Market Research on Russian cities _ MLA+

MARKET
RESEARCH
RUSSIA
Potential
for
Designers
outside
Moscow
and
St. Petersburg

Introduction
Executive Summary
0 PROLOGUE: RUSSIAN CONTEXT
Russian urban context
Russian market context

I CHAPTER: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research method
Research focus
Identifying local demand
Goal
Cities selection process
II CHAPTER: IDENTIFYING CITIES
Hard data
Soft data
Evaluation
III CHAPTER: CITY PROFILES
Data for profiles
Kaliningrad
Krasnodar
Voronezh
Rostov-on-don
Sochi
Nizhniy Novgorod
Kazan
Ufa
Yekaterinburg
Novosibirsk
Irkutsk
Vladivostok

IV EPILOGUE: ADVICES FOR DUTCH PLANNERS
Getting in
Bonus list
8
20
32
74
348
4
CONTENTS
M2RU 3

Why a market research? And why Russia? A country that has been embargoed by a large part of the western
world. The answer is not simple and it is a mix of more general considerations and professional ones.
First Russia is a big country and therefore a big market. It has by far the largest territory that houses 142 million people,
the world’s 9th largest population. According to the World Bank, its economy is the 10th largest and has been growing
significantly in the last 2 decades. Despite the sheer size, the population is largely concentrated west of the Ural
Mountains and with an urbanization rate of around 75% - comparable to that of Germany – largely concentrated in a
relatively small number of larger cities. Therefore the architecture and urban development market – despite the size of
the country - is rather focused. This allows achieving a high degree of market penetration with limited resources.
The settlement patterns of all Russian cities with the exception of Moscow and St. Petersburg were quite similar. This means
that everywhere problems are big. Transport breakdowns, dilapidated housing stock, shortcomings of the socialist urban
development model, deindustrialization, suburbanization – all these phenomena can be observed everywhere and all over the
country – all on the background of a country in transition from the socialist regime to a new, yet not fully defined model.
It therefore is the scale of the challenge its complexities that make Russia interesting to architects and urban planners equally.
For the market research we have been employing a non-traditional approach since we felt that – while
data evaluation can give a rough overview - many trends and promising leads happen underneath
the radar. We therefore combined several methods to form our own approach.
We hope that this market research delivers the interested reader valuable insights into Russian architecture and urban
development markets. We hope it helps you as much as it did help us in defining our own strategy in how to operate in Russia.
Enjoy reading!
The research team of MLA+
INTRODUCTION
M2RU 5

Urban Planning and
Architecture as a market only
form a critical mass that is
interesting for foreign firms
in a relatively small number
of cities. Most of them are
located west of the Ural
Mountains and therefore are
relatively easy to reach. Next
to Moscow and St. Petersburg,
the so called Millionniki – the
cities that in Soviet Times
had more than 1 million
inhabitants - are probably the
most obvious places. But they
differ in terms of development,
social, economic and political
situation and therefore a
closer look is necessary. In
addition to these places a
number of smaller cities have
managed to put themselves
on the map of places that
have potential.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
6
M2R

Potentially interesting places for Dutch architects and urban
planners have been identified as cities where key skills of
Dutch experts can play an important role:
– Strategic planning: Development of framework
masterplans that set out development directions
– Waterfront development: water scape regeneration and
(re-)connection of urban areas to water bodies
– Inner city regeneration: Revitalising and repairing existing
city cores
– Residential design: design of mass market, especially mid
market housing in larger complexes
– Sustainable urban mobility: resolution of transport related
problems
– Complex development: Creation of mix use complexes
introducing centralities in strategic locations
– Redevelopment: reprogramming and rescue of urban
brownfield
– Project management: design, delivery & quality
management processes
To identify the most interesting places, the market research
that has been carried out adopts dual approach. On one hand
statistical data, rankings and other hard data were evaluated.
A second, alternative approach captures the soft factors,
the experience of knowledgeable professionals and of local
residents and the image conveyed by a place. These two
research tracks have been combined to give a more complete
picture and to identify places in a more complete way than
each of the methods separately would have been able to
achieve.
The cities listed as the top 12 most interesting and promising
places outside Moscow and St. Petersburg are
– Irkutsk
– Kaliningrad
– Kazan
– Krasnodar
– Nizhny Novgorod
– Novosibirsk
– Rostov on Don
– Sochi
– Ufa
– Vladivostok
– Voronezh
– Yekaterinburg
This selection of cities offers a wide range of challenges and
numerous opportunities for Dutch expertise to excel.
For these 12 cities we have taken the market research to a next
level. Not only are the cities introduced in detail, but also key
challenges, projects currently under way and the next big things
have been identified in intense talks with local stakeholders,
politicians and professionals. To add practical usability, the market
research also provides names and contacts of key figures in the
city, so that any Dutch architect and urban planner interested in a
place or a problem can immediately tap into networks on different
levels – political, economic and societal.
While this allows direct access to people, the research also makes
recommendations how Dutch experts themselves can appear
on the Russian market and what – from our own and others
experience – the best way into it can be.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
M2RU 7

