Three best projects on Zaryadye reconstruction selected

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has attended a meeting of the expert commission that is tasked with selecting a reconstruction project for the Zaryadye District.

“It is of immense importance for the best architects to be involved in this project, and the best ideas should be selected,” Mr Sobyanin said, adding that the final projects should be supplemented with compelling ideas from other projects.

During the contest’s final stage, the jury considered six projects developed by international architectural teams. The three finalists have already been presented to the Moscow Mayor, and the results will be announced on 12 November.

According to the Mayor, the city has come a long way in recent years in terms of developing the public environment — new walking zones, parks, and square gardens have opened, and embankments have been reconstructed. “In the past three years, 200 public sites have been re-built or totally reconstructed,” the Mayor said.

The Mayor noted that much attention is presently focused on the extraordinary Zaryadye project. According to Mr Sobyanin, Varvarka Street might be turned into a pedestrian zone and the buildings in the area will be made to match the park

The Moscow Government also plans to extend the Moskvoretskaya Embankment, and to make the embankment a part of the park. The Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge might also be included in the Zaryadye Park’s general ensemble.

“These three additional public spaces will facilitate the territory’s development,” the Moscow Mayor added.

The three best projects have now been selected. The finalists considered all of the Moscow Government’s wishes and developed not just reconstruction projects, but rather initiatives that will ensure Zaryadye’s harmonious inclusion into Moscow’s historical centre. For instance, one project links the Zaryadye and Zamoskvorechye districts. In this regard, the Mayor invited experts to take part in the unveiling of the Zamoskvorechye pedestrian zone, which will be held on 12 November.

The commission met at the Shchusev State Museum of Architecture, which is hosting the Open City exhibition devoted to the Moscow Government’s urban development policy. As part of the event, Mr Kuznetsov showed Mr Sobyanin stands detailing the plans for residential buildings and social facilities in the area, such as kindergartens and schools.