From left to right: Yulia Yankovskaya, Kristina Zaika, Ekaterina Zlotnikova, Valeria Dmitrieva and Elizaveta Doroshenko

The project "Center of historical memory in the village of Zaitsevo" by second-year students of the SPbGASU Department of Urban  Planning was recognized as the best among student works submitted to the competition "Concept of spatial development of municipalities of the Leningrad region" in the nomination "Concept of spatial development of the public exhibition center 'Center of historical memory'". It was developed by Ekaterina Zlotnikova, Kristina Zaika, Elizaveta Doroshenko and Valeria Dmitrieva under the supervision of the Head of the Department of Urban Planning Yulia Yankovskaya for the territory of the memorial complex to the civilians of the Soviet Union who died during the Great Patriotic War and the improvement of the territory in the village of Zaitsevo in the Gatchina municipal district of the Leningrad region.

"Participation and especially victory in such professional competitions are very important both in professional development and in patriotic education of students. The students studied historical materials related to this place with great interest and attention, analyzed domestic and foreign experience in designing memorial complexes, gave an original compositional and figurative interpretation of the museum and proposed a concept for the improvement of the territory," noted Yulia Yankovskaya.

According to her, the project is interesting for a number of ideas. Thus, a new landscaping solution has been given on the territory of the complex with the placement of a number of thematic areas focused on tactile, sound, color and light presentation of the events of the Great Patriotic War. The historical memory center itself is designed in modern dynamic forms, the "memory ribbon" covers the volume of the building from all sides.

In accordance with the task, the functional filling includes a universal auditorium, a memorial and exhibition space, and a cultural and educational space with a small conference hall. The composition of the object is built on triangular shapes in plan, symbolizing fragments, the breakdown of people's lives. In contrast to them, the "memory ribbon" connects the disparate volumes and fills them with a new peaceful life. Two atrium spaces adjoin the central part of the building with an entrance group, a foyer, and a hall on both sides: on the right - with an exhibition of objects related to military themes, on the left - a green space related to peaceful life. The interior of the building uses the works of monumental artists, students of the I. E. Repin Academy of Arts Ekaterina Okisheva and Xu Zhoke.

"I would like to emphasize that this complex and multifaceted project with the development of a concept for the improvement, landscaping of the site, a number of pavilions and thematic areas, as well as a rather complex public exhibition center, was completed by second-year students (of course, under the guidance of their teacher). The success speaks of both their good professional training and their creative activity. This work was  encouraged by Ekaterina Zlotnikova. Last year, she took third place in the "Environment" nomination of the international competition "Form-Illusion". I am glad that with her desire to actively participate in competitions and exhibitions, she inspired other students to be creative. Both the department and I, as the head of the workshop, do our utmost to reveal the creative potential of students and support their desire to develop their professional skills in creative professional competitions, not limited to student ones," said Yulia Yankovskaya.

Ekaterina Zlotnikova says that she is interested in participating in professional competitions because they provide an opportunity to work with real tasks, solve existing problems, which attracts her as a student to real design outside the university walls. "Competitions develop creativity, teach the ability to solve problems in an unconventional way and work in a team. All these skills are necessary for a competent specialist. I want my work to not leave anyone indifferent and change people's lives for the better. I plan to realize myself in the creation of public spaces: I am very interested in the topic of reconstructing abandoned territories and assigning them new functions," she shared.

The concept of the Center of Historical Memory "History Ribbon"