XXI Century Block: Vivid Image of the Modern City
Today it is difficult to say why at the beginning of the XXI century a city power plant was built in the very heart of Irkutsk near the central garden square with the Spasskaya Church ensemble, Cathedral of the Epiphany and a Catholic Church. In the 1960s, a huge striped pipe was attached to the power plant to become a landmark on the city skyline that devaluated with its mass the role and significance of the historical centerpieces. However, the situation is changing as in the nearest future a modern complex called XXI Century Block will appear right there. It will host offices, living apartments, shopping malls and a symphonic music hall initiated by a world known Russian pianist Denis Matsuev who was born in Irkutsk.
A modern trend to move industrial facilities out of central districts emerged in Russian cities when certain plants and factories were appraised to determine their efficiency versus the actual value of sites they occupy. The commonly accepted international term “brownfield redevelopment” (redevelopment of abandoned industrial zones) means reconstruction of territories contaminated as a result of long-term industrial activities.
Redevelopment of industrial zones in European cities started several decades ago (in the 1980s) as they entered the post-industrial era when most industrial plants were moved to Asian countries with cheap work force, and abandoned territories turned into downtowns shining with glass. In case of historical factories, old brick workshops are often reconstructed as lofts for creative clusters.
In Moscow, when the City was built and many factory territories were reconstructed, this process has almost reached its final stage, in St. Petersburg it is in full sway, while in Irkutsk it is at the very beginning. Shifting the industry unfriendly to the environment outside the city is a key target set before ecologists and city authorities that is why any of such projects is regarded as a green one. It is also planned to arrange a new embankment here by means of land reclamation and further bank stabilization with roadway punching at the Tsesovskaya embankment.
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Text by Philipp Nikandrov, Chief Architect at GORPROJECT, CJSC