Park Neighborhoods is a project where we bring the diversity and charm of mature historic cities to new developments, using modern methods while fostering a futuristic connection with nature.
This project received the Laureate Diploma in the competitive program "Zodchestvo ВРН 2024."
Hearing this from an experienced developer was incredibly inspiring, and it set the tone for our entire project.
From the initial master plan concept to the intricate details of the house facades, every aspect of the project is focused on solving a complex and vital challenge—creating a living environment that mirrors the richness and diversity of historical cities while embracing modern needs.
The design process for any urban planning project begins with a thorough analysis of the geographical and economic data. Our site is located in the southern part of Lipetsk, bordered by a regional road to the east, a federal highway to the west, and an adjacent cottage village. This initial analysis provides the foundation for making informed decisions as we move forward with the planning and development of the project.
The nature of the site itself presented a unique challenge in developing a complex, diverse environment with intuitive navigation for this project. The area is a flat, open field without significant relief, preserved forests, or other natural features that urban planners typically rely on as "diversity generators." This required us to approach the design with creative solutions to achieve a vibrant and engaging environment despite the lack of natural variation.
Legend
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Landscape value |
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Educational institution |
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Commercial real estate |
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Composite axes |
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"Force field" layout |
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Site boundaries |
A narrow connection divides the site into two unequal sections. The larger section is bisected by a high-voltage power line, which we cleverly incorporated into the master plan to ensure it does not disrupt the flow but also contributes to the project's overall objective.
To the south, the area borders ponds in a picturesque ravine, while a natural pond graces the northwest corner near the road intersections.
By profoundly analyzing these features—initially perceived as constraints rather than sources of creativity—we developed a concept that fosters a truly diverse and dynamic urban environment.
Our detailed analysis of the input data revealed several design challenges, which we addressed through a four-step planning concept:
The greatest challenge in creating diversity is maintaining a delicate balance between scales and contrasts, ensuring that the design doesn't slip into chaos but instead stays on the fine line between order and beauty, creativity and uniqueness.
The infrastructure we developed reflects a careful logic of scales, unity, and contrast, allowing us to maintain this balance. This approach ensures that the project remains visually and functionally harmonious while allowing for creativity and uniqueness in individual elements.
The transportation network is designed to keep the interior of each block free of cars, except for driveways leading to the business-class areas. Parking lots are strategically placed along the perimeter of the blocks, ensuring that all residents have easy and comfortable pedestrian access to their homes while maintaining a peaceful, car-free environment inside the residential areas.
Pedestrian pathways are designed with both convenience and scenic beauty in mind. These routes create a park-like axis, connecting boulevards and European-style paved pedestrian streets. The layout encourages leisurely movement through the development while providing access to key areas in a visually appealing and functional manner.
The park is a central link between the site's most urbanized and natural parts. It acts as a hub, bringing together essential services, commercial spaces, and shoreline amenities, offering residents a balanced blend of nature and urban convenience in one cohesive space.
Shared electric transport hubs are strategically located to facilitate residents' easy movement within the blocks after parking their cars. These nodes ensure convenient access to electric transport options, enhancing mobility and reducing the need for vehicles in residential areas.
Leisure activities are centered around children's institutions during the evenings and the sports complex near the ponds. Commercial functions are strategically positioned along the outer perimeter of the neighborhood, ensuring easy access for residents while maintaining the core area's residential focus.
Kindergartens are conveniently located within walking distance for residents, with two access radii:
Small radius: 985 feet
Large radius: 1,640 feet
Once the foundation of the infrastructure system is in place, we transition to the stage of developing technical and economic indicators and balancing the territory. This is where conceptual planning ideas are transformed into measurable, quantitative indicators, ensuring that the project aligns with practical, economic, and spatial requirements for successful implementation.
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63% |
Living area | |
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12% |
Public and commercial spaces | |
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12% |
Road infrastructure | |
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10% |
Parks and boulevards | |
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3% |
Parking lots |
Our approach moved from the general to the specific. First, we established the overall balance of the entire site. Next, we distributed the functions across the five blocks, ensuring a strategic layout. The final stage involves developing the master plan, which refines these functions into a cohesive and detailed structure for the community.
878 houses
176 houses
510 houses
A project of this scale necessitates the establishment of a well-structured planning system in which all elements are clearly and logically interconnected. We have defined three primary levels of planning development.
As we progress to the next phase of the master plan, we focus on the planning structure of each quarter individually. Just like the broader master plan, every aspect is carefully detailed—from the architectural design to road layouts. Each element is thoughtfully considered to ensure functionality and coherence within the overall project.
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Road surface |
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Green Parking |
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Flanging |
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Parking lots by the house |
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Sidewalks |
To ensure diverse facades and silhouettes, we drew from both traditional styles and modern construction methods, approaching the design as a modular system.
