THE BLUE LINE 1st PRIZE

Urban Planning, Design and Landscape Conservation, Kiev, Ukraine focus on the bustling metropolis through unique experiences by the water

location Kiev, Ukrainesize 2500 hatype Dniper islands masterplanrole in project strategic planning and urban design schemes, graphical presentationcontribution from the analysis&diagnosis process to concept development to graphical representation team Wolfhouse Productions (urb. Cristina ZLOTA, urb. Iulian CANOV, arch. Vlad Stoica, arch. Rozina DRAGOMIR)collaborators arch. Claudiu Forgaci, arch. Tamina LOLEV, designer. Iulia NAMASCO, arch. Maria PANTIR, arch. Alexandru TUDOSE date october - december 2011status in negociation for the feasibility study

The international urban planning competition for the ‘Dnieper Pearls’ called for the best proposal and authors for the preservation and development of Kyiv’s islands. The competition was initiated by Kyiv administration and Kyiv local development agency as part of the city’s sustainable urban deve opment for 2025.The competi-tion’s outcomes are to preserve and revive the valuable natural complexes and provide clear regulated facilities for tourism, sports and recreation activities within the natural enviro ment of the Dnieper Bay.

The main objective of the project is to transform the Dnieper Islands in a symbol for Kyiv, considering three main principles:- Proposing an efficient and iconic scenic route along the Dnieper - The Blue Line solves the public transportation issues of Kyiv and will become a unique system that the city will become famous for.- Gradual protection zones will grant public access and implement community wide educational programs in ecology and sustainable areas.- Empowering communities to participate in the development of the islands will give them a sense of belonging to their city.

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The largest economy in Ukraine, Kyiv tries to establish itself as an urban economic hub for Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Kyiv still has a low economic development status so it has to be in constant search for investment opportunities.

For this the city needs to market a clear tangible urban vision and focus on city scale integrated programmes. For start Kyiv has to assure an efficient transport & access infrastructure.

Kyiv is an expanding metropolis poorly connected from north to south.

One consequence is the conflict between urbanization and natural heritage.

Kyiv feels like a divided city: production activities lie on the west bank & residential zones lie on the east side.

Public transportation is a key element for a connected city.

Kyiv is rich in historical and cultural landmarks.

Better connectivity is needed among the city’s landmarks for tourists and citizens.

The natural protected areas bear the collateral damages done by infrastructural development.

Protection policies are essential for durable use of the islands complex.

MACRO SCALE ANALYSIS

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Muromets Lopuhovatyi Truhaniv Dolobetsky Venetsianskyi Velykyi Galernyi Vodnikiv Zhukiv Kozachyi OlzhynPopulation

DiagnosisKyiv Islands

(existing/capacity)Area(ha) 148 56 402 128 188 36 317 150 70 222 154

=

=

= +

1871 | 2.2 %of urban srf.

0/296 0/112 0/182 0/00/10620/NA 0/2215 0/0 0/5570 | 0.20 %of urb pop.0/1069 0/634 0/NA

History

Landmarks

Flooding

Use

Flora

Fauna

Accessibility

Restrictions

Issues unclear urban status

former industrial area clearing

synanthropic species presence

Babyne lake polluted by Podilsko bridge

access control &wildlife protection

Protectionstatus

= -

MICRO SCALE ANALYSIS

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GENERAL GROWTH SCENARIOS

Kyiv is the largest economy in Ukraine. At the same time it is a city trying to estab-lish itself as the most important East European urban hub. Attracting foreign or local investment has to be done through coherent city development strategies focused on larger city wide programs. One important such program that takes into considera-tion the broader urban impact is the development of public transportation systems.

The island archipelago in Kyiv and its ecosystem supports the most of consequenc-es of pollution. Lack of modern city wide waste management and informal use of the natural territory means that the islands function partly as waste disposal sites, espe-cially for the construction sector. Vast natural areas with no human presence and no regulated activity encourage abusive and informal use of the protected areas. There is a need for strong environmental educational programs led by prestigious national institutions. Institutional and community driven protection framework is essential for durable use of the islands complex.

Kyiv looks and acts like a divided city. It does most of its living on the left bank of the Dnieper and most of its working/production on the right bank. It is only natural that leisure and entertainment activities should be done somewhere in the middle.

The local government has to implement fast and often expensive solutions in order to keep up with Kyiv’s urban development. In the middle of this growing metropolis, Kyiv Islands, with its natural reserves and endangered species, have to take most of the collateral damage done by infrastructural development.

Kyiv is spanning along the Dnieper on a northsouth direction. In order for it to func-tion properly Kiev has to improve its connections and resolve its disparities.

Public transportation is the key element for a unified and connected Kyiv. The need for a new holistic public transportation system occurs. It has to be efficient, environmentally friendly and cheap to build and run.

Having natural and cultural landmarks in a city is vital for high quality of life stand-ards. Most kievans regard the Dnieper Island complex as the most important symbol of the city but most locals rarely use the Islands’ territory in an optimum manner.

