By its location, rail and roads connections, commercial-, cultural- and sport facilities, it´s green aspirations, university and science campus, in its close proximity of Skolkovo centre, Odintsovo has the potential to become one of the most attractive cities in the greater Moscow region.
A new highway on the north side of Odintsovo and a new railway station for a high speed rail line, which eventually will link an innovation center ´Skolkovo´ with the proposed international financial centre in Rublevo-Archangelskoe, will additionally strengthened Odintsovo as a desirable location for living, working and education. The surroundings of Odintsovo are characterized by a rich and beautiful network of water bodies and natural green penetrating the city.
Both green and water are used and enjoyed by the people of Odintsovo. Discussing the regeneration of Odintsovo conjures up an association that at first sight does not seem terribly obvious: the painting Victory Boogie Woogie. The rigor of Mondrian’s sharply defined fields of color in his earlier work could be compared with the fragmented early development of Odintsovo, in the same way his classically minimalist work found a later pendant in the plan libre of modern urban planning.
 |
| Piet Mondriaan, Victory Boogie Woogie (Unfinished), 1944 |
In its apotheosis, Victory Boogie Woogie, both tendencies are reconciled in a rich and lively painting, just as the two outlooks in the history of urban planning are reconciled as overlapping layers in the regeneration of Odintsovo. The Odintsovo Boogie Woogie concept could be exemplary for the way the centers of soviet cities can be regenerated, resulting in a higher level of comfort, security and technical sophistication.
MAKING A CONTEMPORARY GARDEN CITY
The urban scenario for Odintsovo integrates disperse urban fragments and landscape into a harmonious whole. By injecting iconographic urban fabric, cultivating existing greenery, enabling forest to penetrate to the centre, forming green rooms, greening (planting trees) on existing boulevards, the scale of the city is formatted on a human scale. Programmatic densification and establishing of new public program together with series of different public spaces results in a contemporary garden city.
New landmarks as railway station, city hall, health centre with swimming pool and a eco dome, are well connected by visual lines as well as pedestrian paths enhancing idea of a city in a park. A new rearranged compact Odintsovo, with reduced car mobility, lower ecological footprint would also allow for high quality of social life and security, with series of places to meet, sport, children to play, to shop, learn and work.
Communal Space is focused within the courtyards of the blocks and shared among residents. This space is not freely accessible for the public. The communal space is self-monitored by the residents and fosters a smaller community at block level. Private Space ' Every apartment has a private outside space. Furthermore the ground bound units within each block have a small outdoor space or front yard.
SUSTAINABILITY: Catalyst for a Sustainable Moscow Region
In today's world of development, sustainability is becoming standard. But it is only standard in terms of speaking about it and often not in terms of actual understanding of how to design a financially feasible project and to deliver a truly sustainable final product. In the world of sustainable development the most significant move one makes is the initial strategy. Planning and designing a compact, dense, mixed place is the most ecologically sensitive development of all.
