Background
On 29 May there was a Future City Game on the premises of the ‘“Strelka” Institute for Media, Architecture and Design devoted to the development of the ‘Red October’ complex and the neighbouring embankments. The participants included European experts (photographer, designer, architect, the regional manager of the Creative Cities project, editor), leading Russian architects and designers, representatives of local authorities and local community, tenants of ‘Red October’, artists and students.
The final presentation of the Future City game results took place on 30 May 2010 in the Creative Cities space at II Moscow Biennale of Architecture.
Objectives
The main purpose of the Future City Game was to develop the area of the ‘Red October’ chocolate factory into a new cultural centre for local people and visitors to the city, and also to create a green area on the neighbouring embankments of the Moscow River.
The Future City Game was organised by the British Council in close partnership with “Strelka” institute for Media, Architecture and Design and with the support of the Moscow city government.
The participants produced original prospective projects, which were highly rated by the experts. These ideas also seemed attractive both to potential investors and ‘Red October’ tenants. The Creative Cities project will hold a round table in the very near future where these strategies will be discussed for further development.
For more detailed information about the Future City Game and the other Creative Cities events, please visit our blog at the Look at me on-line portal.
Winning idea
Red October
The project consisted of the following parts:
1. Residential Compound
2. Russian island programme
- Russian Craft School
- Russian SPA
- Eco market
- Russian Cooking School
- Food Court
3. Park zone
- Winter movable roof
· Botanical garden
· Wi-Fi /working space
· Café
· Garden
- Green path
- City beach
4. River dock
Winning ideas from the other teams
Information Centre/workshops at ‘Red October’
The information centre is a place where the tourists would get all the essential information about Moscow: where to go, what to see, the most interesting events in the city. It would offer city maps, transport schedules, more detailed maps of Moscow and Russia and tickets to theatres, concerts, and the cinema. The project would attract more tourists to Moscow and make their stay in the city more pleasant. And the information centre itself would attract new investment through the promotion of different events taking place in Moscow. At the workshops, tourists would have chance to see how souvenirs are produced and make souvenirs for themselves. Children would learn more about traditional Russian handicrafts.
Innovation and Balance
The aim of the project is to develop the area the ‘Red October’ complex in the following fields:
- business
- culture
- science
- art
- fashion
- ecology
- family
The first stage would be to rebuild the lofts into a hotel complex based on alternative sources of energy. It is also planned to build an information centre and a park area.
Green Island
The aim of the project is to create a multifunctional complex for educational and leisure activities, and to organise a co-working space for local people and tourists. The educational programme would include workshops, lectures, business-games and round tables for professionals and the general public. The area could also be used for organising business meetings and negotiations. At the same time, the complex would be a platform where people could learn more about the history of the Yakimanka District and the ‘Red October’ factory, listen to Russian traditional fairy-tales, and also get detailed information about Moscow.
Green Belt
The green belt project considers developing the ‘Red October’ complex in the following fields:
- bike hire stations
- cycle paths on Balchug Island and the neighboring embankments
- city farm
- a pond on Balchug Island - an ideal place for skating in winter
The ecological development of the area would be combined with cultural development. There would an educational centre, for concerts, exhibitions and seminars, and a chocolate museum (with chocolate tasting, a bar and a shop and an open-air summer cinema).