Russia had a very limited number of cities in the
beginning of XX century and small urban population.
2/3 of all cities in Russia were built in the Soviet era:
According to the first Russian census of 1897 the country
had 430 cities, in 1997 there were 1087 cities.
During Soviet times the urban population grew ten
fold - from 15,5 million people in 1917 to 109,8
million people in 1991 [Pivovarov, 2006].
Most of the urban fabric in the country was built after World War II
following the modernist paradigms of light, air and sun and mass
production. To accommodate the new urbanites and to achieve a
more balanced settlement pattern across the country, cities were
developed fast, using prefabrication and identical development
models. This also meant a big part of the population in cities
had rural origins and often kept living its rural life in the new
environments, leading to an hybrid culture that neither was entirely
urban nor entirely rural anymore. Preserving some of the rural
skills also proved useful, especially in times of scarce food supply.
As a consequence, today we are dealing with cities that often do
not have a historical core but vast industrial areas frequently under
utilized and awaiting a new purpose and a culture that - while
in the meantime more urban - still has traces of a rural past.
During the Soviet Union and following socialist ideology,
creating living environments for workers was the main
purpose of urban development. The notion of quality of life
did not play a major role and only starts to emerge slowly as
a guiding principle of urban development. Therefore, there is
a huge need for redevelopment and quality improvements.
Russian urbanites in 1959
(visit of Christian Dior to Moscow, note that most of women are wearing head-
scarves, which marks their rural background)
image source: http://www.go2life.net/people/161-30-unikalnyh-foto-1959-goda-kris-
tian-dior-v-moskve.html
WHAT IS URBAN
CULTURE
IN RUSSIA?
RUSSIAN URBAN CONTEXT
M2RU 11

prologue
THE RUSSIAN CITY TODAY
Russian cities today are a mix
of cutting edge technology and
development and outdated
and delapidated housing,
industry and infrastructure.
This creates conditions that
in their overlay are unique
and highly challenging. At the
same time, the omnipresence
of singular development
models in the whole country
over long periods also creates
few prototypical city structures.
Therefore any solution
developed not only applies to
a singular context as often is
the case in western european
cities but to many cases.
A single solution therefore
cannot only improve life of a
few but immediately can have
a big impact on thousands of
people all across Russia.
Saratov city residential district
Image source:
http://vk.com/yebenya?z=photo-69563163_393150752%
2Falbum-69563163_00%2Frev
12
M2R