Poor connectivity and lack of adequate urban equipment on the islands leads to under use of this territory. Having large, uninhabited and remote areas is ideal for a wildlife reserve. But when some of the country’s most important natural reservation areas are at the outskirts of a metropolis, protection policies need to be reconsid-ered. Protection of natural habitats might also be done through the use of these territories coordinated responsibly by local administration. Only by establishing its firm presence around the protected territory can local governance and scientific institutions efficiently protect natural habitats in a city this size.

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courtesy of WOLFHOUSE PRODUCTIONS52

Seen from over Truhaniv, the islands appear as a vast natural corridor linking the two banks of the Dnieper River and bringing wilderness and recreation in the very heart of a bustling metropolis. They span the entire length of the urban agglomeration and ensure the city dwell-er that nature is always around the corner (by the river) when you are in Kyiv.

If urged by curiosity, one could explore in a day trip the entire landscape from Truhaniv’s Dru-zhby Narodiv Expositional Park – in the north – to Zhukiv’s BIOScience+Edu Center – in the south – using only the bicycle routes. Nevertheless, a popular way of discovering Kyiv’s Islands and historical landmarks is by embarking for a scenic ride provided by the BLUE LINE; a unique public transportation system that Kyiv is famous for.

Using this iconic transportation system locals and tourists alike can easily access the city’s main landmarks as well as the leisure and entertainment center developed around Hidropark. The river stations act as main access points and their various functional additions hint the urban vocation of the islands.

THE BLUE LINE VISION

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ZHUKIV EDU+SCIENCE

VELYKYI

DESNIANSKI

PODIL

OBOLON

LUKOVE

MUROMETS

BIO-SCIENCE

GALERNYI

NYZHNI

GARDENS 2

NYZHNI

GARDENS 1

NAVODNYTSKYI

PARK

OSOKORKYI VILL

AGE

VODNIKOV

RIVERSTAT

ION

DOLOBETS

KYI

BRICK FACTO

RY

VENETSIANSKYI

VENETSIANSKYI

BEACH

PODILSKO VOSKRESENSKIY

DRUZHBY

NARODIV PARK

TRUHANOV

Kiyv looks and feels like two cities divided by the Dnieper. The metro-politan area has good connections east-west. Why not connect it on a north-south axis?

Kiyv has to be one city. Dnieper could act as an unique public trans-port axis that connects the city around the biggest park of Kiyv.

THE BLUE LINE CONCEPT

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Protection and development of the Dnieper Pearls

1. Bio-diversity educational and informational campaigns for the community The main problem with valuable landscape protection in Kiev is that the local community is not properly informed about the importance of preservation and about the specific protected plants and animals. People are generally proud of the Dnieper Islands and are interested in protecting them. Community involvement tactics could prove very successful if implemented.

2. Implementing specific buffer zones for the protection of valuable landscape and objectsNatural conservation areas and valuable objects on the islands have to be surrounded by buffer zone areas. This is especially needed in the vicinity of denser human activity hot sport. Buffer zones are extension belts of natural landscape and are characterized lush natural landscape and few access points.

3. Diverting walking paths as a landscape protection tacticsWalking trails and cycle routes in the vicinity of protected areas and valuable objects should be designed so that they converge towards activities and diverge from protected landscape. This way buffer zones and wildlife reserves will be subject less human interaction.

4. Constant and distributed presence of local administration on the territoryIn order to discourage littering, informal use and illegal activities on the Islands’ territory, constant local government presence should be ensured. Developing the river transit system means local government is present throughout the territory.

5. Public awareness and use of city branding tacticsHigh public profile for the Dnieper Islands and their valuable landscape helps educational campaigns’ impact and attracts possible private investment.

STRATEGIC PRINCIPLES

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LOPUHOVATYI natural conservation area

100%

TRUHANIV stationary recreationcultural activities

natural conservation area regulated recreational area

sports activities

28%36%

0.5%19%16.5%

DOLOBETSKY natural conservation area regulated recreational area41%59%

VENETSIANSKYInatural conservation area regulated recreational areastationary recreational areamixed-use

33%

1%

13%

53%

GALERNYIgreen public spacebusinessresidentialmixed-use

20%10%

30%

40%

VODNYKIVgreen public spaceservicesresidential

30%

5%

65%

MUROMETS

4%

96%

natural conservation area regulated recreational area

VELYKYI natural conservation area

natural conservation area

100%

ZHUKIVregulated recreation areaservicesstationary recreation

3%19%

78%

KOZACHYI & OLZHYN

100%

natural conservation

regulated recreation

stationaryrecreation

economicdevelopment

64%

20%

14%

1%

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Functional zoning for the Dnieper Bay

CLUSTER FOR EDUCATION / regulated recreation area 10 % | 250 ha

CLUSTER FOR CULTURE / regulated recreation area 13 % | 325 haCLUSTER FOR SPORT / stationary recreation 12 % | 300 ha

CLUSTER FOR SPORT / regulated recreation 3 % | 75 ha

CLUSTER FOR EDUCATION / natural conservation area 33 % | 825 ha

CLUSTER FOR RECREATION / stationary recreation 6 % | 150 ha

CLUSTER FOR RECREATION / regulated recreation 15 % | 375 ha

CLUSTER FOR MIXED-USE / area of economic development 8 % | 200 ha

THE BLUE LINE MASTERPLAN

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PRIORITY PROJECT

The newly built bridge crosses through a natural conservation habitat on Truhaniv island. As a measure to protect pedestrians the bridge will be sound-proofed and ‘renaturated’ with dense vegetation.

