The Faculty of Architecture Team Wins the Inter-University Competition at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum

The SPbGASU Faculty of Architecture team took first place in the final of the interuniversity team competition "Urban Planning Challenge" on 6 June as part of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The competition was organized by the United Research and Design Institute for Spatial Planning of the Russian Federation. Teams from six universities participated in the finals, presenting their vision for the development of the year-round seaside resort "Gorskaya Marina."

Over the course of a week and a half, participants, together with mentors, conducted a field survey of the territory, analyzed its urban development and economic potential, studied global experience in creating year-round resorts, and developed conceptual proposals for the development of a future public and recreational space.

SPbGASU was represented at the competition by the team "ARHaus", consisting of students of the Faculty of Architecture Anna Nosovaya, Vasilisa Koval, Anna Primak, Ivan Fedyashov and Kirill Mezyankin. The team was led by senior lecturer at the Department of History and Theory of Architecture Ivan Minniev.

Based on a comprehensive site analysis, the students developed a concept for a multifunctional seaside resort of international standing. The project envisions the creation of Northern Europe's largest yacht marina, a year-round water-based entertainment and educational complex, including an oceanarium, a dolphinarium with a marine mammal rehabilitation center, a simulation diving center, a surf pool, an underwater archeology museum, an educational center, and an IT cluster.

The authors also proposed creating a modern residential environment with hotels, apartments, and a canal system with individual mooring spaces for small vessels. The concept included a "Small Road of Life" museum, an ornithological station, and a Lenfilm studio lot.

The layout prepared by the team aroused great interest among visitors to the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. The defense of the project presented by SPbGASU students was also highly appreciated by the jury.

The ARHaus team took first place in the voting. As a reward, the students received an invitation from the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Utilities of the Russian Federation to visit Moscow for an introductory program. The jury particularly noted the high level of preparation of the participants, the quality of their design solutions, and the professionalism of the SPbGASU team.

The award ceremony was attended by the Chairperson of the Committee for Urban Development and Architecture of St Petersburg Yulia Kiseleva, the Executive Secretary of the Public Council under the Ministry of Construction of Russia, Assistant to the Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Svetlana Kuzmenko, the Director of the United Research and Design Institute for Spatial Planning Dina Sattarova, as well as representatives of the Roscongress Foundation.