Outside Russia the impression persists that Russian cities have
barely changed since the end of the Soviet Union. That impression
is fed by the – often highly elaborated - photo safaris undertaken
by photographers in search for the post socialist decay. Indeed run
down city quarters, abandoned industrial plants, former research
centre s, schools, parks and holiday resorts can be found all over
the Russian Federation. They are silent witnesses of an era long
gone and they are both, challenge and opportunity equally.
While these monuments of the past still form a large part of most
Russian cities, other parts show a very different picture: Well
maintained city centre s, lively urban streets, pedestrian zones,
vivid inner city neighbourhoods and post- reuse of old factories.
In all larger cities these zones have seen significant improvements
and especially in recent years a focus has shifted from refurbishing
or replacing buildings to uplifting the urban environment as a
whole, therefore including streets and local public spaces.
A third element of the past that is not always in a good condition
but also lively: The Microrayons – the residential micro districts
that have been developing since the 1960’s at the periphery. While
from the outside they resemble western modernist large scale
housing estates from the 1960’s to 1980’s they are often mistaken
by foreigners as problem zones of the same order as the socially
deprived counterparts in the west. That does not comply with the
social and economic condition they are in. Microrayons in Russia
largely house the middle class and therefore are more stable and
suffer less from vandalism, crime and social deprivation.
Since 1990 Russian cities literally have been exploding in size.
Like in the west, with increasing car ownership and cheap fuel
suburbanisation has taken place everywhere. But while in Europe
and the US this model usually is associated with seas of single
family houses close to motorway entries, in Russia the result is
more varied. The Russian Datcha (a second summer home in the
countryside) as a model has been adapted to serve as the out
of town single family house; usually hidden behind high fences.
These suburban datchas are located in dense clusters with little
infrastructure, resembling allotment garden settlements in many
western cities. The complete opposite can also be found: New
types of Micro districts with highrise buildings around public
spaces. While the model has not changed dramatically since
soviet times, the quality has improved significantly. Not only do
the buildings offer more variety and a more architectural language
that is also executed at much higher quality, but also a regime
of public, semi-private and private spaces results in increasing
quality.
Since the end of the Soviet Union the social and economic divide,
especially in the bigger cities has been growing. Today an upper
class lives a luxury life in lifestyle bubbles within the city while
a large part of the population still is relatively poor. In between
these groups an urban middle class has been growing but it still is
rather small and hit hardest by the many crises Russia has been
experiencing since the late 1980’s. Despite these ups and downs
this group is the key target group for many development projects
in recent years. Their budgets, aspirations and their desired life
styles have a big impact on the development models that are
being pursued.
The different levels of maintenance and newness in Russian
cities do lead to a very heterogenic urban fabric with contrasts
stronger than common elsewhere. Zones of activity and such that
have been abandoned exist immediately side by side, creating a
rather impermeable collection of clusters. The fact that a lot of new
development is inward looking and tries to seclude itself from the
city by means of walls, gates, security only increases this problem.
Russian cities therefore depend more on road and public transport
infrastructure to move between active parts of the city than is the
case elsewhere. The problem: Soviet city development models
always treated each development as a secluded entity connected
to one arterial transport corridor. With the enormous increase of
cars, a system that – unlike a network – does not have much
redundancy, a lack of traffic management and long postponed
upgrades of transport infrastructure all cities are suffering from
severe transport problems causing epic traffic jams.
Another problem is to be found in the way Russian society is
organized. Ever since tsarist times, the state has been organized
in a strictly hierarchical manner with the top leader deciding on
most issues – big questions and small details. Today this model
is not only common in the public administration but also in the
business community and society as a whole. Processes are rather
iterative and ad hoc and decision making is not always consistent
and based on knowledge but on authority of the leader. This leads
delays, contradictions and failures that a more horizontal system
probably could avoid. However – it does not mean that there is
no corrective. Especially in urban development there are often
quite rich debates that include a wide variety of local individuals.
In this context the role of the activist has become an important
voice, bringing together public opinion and exercising checks and
balances. These individuals that have charged themselves with
a specific mission are vocal forces pushing for their agendas and
often succeed.
All these aspects together lead to a quite colorful image of the
post-soviet city where many of the big challenges that especially
in western cities have been solved are still pending. It is this mix
that makes it challenging to work in these places while at the
same time booking results brings improvements on a scale and for
numbers of people that are hard to match elsewhere.
M2RU 13

prologue
URBAN STRUCTURE OF RUSSIAN CITIES
IN-BETWEEN
AREAS
HISTORICAL
CORE
INDUSTRIAL
BELT
Before the mass housing construction
era kicked in the need for housing was
enormous, resulting in barracks and
self built housing that was informally
sprawling around the newly built industrial
enterprises.
The historical core often features a regular
grid pattern, which goes back to XVIIIth
century planning enforced by Ekaterina the
Great [Gulyanizkiy, 1995]. Within the grid
low and mid-rise buildings coexist.
XVIII - BEGINNING XX CENTURY END XIX - BEGINNING XX CENTURY UNTIL MID XX CENTURY
Accommodated the first wave of
industrialization. Large industrial
enterprises were established together
with development of the railway system,
encircling the historical urban cores.
Urban pattern
has a
s often
ar grid
ack to
nforced
Great
midrise
es were
with
railway
storical
housing
of
ation
Description Urban pattern
ding on
ual city
, but in
cases end
I,
ning of XX
y
The typical Russian city has a
historical core, which is often
represented by a regular grid
pattern, which goes back to
XVIIIth
century planning enforced
by Ekaterina the Great
[Gulyanizkiy, 1995].
The grid mixes low and midrise
buildings.
ave of
rialization,
XIX,
ning of XX
y
Large industrial enterprises were
established together with
development of the railway
system, encircling the historical
urban cores.
he mid-XX
y
Before the mass housing
construction era kicked in the
need for housing was enormous,
resulting in barracks and self built
housings sprawling around the
newly built industrial enterprises.
Historical core Depending on
individual city
history, but in
most cases end
of XVIII,
beginning of XX
century
The typical Russian city has a
historical core, which is often
represented by a regular grid
pattern, which goes back to
XVIIIth
century planning enforced
by Ekaterina the Great
[Gulyanizkiy, 1995].
The grid mixes low and midrise
buildings.
Industrial belt First wave of
industrialization,
end of XIX,
beginning of XX
century
Large industrial enterprises were
established together with
development of the railway
system, encircling the historical
urban cores.
Inbetween
areas
Until the mid-XX
century
Before the mass housing
construction era kicked in the
need for housing was enormous,
resulting in barracks and self built
housings sprawling around the
newly built industrial enterprises.
Soviet city 1950s – 1970s The prefabricated panel
construction allowed for a high
speed development of new areas
for the new “mikrorayon” model –
urban form typology, combining
housing, schools, kindergartens,
service and medical facilities
inside the plot.
1970s onward The block formation was
replaced by more organic and
larger spatial entities. 50% of all
Soviet Union housing stock was
constructed in the “Brezhnev
period” (1965-1982)
The scale and speed of
construction developed at that
time is still operational.
Postsoviet city
(suburban
sprawl)
1990s onward With the fall of the Soviet Union,
the rising levels of car ownership
and an emerging class of wealthy
people who could afford villas,
development around cities in the
green zones became common
practice. Growing demand for
private house ownership resulted
in sprawling suburban
settlements.
Federal Service for Land
Cadastre of Russia states that
the area of built-up land in the
country grew from 30 to 54
thousand sq. km in 1990-1999.
This means that the rate of
territorial expansion of the built
environment during that decade
alone is comparable with that of
previous hundreds of years of
Russian history. [Golubchikov O.,
– 1970s The prefabricated panel
inside the plot.
onward The block formation was
period” (1965-1982)
onward With the fall of the Soviet Union,
settlements.
panel
a high
w areas
model –
mbining
gartens,
facilities
n was
nic and
% of all
ock was
rezhnev
eed of
at that
t Union,
wnership
wealthy
d villas,
es in the
ommon
and for
resulted
uburban
Land
tes that
d in the
to 54
90-1999.
rate of
he built
decade
h that of
ears of
hikov O.,
14
M2R