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Phase 1. 2012 - 2015

natural conservation:- defining protected and buffer zones public transport and access:- routes on water- access to the city- access to recreation activities: - sport- mixed-use

1515

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Phase 2. 2016 - 2020

natural conservation:- green public space (on Galernyi)public transport and access:- access to recreation and mixed-use activities: - Hidropark upgrade- entertainment & amusement park (on Dolobetskyi)- sport- mixed-use - recreation- bio-research & education center in Muromets administered by Kiev’s Botanical Garden

2020

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Phase 3. 2021 - 2025

natural conservation:- healthcarepublic transport and access:- access to education- access to mixed-useactivities: - residential development- druzhby narodiv expo park- recreation- bio-research & education center in Zhukiv: wildlife conservation research programs run by Kiev University

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THE BLUE LINE PHASING

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courtesy of WOLFHOUSE PRODUCTIONS59

Petrivs'kyj railway bridgetrPe ai

Moskow bridgeidg

kow

d1

t1

t4

d3

d4

d2

v2

v1

v3 v4

v5

t5

t5

t5

t10

t10

t11

t9

t5

t8

t7

t2 t3t6

t11

t11

t12

t13 t14

t14

t15 Muromets Lapuhovatyi Wildlife Reserve (controlled access)

v1 Venetsianski Hidropark mixed use and entertain-ment area

v2 Venetsianski beach complex

v3 Birch lake natural landscape area

v4 Venetsianski forest and recreational area

v5 Reserved army owned recreation area

d1 Amusement park, beach sports and entertain-ment area

d2 Watersports and boat club

d3 Dolobetski buffer zone (natural reserve pro-tection)

d4 Dolobetski natural reserve park (controlled access)

t1 Truhaniv south beach recreational area

t2 Dniprovskyi Park natural reserve

t3 Dniprovskyi Park buffer zone

t4 Water sports cluster and proffesional sport clubs’ infrastructure

t5 Truhaniv Parkt6 Pedestrian Bridge beach,

fishing and service cluster

t7 Five lake nature reserve buffer zone

t8 Five lake nature reserve. Eco-system restoration and wildlife educational programs

t9 Railway mandatory buffer area. Reserved for unconventional artistic eventsCycle Park, bicycle activities cluster

t10

Truhaniv Water Sports Center

t11

Complementary service area for Druzhby Narodiv Expo Park

t12

Druzhby Narodiv Expo Park reserved for cultural major events

t13

Buffer zone for the Muromets Wildlife Reserve (limited access)

t14

Dolobetski natural reserve park (controlled access)

t15

MAIN ACTIVITIES on Muromets, Truhaniv, Venetsianskyi and Dolobetskyi islands

MUROMETS

TRUHANIV

VENETSIANSKYI

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4 Access to mixed-use on mainland, Galernyi

1 Access to education on Muromets, Lopuhovatyi, Velykyi, Zhukiv

2 Access to residential areas on Russianovskyi Gardens, Vodnykiv

3 Access to recreational areas on mainland, Truhaniv, Dolobetskyi, Venetsianskyi

Pool / skating ring podsrecreational pods that will make the river safe for swimming. In winter the pods will be turned in ice skating rinks

Amphitheatre podsrecreational adaptable pods that bring the riverfront and islands into the social life of the city.

Beach podsrecreational pods that create conditions for enjoying the sun without interfering with the endangered habitats

Remediation podseco pods vegetated with plants that can remediate toxins and metals from the rivers water

Solar podseco pods that track the sun and transfer the accumulated energy to the main grid of the islands

WATER STATIONS

Flexible elements that compile the water stations

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THE BLUE LINE BRANDING

The Blue Line will become the most popular transit system used by tourists. Efficiency of the system is comparable to the Kievan subway system. At the same time this unique means of transportation will provide every visitor with the scenic ride of a life time.

Being more than just stops on a route, the stations will provide informational servi es about the city and the Kiev Islands. Locals and tourists alike will have the chance to be better informed on the character, history and conservation status of every island. Because the river stations function most often as main access to the islands, they should also provide a glimpse of the activities one might find. More complex river stations like the one on Venetsianski Island, hint complex activities on the islands territory also. On the other hand, simpler remote stations set in the natural reserves suggest the need to respect and protect the nature. In this case, the station is one of the only built places on the island and most of its users are bio-scientists or people interested in the local ecosystem.

Because of its mass appeal for the tourists and locals, the water transit system is also a great communication device. Transporting passengers efficiently and cost effective from one landmark of the city to the other, Kiev City has the chance to pres-ent itself in true colors. Kiev can use this system with unique concept and design to paint the image of a metropilis for the future.

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