International experts praise Zaryadye Park

Sergei Sobyanin has met some of the world's leading experts — members of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which is being held in Moscow now. The meeting, which was attended by heads of organisations protecting historical and cultural landmarks, and by experts from Germany, Israel, Italy, Latvia, and the Netherlands, took place in the Media Centre at Zaryadye Park.

“Dear colleagues, I would like to thank you for your participation in the work which is underway in Moscow, for the help and advice you have given to Moscow restorers and architects. We hope that in the future you will continue to help us restore the unique cultural landmarks in Moscow,” Sergei Sobyanin said.

He also added that the restoration and preservation of cultural landmarks are among the Moscow Government’s top priorities.

“In recent years, we have restored about 900 cultural landmarks. The number of rundown landmarks has decreased significantly. In addition to city funding, private investors are involved in the restoration. In fact, private investment accounts for more than half of all funds used for these purposes,” the Moscow Mayor noted.

Sergei Sobyanin added that the city is continuing to renovate streets and historical squares, and is creating new and unique projects, like Zaryadye Park.

President of the Italian National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites Pietro Laureano called Zaryadye Park in the heart of the city an innovative solution. “I believe that this park will bring Moscow fame and success, that it will demonstrate the city’s developed infrastructure, and its urban and Eurasian culture. And for me, as a European, this experience is very interesting,” Mr Laureano said.

Jerusalem’s Chief Archaeologist Jon Seligman praised the improvement of the public space. “I would like to note how well the balance between modern buildings and archaeological treasures is maintained,” the expert said.

Earlier, in his letter to the Russian Ministry of Culture, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Francesco Bandarin expressed his admiration for how Moscow implemented the Zaryadye Park project in the immediate vicinity of the Kremlin and Red Square on the site of former Rossiya Hotel, which was demolished in 2006.

“I am glad to say that the Zaryadye project was revised based on the 2015 ICOMOS recommendations, all my additional comments, provided to the Russian Representative Office at the UNESCO headquarters in April this year, have been taken into consideration.

Having visited and inspected Zaryadye Park and having obtained information about the implementation of this project, I reconfirm that the Russian authorities have fully complied with their obligations regarding the creation of Zaryadye Park in accordance with paragraph 172 of the key recommendations on regulatory actions under the International Convention of Cultural Heritage Protection,” the letter reads.

During his meeting with the Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, Francesco Bandarin said that Zaryadye Park is the best project for renovation and careful use of cultural space in the centre of a global metropolis that he is aware of.

First results

Zaryadye Park opened 9 September this year. In less than two months 1.2 million Muscovites and tourists have visited it.

An average of 43,300 people visit the park on weekends, 18,700 on weekdays. The park includes the Time Machine media complex, the Zaryadye Underground Museum, a Florarium greenhouse, and the Nature Centre pavilion.

In September-October the Nature Centre discussion club held its first lectures. Among them there was a lecture titled Medicine of the Future (by Vice Rector for scientific work of Pirogov National and Research Medical University, Doctor of Biological Sciences Denis Rebrikov), a lecture on Modern Biotechnology in Industry and Agriculture (Dean of the Agronomy and Biotechnology Faculty of the Russian State Agrarian University, Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Doctor of Biological Sciences Alexander Solovyov), a lecture-conversation titled Ideal Landscape: From Ancient Politics To Modern Ecology (Professor Makarov from the Russian State Humanitarian University Makarov), lectures on new approaches to the greening of Moscow, on creating gardens on roofs, and many other subjects.

The Nature Centre also offers free lessons. These lessons have been attended by 724 people, including children with disabilities and wheelchair users, those from the Kind Heart Centre for the disabled and large families, from the Crisis Centre of Assistance to Women and Children and the MnogoMama Centre assisting large families. Moscow schoolchildren, athletes from the Sambo-70 club and others are invited to participate in scientific and educational programmes. bbb

The Soaring Theatre with the Soaring Over Moscow film opened 19 September, the Russian Arctic exhibition on 28 September. The tourist information centre opened offering guided tours with audio guides in two languages — Russian and English (Chinese is to be added in December).

The Media Studio opened on 15 October, it is a joint educational project with the Glavkino company. On 21 October there was a White Cranes festival that included musical performances, lectures on Russian nature reserves and habitats of cranes, as well as workshops for children and adults. Since the opening day, 22,400 people have visited the Dome information pavilion (free admission). In October, the Media Centre hosted the Moscow Design Week exhibition. For five days everyone could see original art and visit an exhibit of modern art, listen to lectures and presentations, participate in workshops given by designers, photographers, and painters.

