Open international competition for the development of architectural and urban solutions for Gorskaya territory in St. Petersburg

1 PLACE

Brief description of the concept

Gorskaya Haven is a new development area of St Petersburg, where business, culture, education and recreation come together in harmony.
Several clusters form a unique and dynamically developing space where not only residents of Gorskaya, but also residents and guests of St Petersburg can rest comfortably and work efficiently.

The Museum of the Elements will be the main landmark. The iconic image of the exhibition will be the world's largest artificial whirlpool. The Light-industrial zone offers opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses through a variety of areas for storage and small-scale wholesale. The IT cluster zone with office spaces, science labs and classrooms is aimed at attracting technology companies and IT-oriented universities. The recreational cluster will house a hotel complex with a coastal hotel building. The recreational cluster will house a hotel complex with a coastal hotel building.

The main public space in Gorskaya will be the promenade with the multi-level landscaping, which will protect the recreational areas from the wind.

Inside Gorskaya Harbour, priority will be given to pedestrians and personal mobility devices such as bicycles and scooters. Public spaces between the buildings in the IT-cluster and light industrial zones are organized like green corridors that lead to the embankment and open areas on the Gulf of Finland. The environmental concept of the project aims at revitalising the entire natural complex of the area. Water drainage system with drainage ditches, bioponds and rain gardens will be used throughout the Gorskaya area.

A distinguishing feature of the overall project is the high degree of flexibility of the planned spaces: they can change their function depending on demand and market conditions.

The Haven is a safe place to wait out a storm.

Consortium led by

Wowhaus (Moscow, Russia)

Members

COOP HIMMELB(L)AU Wolf D. Prix & Partner ZT GmbH (Vienna, Austria) PwC (Moscow, Russia)

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2 PLACE

Brief description of the concept

Functional areas of the project

1. Territory of the environmental fleet with a berth.

2. Site of the “dam museum”

3. Light Industrial Zone

4. Innovation Center

5. Hotel cluster

Light-industrial zone - logistics terminals, assembly plants, exhibition areas, shops, united by two-level streets. The first level is car, the second is pedestrian. Shops, cafes and restaurants will be located on the seafront. In the center of the composition is an open amphitheater with a concert stage. Area 318,000 m2.

Innovation Center - scientific and technical laboratories for the creation of innovative technologies: medicine and biology, environmentally friendly and resource-saving energy, new industrial materials and much more. Light classrooms, laboratories, lecture halls. Three-story buildings with cozy courtyards, united by wide glass corridors that protect from bad weather. Area 128,000 m2.

Hotel cluster - three multifunctional hotel complexes. The number of rooms is about a thousand rooms. Area 71 800 m2.

Sports hotel including a swimming pool, gyms, sports equipment rentals, exercise rooms, coaching facilities

Spa hotel with a wide range of entertainment and services: spa, swimming pools, fitness centers, restaurants and cafes.

Business hotel with conference rooms, exhibition space, meeting rooms and places for remote work.

The high-rise dominant of the entire urban composition will be a museum, a cultural center with an observation deck at a height of 42 meters.

Consortium led by

Maris (Saint Petersburg, Russia)

Members

A.M. Tsekhomskogo V.V. (Saint Petersburg, Russia) CORE.XP (Moscow, Russia) P++ (Moscow, Russia)

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3 PLACE

Brief description of the concept

Capitalizing on the natural assets
The project site is located at the interface of urban and resort development, where the built-up area verges on the coastal buffer zone. We propose to capitalize on the geographical location of the site – the misty coast of the Baltic sea – and use it as a new point of attraction. Foggy destinations have been gaining in popularity in countries with hot climates, and for the enthusiasts Gorskaya may become a new landmark. For domestic tourism, we have envisaged a year-round operation of the site with a focus on providing rich sporting experiences. Yachtsmen have already taken a fancy to this area, which now has a great potential for establishing a prominent sailing school and a yacht club. In addition, we propose the development of winter sports in the area, with the potential to establish academies focusing on different athletic disciplines. As a result, Gorskaya may become a Mecca for professional and amateur athletes from all over Russia and the world.

Modularity, adaptability, sustainability
We chose the path of least interference with the existing landscape as the main strategy for area management and favoured the design solutions that support sustainable development. According to the concept, the entire Gorskaya area is covered by a grid, which divides it into units, while ensuring free passage of pedestrians and vehicles. A promenade graces the entire waterfront, and the museum and innovation centre become focal points shaping the seaside skyline in this part of the city. We preserve as much of the coastal vegetation on the furthest side of the site as possible, while designing there an area with a SPA hotel, an innovation centre and a natural park, and allocating the land closest to the highway for the busier light-industrial zone.

Past experiences of the place
The dam museum becomes a significant highlight of the area. Its deceptively simple shape harbours spaces offering rich functionality and invites visitors to explore the history and the important role of the city dam. Museum guests may enhance their experience by visiting the viewpoint, designed for better observation on a lower level and in front of the museum, and to see for themselves how the dam holds back the water.