kilometers long, which became the core of the city center. The bay is navigable but shallow, with limited shipping.

At the entrance to the bay, where the right bank of the Cheboksarka meets the Volga, a pier – and later the city’s port and river terminal – had existed since 1917. Construction of the new terminal building began in 1984, then continued with expansions from 1992 to 2006, so in the end it turned out to be even larger than it was originally planned. With its orange balconies and large triangular bay windows, the building belongs stylistically more to the 2000s.

However, the construction of the terminal did not settle the issue of developing the river port: not only because, by the time it was completed, it was somewhat behind the latest architectural trends, and not only because of the lack of a well-designed, “comfortable-city-oriented” embankment, but also because – despite its proximity to the city center – getting to the port was quite a chore. For example, from Cheboksary’s Red Square it is only 300 meters in a straight line, yet they are separated by a busy highway, and to get to the other side one has to take a lengthy detour.



In addition, although the river terminal complex built in 2006 has a throughput capacity of up to 400 vessels a year, this is no longer sufficient: in recent decades river tourism has been developing rapidly in Russia, and Cheboksary is losing revenue because it can berth only six cruise liners at a time.



ATRIUM Architects were tasked with a comprehensive brief: to connect the port with the city center, extend the quay and increase its area, and completely redevelop the territory by adding functions it currently lacks – such as dining and retail – thus transforming the port into the River Boulevard, another point of attraction and a new signature site for the city.

What will be built there

The architectural plan envisions the redevelopment in several stages: first, the reconstruction of the embankment, followed by the construction of a residential complex consisting of three high-rise buildings and a hotel.



At present, the quay wall of the Cheboksary river port is 426 meters long. Under the project, it will be extended by another 330 meters, enabling the port to receive 12 vessels at once. The total length of the River Boulevard will reach 1,400 meters: starting from Red Square, it will continue toward Kazanskaya Embankment and end at the entrance to Victory Park, yet another key spot on the city map. This will make the central promenade running through Cheboksary logical and convenient.



The quay area will be greatly expanded – literally turning into a boulevard. In addition, it will become multi-level. The plan provides for the construction of shopping arcades on the old quay with a total floor area of 3,500 square meters and operational rooftops. The facades of the arcades facing the Volga will have a wave-like curve, evoking the river’s flow and adding rhythmic variety to the embankment’s composition.



On the new quay, according to ATRIUM’s concept, three buildings ranging from two to four stories will be built, united by a shared stylobate. A single-story block will house a café with an area of 5,304 square meters, a three-story block will accommodate a food court of about 3,500 square meters, and a four-story building will contain a retail pavilion of 2,319 square meters, also adaptable for cultural events and presentations. The facades of these new structures, just like the line of the arcades, have smooth contours, reminiscent of natural forms such as river pebbles. Spacious multi-height atriums inside the buildings make them look much more dynamic.

The stylobate of the new quay will house passenger service areas, technical and commercial facilities, a luggage room, and ticket offices. Closer to the water, the quay will feature waiting areas and a security checkpoint through which passengers will board and disembark. This layout will allow for the efficient organization of both passenger flows and all of the port’s operations.

The total floor area of the facilities across the two quays will be about 19,000 square meters. The project envisions functional zoning in which port, business, dining, and cultural elements are integrated into a single architectural and landscape complex. The port will continue to function as a transport hub while also becoming an important business location and a popular leisure destination.

Routes

In their work on the project, the architects followed several principles. First, they oriented the new buildings toward the water as much as possible, creating the city’s “riverfront façade”. Second, the embankment was not just transformed into a public center but combined with a landscaped park. Landscaping plays just as significant a role in the design as the buildings themselves: more than 2,000 square meters of the complex will be occupied by greenery.



The third principle was to create multi-level spaces and routes, including walkways at the level of the accessible and operational rooftops, featuring viewing platforms. Since the riverfront embankment is designed primarily for pedestrians, the main idea of the landscaping component was to provide several movement scenarios: for example, you can walk one way along the lower level and return along the upper level without having to backtrack your route.



Particular attention was given to the smooth transition between functional zones and levels via a system of bridges and ramps. The embankment will be comfortable to walk along in any season and in any weather: the architects planned non-slip materials for pedestrian paths and provided shelter from precipitation.

The tunnel

Even seemingly minor details have been designed with pedestrians in mind, such as the treatment of retaining walls: in some cases, they may feature decorative lighting and narrow flowerbeds, while in others, they incorporate built-in wooden benches.



The project also includes well-developed infrastructure for drivers: the capacity of the surface parking lot at the end of the quay is planned for 421 cars, of which 250 spaces already exist and 171 will be added as part of the new construction. The combination of transport accessibility and a landscaped embankment is also intended to turn the River Boulevard into a place of urban attraction.

The connection between the port and the main square of Cheboksary has been solved elegantly and rationally: the architects proposed a tunnel beneath Konstantin Ivanov Street, which separates the two sites. This new pedestrian route will reduce the walk from Red Square to the embankment to just five minutes, effectively merging these key zones into a single urban space.



The tunnel is conceived not only as a functional passage but also as a striking architectural feature. Several design options are possible: for example, vertical light strips in a cool blue palette could be placed along the walls to create a futuristic atmosphere, or a warm yellow-orange linear lighting scheme could be used, especially effective after dark.

The tunnel entrance is approached via a ramp, making it accessible for people with limited mobility as well. Walking through the tunnel from the port toward Red Square, pedestrians will first see the building of the Drama Theater in the Stalinist Empire style – a striking highlight of the route.

Second phase

As part of the project’s second phase, a multifunctional residential complex is planned next to the River Boulevard. It will include three residential towers ranging from 22 to 28 stories and a hotel with 140 rooms, all set on a two-story stylobate.



The stylobate, with an area of 26,500 square meters, will house a supermarket, a fitness center, a conference zone and business spaces, retail areas, and medical and childcare facilities. The roof of the stylobate is designed as an active space, with a courtyard and walking areas for residents, as well as an open-air swimming pool and a “beach” zone for the hotel. Its irregular footprint creates a network of landscaped plazas at ground level, one of which serves as the endpoint of the pedestrian descent from Victory Park. The underground floors will include parking for 1,100 cars.



The facades of the complex, built with modern energy-efficient materials, are designed not only for durability and architectural expression but also for the integration of cultural codes: white-and-red rhomboid frames, stylized as Chuvash ornaments, highlight the terminal’s link with local identity.



The residential towers taper upwards in a silhouette inspired by the traditional women’s headdress “khushpu”. This approach ties contemporary architecture to the genius loci. The overall composition descends toward Red Square and the Ascension Church, expressing respect for and blending into the city panorama. If successfully realized, the complex could well become a new landmark of Cheboksary.

The riverfront redevelopment project has already been reviewed by the city’s Urban Planning Council. The transformation of the embankment was met with approval, while the architecture of the residential towers sparked debate for its bold forms. Implementation of the first stage depends on resolving land issues, but under favorable conditions construction could begin in 2026. The new riverfront, with its tunnel, multi-level routes, retail and leisure zones, viewing platforms, and modern port, will turn what is now a closed utilitarian area into a vibrant public hub. It also promises to become a tourist magnet and a new architectural dominant on the banks of the Volga.