«ST. PETERSBURG'S FUTURE»
CONCEPT | 2024
ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
«ST. PETERSBURG'S FUTURE»
CONCEPTЕ | 2024
ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
St. Petersburg is a city with a rich history that has rightfully become a symbol of Russia's cultural heritage. However, like all cities on this planet, St. Petersburg has a number of problems that this concept is dedicated to solving.
The Petersburg of the future can become a city where innovative technologies and nature merge into a harmonious space. Narrow courtyards-wells, previously immersed in shade and bounded by stone walls, are dismantled and covered with an ETFE membrane, transforming into covered green courtyards. Membrane structures allow natural light and ultraviolet light to pass through and also create an ideal microclimate for plants and people. Greenhouses, city farms, recreation areas, cafes, and cultural spaces can be placed under the domes. The roofs of buildings are being rebuilt into flat, operational roofs. They have gardens with trees, shrubs, and other plants. These green roofs not only beautify the city but also improve the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and reducing the heat island effect. Residents can collect fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the roofs of their houses, participating in urban agriculture.
The Petersburg of the future can become a city where innovative technologies and nature merge into a harmonious space. Narrow courtyards-wells, previously immersed in shade and bounded by stone walls, are dismantled and covered with an ETFE membrane, transforming into covered green courtyards. Membrane structures allow natural light and ultraviolet light to pass through and also create an ideal microclimate for plants and people. Greenhouses, city farms, recreation areas, cafes, and cultural spaces can be placed under the domes. The roofs of buildings are being rebuilt into flat, operational roofs. They have gardens with trees, shrubs, and other plants. These green roofs not only beautify the city but also improve the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and reducing the heat island effect. Residents can collect fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the roofs of their houses, participating in urban agriculture.
The skyscrapers in the city center are new architectural dominants, aiming at the sky. These buildings are not just office towers; they are miniature cities that combine residential complexes, workspaces, schools, medical centers, shopping and entertainment areas, and public parks. For the convenience of residents, the skyscrapers are interconnected by a network of vertical gardens, made possible through the use of lightweight soils.
Urban farms integrated into the urban environment are becoming an important part of sustainable development. Using hydroponic and aquaponic technologies, they allow the growth of fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs all year round. The waste from one process becomes a resource for another: enriched water from aquaponic systems feeds plants, which purify it for reuse. This closed cycle increases the efficiency of food production and reduces the burden on the environment. Citizens get access to fresh and environmentally friendly products produced right in the city, which reduces transportation and storage costs.
Residents of St. Petersburg need the ring line of the metro today. However, due to the peculiarities of the soils, the opening of new stations is stretched over time. Based on the fact that SkyWay transport can solve the problem of the metro much more efficiently, the project proposes the creation of a large ring line in a string flyover design. This line would start in the North from Zelenogorsk, pass through Sestroretsk towards Lakhta Center, then turn left and, passing along the outskirts, would skirt the entire city. It would capture all the terminal stations of existing metro lines and eventually reach the South to the city, including Peterhof and Lomonosov.
At the next stage of construction, radial rays may develop from the stations of this large ring line to the newly developed suburbs and satellite cities. Additionally, an Aeroexpress train to Pulkovo airport could be organized with an estimated passenger traffic of 15 million passengers per year.
In addition, the skyscrapers in the central part of the city are also interconnected by SkyWay transport. Besides relieving the load from existing transport networks, such a solution may additionally have a sightseeing and tourist function.
In addition, the skyscrapers in the central part of the city are also interconnected by SkyWay transport. Besides relieving the load from existing transport networks, such a solution may additionally have a sightseeing and tourist function.
Environmental friendliness is at the heart of the urban concept. Renewable energy sources are widely used, including solar panels integrated into building facades, wind turbines, and heat pumps installed in the Neva River. Energy from waste recycling feeds urban systems. The rainwater collection system provides irrigation of green spaces and meets technical needs. Additionally, it is proposed to use centralized cooling systems, heat and cold storage, smart ventilation of buildings, filtration and disinfection of air in buildings and on streets using moss filters, heating of sidewalks and intersections, and smart electric networks with electricity storage.
Intelligent management systems optimize resource consumption and provide a comfortable and safe environment for residents. The city will receive the following advantages from the modernization: improvement of the environmental situation, reduction of the load on utility networks, reduction of utility costs, and the release of funds for the modernization and repair of the historical fund of the city.
