The Open Architectural and Urban Competition "The Spit in Nizhny Novgorod – a Town-planning Comprehension of the Important Urban Public Space"

The pitch contribution includes the development of the area south of Dolzhanskaja Street. The site north of Dolzhanskaya Street directly adjoins the plot of the football stadium. While shaping the space FIFA regulations must be respected. These were not part of the tender documents. Without knowledge of these regulations the stadium terrain, as well as the areas between Betankur Street and Dolzhanskaja Street have not been considered in this pitch contribution.


1.     Park „Strelka“                                    97.000 m²
        Municipal green space, consisting of 3 zones:

1.1     Water expanse                                     16.600m²
          Water expanse forms the urban center of the whole development „Strelka“ and conveys
    spatial reference between the separate functions of the area. In summer, the “lake” provides
    water sports and a beachside café and in winter the café runs the ice skating rink.  


1.2     English park                                    42.000m²
          English park forms a ring of concentrated vegetation with diverse trees in the landscape area
1.2.1     Beachside café with water sports in summer
    Café with rental ice skates and cross-country skis in winter
1.2.2     Sandy beach
1.2.3     Promenade in summer | Cross-country ski-trail in winter


1.3     Zones for active use                                 38.000m²
    Zones for active use are situated at the edge of the park expanse. These areas offer different     possibilities for outdoor urban activity, such as:
1.3.1     Skateboarding parkour
1.3.2     Picnic
1.3.3     Play ground
1.3.4     Variety of fitness equipment, etc.

1. 4     Public toilet


2.     Sport and Concert Arena                        floor area  44.000 m²
    Multifunctional event building. Capacity of 15.000 seats for concerts. Capacity of 13.600 seats for ice
    hockey games. The building closes the gap in the section of Samarkandskaja Street and extends the
    building line of the stadium. Main entrance on the newly developed square to the south. Side entrance     on Samarkandskaja Street.

2.1    Entrance to training ice field or ball sports hall.
2.2     Retail and office units on the ground floor along the Samarkandskaja Street.
2.3     Restaurants and offices on the ground floor along the park line
2.4     Delivery
2.5     Parking areas for passenger cars and busses (500 parking spaces)


3.     Parking garage                                  floor area  45.700 m²

    The building demises the northern edge of the park and links to the stadium. A limited amount of VIP     parking spaces for the stadium is offered in the parking deck.
    Parking deck for the Sport and Concert Arena. Capacity approx. 1.500 parking spaces with an option for     extension to 2.500 parking spaces.


4.     Exhibition hall, e.g. a branch of the Museum of River Navigation or Museum of Technology.
                                         floor area    8.000 m²
    The building consists of two wings and a central section. Remains of the iron structures of the historic
    exhibition halls, dating from the world exhibition in 1896, form the wings. The central section is planned
    as a modern steel and glass structure.

4.1     Court with exhibition monuments and landings for historic vessels.



5     Multifunctional Exhibition Hall for temporary events with integrated restaurant space.
                                           floor area    8.500 m²


6.     Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

6.1     Existing building
6.2    Existing building
6.3    Tourist bus parking lanes


7.     Sports clubs along Volga river.                        floor area   10.200 m²

7.1    Sports club with cafe and terrace for ball sports in summer.
    Illuminated ice hockey fields in winter.
7.2     Tennis club with cafe and terrace


8.     Open areas along Volga river

8.1     Parking area (250 parking spaces) for the museum (4)
          Potential for alternative use
8.2     Parking area (500 parking spaces) for the multifunctional
          exhibition Hall (5) Potential for alternative use, e.g. farmer’s market
          or similar


9.     Existing buildings without change of use            


10.     Restored historical building                         floor area   12.260 m²

10.1     Office / Retail                                floor area 1140 m²
10.2     Office                                    floor area   320 m²
10.3     Hotel                                    floor area 1600 m²
10.4     Office                                    floor area 3200 m²
10.5     Office                                    floor area 1900 m²
10.6     Office / Retail                                floor area 1200 m²
10.7     Museum „Strelka“                            floor area 2500 m²
10.8     Park management office                             floor area   400 m²
10.9     Memorial


11.     New buildings with eave heights of 8 -10 meters, depending on original ground level.
                                        floor area   43.040 m²

11.1      Craft / Trade                                floor area 3500 m²
11.2       Craft / Office                                floor area 3200 m²
11.3       Office                                    floor area 3050 m²
11.4       Office                                    floor area 3060 m²
11.5       Office                                    floor area 2600 m²
11.6       Hotel / Retail                                floor area 5800 m²
11.7       Hotel / Retail                                floor area 6000 m²
11.8       Office                                    floor area 1800 m²
11.9       Municipality                                floor area 4200 m²
11.10     Office / Retail                                floor area 2150 m²
11.11     Hotel / Retail / Restaurants                        floor area 2250 m²
11.12     Hotel / Retail / Restaurants                        floor area 1630 m²
11.13     Hotel / Retail / Restaurants                        floor area 3800 m²
11.14     Theologian school                            floor area 4000 m²
11.15     Municipality / Office                            floor area 3070 m²
11.16     Municipality / Office                            floor area 3070 m²


12.     Oka riverside promenade

12.1    Spot point / Memorial
12.2     Cafe terraces
12.3     Landscape square / Urban greenery
12.4    Activity zone
12.5     Historical part of the promenade
12.6    Lowered promenade area with seating devices / View to the Kremlin
12.7     Stela of Oka River


13.     Volga riverside promenade

13.1     Stela of Volga River
13.2     Seating elements for watching games and view of the river
13.3     Lowered part of the promenade with the landing stage / Seating devices

Our project gives a new character to the city banks spaces by making it a true recreational hub. 

The main intervention creates a wide range of functions that activates the space the entire day: cultural facilities, offices, hotels, sports facilities, commercial, etc. 

Towards the Oka River - the old city grid is accommodated into the new fabric by connecting all of the small buildings that are preserved and proposed ones through a glass canopy. This canopy represents the new street of the city.

Another big intervention is the bathing area that activates the other side of the site towards the Volga River and it emphasizes more the sports dimension of the whole area. 

The „Strelka“ area, as well as the most of the urbanized riverscapes of the city, is covered with hard revetment aiming efficient flood protection. Hard revetment negatively affects the biotopes connections as well as limits access of the people to the river body.  This methodology of water management is outdated. Before starting the design process of the river space, holistic, integrated approaches should be applied.

Speaking of design methods, the projects are oriented on sustainable design in economic, social and environmental dimensions.  The projects area appears as a complicated overlay of cultural and historical layers, the fusion needs to be preserved but adapted to contemporary uses. Post-industrial area of the harbour can be used as a cultural centre, with the inclusion of daily/weekly uses as market space, workshops space, play spaces, jogging/walking routes and open theatre.

The main aim of the project is the connection of the past, present and future within sustainable design solutions. Formally the symbol of time is the base of the design concept.  The area is complicated not only culturally but physically appears as dynamic space, changed several times during last two centuries.  The lake in the middle of the park is not only the reference to the former water element (according to the historical map of 1865) but is a part of water sensitive urban design retention methodology.

Mixed used quarters are the transition in between urbanized area and the park, as a recreational zone.