Blaginina Park Landscape Design

A team of architects, landscape designers, sustainable ecosystem specialists and economists worked on the project. A pre-design study was carried out, as well as engagement of local residents. Active work was conducted with stakeholders of the territory — representatives of the local business community, the administration and representatives of cultural institutions.

The architectural concept of the improvement and the functional programme of the territory were defined by the site’s natural landscape and by the way local residents already use the area. The project envisages maximum preservation of the historic landscape, appropriate maintenance of the woodland/park part, adjustment of the shoreline, and creation of a path network along the favourite routes of Zmiyevka residents.

The concept provides for dividing the park into four thematic zones: a public/event zone, a recreational zone, walking routes, and a woodland/park zone with ecological trails. It can be noted that the area around the pond plays the role of a public space, while the woodland part acts as a nature/landscape area with eco-trails.

Special attention in the design process was paid to resident engagement, which included the following activities:

• surveys and questionnaires (online and offline) at the stage of selecting the territory and identifying the profile of the settlement’s residents;
• exploratory walks, meetings with residents, local activists, representatives of the settlement administration, experts and the business community;
• design workshops.

Around the pond, an informal landscape park is created — curved lines are widely used in various improvement elements to support the natural curves of the historic landscape. Within the park there are gazebos, sports grounds, café pavilions, a pier, an amphitheatre with a stage, toilets and lighting.