There are two souvenir shops in Zaryadye Park: one in the Media Centre (open since 12 September) and one in the Ice Cave (open since 21 October). Starting 20 October, visitors can use the underground parking garage for 430 vehicles.

On 28 October, the park will hold a Zaryadye Autumn festival. Festival goers will be able to enjoy workshops on making jewellery and toys from natural materials, literature readings, children’s animation, lectures, and musical performances.

Zaryadye Concert Hall

Since July 2015, construction of a concert hall has been underway in the park — a multifunctional world class concert venue, with two halls and two amphitheatres with a total capacity of 3,960 people. The building’s total area will be 25,400 square metres.  

According to the General Director of Mosinzhproekt Mars Gazizullin, the finishing work has already begun.

“The utility systems should be completed by the end of November. The heat system is ready. On 15 November a comprehensive HVAC system is scheduled to be launched that will create a microclimate here,” he said.

Unique details include the facades, two of which are submerged into the sloping terrain, and the roof, the world's largest translucent structure without enclosing walls — the Glass Canopy.

The Glass Canopy, consisting of a metal frame and glass triangles covers an area of 8,700 square metres. An artificial hill was part of the landscaping. The concert hall underneath the Glass Canopy will be hidden behind another landscape element, the Viewing Hill designed by Russian designers and builders based on a concept by Buro Happold engineers. Powered by solar panels, the structure has its own microclimate, warmer than outside.

The main facade is made entirely of glass. However, a natural stone wall with a large built-in media screen in the form of a trapezium is likely to become the most memorable element.

The bigger hall holds 1,560 people, the smaller hall has 400 seats (including the gallery). Thanks to built-in mechanisms, the concert hall space can be modified and will have transformable stalls. Depending on the need, the stage, the orchestra pit and the stalls can be transformed.

Acoustic tests were conducted under the guidance of the president of Nagata Acoustics, Yasuhisa Toyota, who designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Richard Fisher Centre in New York, and many others.

There are two open spaces in the area adjacent to the concert hall. These are the Large Amphitheatre with 1600 seats and the Small Amphitheatre with 400 seats with a media façade, which will also broadcast concerts.

In addition, there will be another venue for various events — ranging from classical music concerts, jazz and pop festivals to sophisticated theatrical and opera productions. The venue can also host fashion shows, briefings, conferences, and other events.

Currently, 75 percent of the building is ready. The following have been completed: 

— installation of the foundation platform (9,600 cubic metres), supporting monolithic structures of the frame (18,720 cubic metres);

— roofing (7,500 square metres), installation of steel frame structures (2,120 tonnes), the ventilated facade (2,560 sq m) and interior brickwork;

— wall plaster (26,672 sq m);

— utility systems: sewage (232.5 running metres), water supply (26 running metres), drainage (446.5 running metres), and heating.

On top of this, work is underway on the floors, interior utility systems and metal frames for onstage technical equipment. The construction of the concert hall is due to be completed in spring 2018.

International Council on Monuments and Sites

The third meeting of the International Council on Monuments and Sites was held in the capital between October 23 - 27. Among its members there are leading international experts, representatives of seven countries, including:

— Pietro Laureano, President of the Italian National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites

— Jörg Haspel, Head of the Berlin Department of Cultural Heritage, President of the German National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites

— Riin Alatalu, President of the Estonian National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites

— Guntis Gailitis, Director of Riga Agency for Cultural Heritage (Riga Monuments Agency)

— Jon Seligman, Jerusalem Chief Archaeologist;

— Elisabetta Fabbri, Head of a restoration workshop in Venice, Honoured Architect of Italy

— Michael Hofmann, Deputy Head of Berlin Department of Cultural Heritage;

— Ramona Dornbusch, Representative of a state agency for protecting Berlin landmarks

— Thomas Flirl, Director of Herman Henselmann Fund (expert in Soviet architecture)

— Job Roos, Professor of Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands (expert in Soviet architecture)

The experts will familiarise themselves with the results of the My Street renovation programme, with the reconstruction and restoration of VDNKh’s landmarks, as well as consult on the preservation of archaeological structures and artefacts in an urban environment.

Council meetings have been held in Moscow annually since 2015 with organisations that protect cultural and historical landmarks, and international experts in cultural heritage preservation from Germany, Israel, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Russia, and UNESCO and ICOMOS experts.

After sharing their experience and information, and inspecting the city’s landmark related projects, the experts create a list of recommendations and critical issues.

The agenda of the previous meetings was as follows:

— 2015: Construction and Restoration of Cultural Landmarks. Experts took part in the business programme at the Denkmal exhibition in Moscow;

— 2016: Archaeological Sites under the My Street renovation programme.