Perm Embankment City Park
- Project:
- design park
- Location:
- Perm, Russia
- Designers:
- Hanneke Kijne,
Gerwin de Vries,
Fleur van Dusseldorp,
Monique Thomas (aTA),
Patrick Lo A Njoe (aTA),
Nelleke Rijm (DG groep),
Daiva Stumbraite (DRO),
Marcel Plomp (Imnova) - Partners:
- Carmela Bogman industrial design,
KCAP architects and planners,
Pirs Perm,
Jacqueline van der Kloet planting advice - Client:
- CPB Perm
- Size:
- 30 ha.
Estate, park and garden - Year of design:
- 2009-2010
- Status:
- in preparation
- Download:
Perm embankment city park
The city of Perm is about to establish a new address on the river Kama. This will be the first step in a grand transformation of the entire city and surrounds. The Embankment Park strategy is to seize and enhance existing and emergent qualities in the park and, through adding a series of design layers, create a strong public space that will attract all of Perm's inhabitants and place the city on the international map. The Embankment Park design adds structure, activity and spatial character to the existing situation. This is to be done by firstly framing the park at both the city level and along the water's edge. The city balcony is a promenade situated on the elevated boundary between city and park. It not only defines the park edge but creates a meandering scenic walk with accesses to the park below. On the northern edge of the park the boulevard is a more playful route along the river Kama. By varying in width and material and in responding to the topography and the path network the boulevard creates both a grand space to stroll and intimate niches to sit and watch passersby. The connection between the boulevard and the water is also intensified by a family of elements on the waterside; a boardwalk, large stairs on the water near the Birch field and a swimming pool near Popova-street. These all naturally extend the boulevard to the water, introducing a new, more direct relationship between city and river.
With the frame established the park itself is then activated by a network of paths and event spaces. The event spaces are places which stimulate activity; they range from a simple widening at a path intersection with a park bench to a swimming pool floating in the river. To physically connect the city to the Kama river a series of ‘connectors' are placed at the end of strategically chosen city radials. These are elements that bridge the railway line that cuts through the park and can be seen as the formal entrances to the Embankment Park
The formal language of the parklandscape is inspired by one of the defining events in the natural calender; the breaking of the ice in Spring. The paths in the sloping grass planes take on the form of cracks between ice flows. Cutting into the topography with retaining walls a distinctive angular language is established which will become the signature of the Embankment park. As a counterweight to the expressive angular forms the smaller scale furniture elements such as benches and lighting are, with clear rectilinear lines, more modest and sober. Traditional Russian wood craft touches are added to these modern pieces to represent a proud local history in wood technique and decoration.