For the first quarter, we developed seven layouts, each featuring one or two distinct silhouettes: a sharp, pitched roof or a gentle slope that blends seamlessly with neighboring homes.
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1. |
Dressing Room |
3 m² |
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2. |
Hallway |
2 m² |
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3. |
Kitchen-living room |
39 m² |
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4. |
Bathroom |
2 m² |
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5. |
Corridor |
7 m² |
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6. |
Bathroom |
5 m² |
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7. |
Bedroom |
10 m² |
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8. |
Dressing Room |
2 m² |
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9. |
Dressing Room |
2 m² |
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10. |
Bedroom |
11 m² |
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TOTAL |
83 m² |
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1. |
Corridor |
4 m² |
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2. |
Dressing Room |
3 m² |
|
3. |
Bathroom |
2 m² |
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4. |
Laundry room |
3 m² |
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5. |
Kitchen-living room |
30 m² |
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6. |
Corridor |
9 m² |
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7. |
Bathroom |
4 m² |
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8. |
Bedroom |
11 m² |
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9. |
Master Bedroom |
11 m² |
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10. |
Dressing Room |
2 m² |
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11. |
Bathroom |
3 m² |
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12. |
Master Bedroom |
15 m² |
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13. |
Dressing Room |
2 m² |
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14. |
Bathroom |
3 m² |
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TOTAL |
102 m² |
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1. |
Hallway |
6 m² |
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2. |
Dressing Room |
2 m² |
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3. |
Bathroom |
2 m² |
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4. |
Kitchen |
14 m² |
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5. |
Laundry room |
2 m² |
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6. |
Living Room |
27 m² |
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7. |
Corridor |
6 m² |
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8. |
Bathroom |
3 m² |
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9. |
Bedroom |
12 m² |
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10. |
Bedroom |
10 m² |
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11. |
Master Bedroom |
14 m² |
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12. |
Dressing Room |
5 m² |
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13. |
Bathroom |
4 m² |
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TOTAL |
107 m² |
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1. |
Commercial space |
29 m² |
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2. |
Bathroom |
2 m² |
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3. |
Hallway |
3 m² |
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4. |
Kitchen |
14 m² |
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5. |
Living Room |
36 m² |
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6. |
Master Bedroom |
12 m² |
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7. |
Dressing Room |
2 m² |
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8. |
Bathroom |
3 m² |
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9. |
Master Bedroom |
16 m² |
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10. |
Dressing Room |
2 m² |
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11. |
Bathroom |
3 m² |
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TOTAL |
122 m² |
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1. |
Hallway |
13 m² |
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2. |
Bedroom |
12 m² |
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3. |
Bathroom |
3 m² |
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4. |
Laundry room |
2 m² |
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5. |
Living Room |
32 m² |
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6. |
Corridor |
4 m² |
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7. |
Master Bedroom |
22 m² |
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8. |
Bathroom |
4 m² |
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9. |
Bathroom |
5 m² |
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10. |
Bedroom |
10 m² |
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11. |
Bedroom |
10 m² |
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TOTAL |
117 m² |
The townhouse design enables us to shape the street's silhouette, blending smooth background volumes with striking, sharp rooflines that act as vertical focal points. While navigation to "your" street is guided by alternating streets, boulevards, parks, and public squares, intuitive orientation on "your" street is achieved through its distinctive, recognizable silhouette.
We selected three primary materials for the facades: transom bricks in three shades (terracotta, white, and grey), a textured wet façade, and a double standing seam in black and white. In certain roof finishing designs, the seam seamlessly flows onto the façade, creating a striking visual effect.
An important focus was placed not only on the visual appeal of the materials but also on their tactile qualities. This careful selection contributes to creating a truly unique and engaging streetscape.
The concept is rooted in preserving the site's natural topography and extending the existing landscape line, defined by the area's power transmission line. This led to the creating of a green park separating the residential areas, inspiring the project's name—PARK QUARTERS.
Our primary goal was to ensure that each neighborhood would stand apart. This resulted in the idea that each quarter would be as unique as a fingerprint, offering distinct character and individuality within the overall development.
Thoughtful landscaping and beautification are key aspects of creating a comfortable living environment. These efforts are focused on rejuvenating residents and enhancing their overall well-being while also maximizing the potential of the surrounding space.
In collaboration with Ludi Architects, we infused the landscaping with the project's key themes. This includes large-scale linear parks that separate and unite the blocks and a variety of design elements that differentiate each block. The tactile quality of the plants and landscaping features is designed to engage and stimulate parts of the brain often overlooked in daily urban life—those responsible for curiosity, empathy, and creative thinking.
Take a look at how PARK QUARTERS is coming to life. In the near future, we plan to complete and commission 44 houses in the First Quarter, totaling 239 townhouses, ready for occupancy.
Interested in our full portfolio? Click below to view all of our completed projects.
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