|
A linear park project prepared by Alexey Ilyin studio for the improvement of a riverbank in one of the residential districts seeks to reconnect people with nature. Two levels of the embankment invite visitors to contemplate the landscape while at the same time protecting the riverbank from excessive human impact. The “aerial street” links functional zones and the opposite banks, creating new points of attraction along the way: balconies, bridges, and even a “grotto”.
The linear park stretches for eight hundred meters along the river and is intended to become the central element of the public realm within a new residential district designed on the territory of a former industrial zone. The location and the client have not yet been disclosed.


The river establishes both the framework and the rhythm of movement, becoming the core of the architectural concept. Alexey Ilyin studio employs the image of a ribbon winding among hills and trees, forming eddies and then inevitably moving forward.
 Alexey Ilin, Alexey Ilin Architects The river and its movement form the basis of the project’s artistic image: streams of water flowing through time carry with them the strength and beauty of nature. Every element of the landscape design embodies the idea of swift motion, renewal, and the will to live, while the red color becomes the principal accent, symbolizing life and dynamism. Ultimately, the park itself turns into a “red thread” that binds nature and people together.

The pronounced relief of the site proved both a challenge and an advantage. The project team used the natural changes in elevation to organize two levels of the embankment as well as a series of functional elements.

The first level is a promenade running along the water’s edge. Pedestrian and cycling paths are placed on only one bank, leaving most of the opposite shore untouched in its natural “wilderness”. To reduce anthropogenic pressure on the riverbank and make the area still safer, much of the promenade is bordered by a railing with integrated lighting. Special platforms allow visitors to the park to descend closer to the water, where loungers or benches are installed.



The second level of the riverside boulevard functions as a kind of “aerial street”, offering an alternative route, new viewpoints, and additional shade and intimacy for the lower level. It also helps connect the urban boulevards located on opposite sides of the river. This elevated path reaches toward the water with viewing balconies, frames picturesque fragments of the landscape, and creates new spatial experiences of its own: at one point the ribbon coils into several rings, forming a scenic “grotto”. The aerial street connects to the waterside promenade via ramps, ensuring barrier-free access.




The two routes link a variety of functional zones. One of them is a skate plaza that can be used even at night thanks to bright spotlights. A natural hill in front of the plaza is shaped into an amphitheater – there should be plenty to watch. The rows of seating and the “bowls” for skaters resemble contour lines on a map. Among the other attractions are a viewing platform set in the tree canopy, a bird-feeding area, gazebos in the wooded part of the park, a fountain, flower gardens, and other interesting features.


As mentioned earlier, the principal color of the project is carmine red. Being opposite to green, it works well as an accent and helps with navigation: it is always clear where the path leads. In winter, the red also adds variety and liveliness to the otherwise monotonous landscape.
 The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
The riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studioThe riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studioThe riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studioThe riverbank improvementCopyright: © Alexey Ilyin studio
|