1950s – 1970s 1970s ONWARD 1990s ONWARD
SOVIET CITY
1950 – 1970
SOVIET CITY
AFTER 1970
POST SOVIET
CITY
The prefabricated panel construction
allowed for a high speed development
of new areas for the new “mikro rayon”
model – urban form typology, combining
housing, schools, kindergartens, service
and medical facilities inside large plots.
The block formation was replaced by
more organic and larger spatial entities.
50% of all Soviet Union housing stock
was constructed in the “Brezhnev period”
(1965-1982).
With the fall of the Soviet Union, the rising
levels of car ownership and an emerging
class of wealthy people who could afford
villas, development around cities in the
green zones started. Growing demand
for private house ownership resulted in
sprawling suburban settlements.
inside the plot.
period” (1965-1982)
Postsoviet city
(suburban
sprawl)
settlements.
2004]
Soviet city 1950s – 1970s The prefabricated panel
inside the plot.
period” (1965-1982)
Postsoviet city
(suburban
sprawl)
settlements.
0s – 1970s The prefabricated panel
inside the plot.
period” (1965-1982)
settlements.
panel
a high
w areas
model –
mbining
gartens,
facilities
n was
nic and
% of all
ock was
rezhnev
eed of
at that
t Union,
wnership
wealthy
d villas,
es in the
ommon
and for
resulted
uburban
Land
tes that
d in the
to 54
0-1999.
rate of
he built
decade
h that of
ears of
hikov O.,
M2RU 15

prologue
SIMILARITIES
...in the
architecture market
As in the Netherlands the Russian real estate market is
dominated by a number of developers that usually do
big projects (50.000 to 600.000 m2 GFA). Apart from a
number of them that are active all across Russia or the
European part of Russia, there are also sizable development
companies that operate more locally in every larger city.
There is a high degree use of prefabricated materials. However
the quality and specs greatly differ and so does the expertise
on the construction site then assembling the elements.
Often the result is less satisfying than in the Netherlands.
Developers tend to realize lifestyle environments
around specific topics chosen.
...in the
planning market
The cities play a strong role in urban planning, via their general
plans they define general development directions. However, a
lack of professionalism and expertise on the side of the local
planning authorities often does not lead to the results envisioned.
Private developers engage in urban planning on
the level of area development. Often this then is
part of the overall branding of an area.
There are strong and formalized legal procedures that also
involve the public in the form of statutory public consultations,
especially for the bigger planning frameworks.
DIFFERENCES & SIMILARITIES OF THE
RUSSIAN MARKET
The Dutch and the Russian
market for planning and
architecture services have
a few things in common
but otherwise vary greatly.
This does not mean that
Dutch expertise is not
useful, but it means that
it needs to be adjusted to
local conditions to serve
its purpose successfully.

16
M2R

DIFFERENCES
...in the
architecture market
The typological variety of buildings is smaller than in the
Netherlands and a mix of high and low types barely exists.
Instead either projects with very urban typologies (perimeter
blocks, highrise) or with suburban to rural types (row houses,
single family houses, cottages) are being realized.
Especially outside central areas of cities,
developers realize entire micro districts, including
provision of basic community infrastructure
Many developers do not have long standing
experience in the market and therefore often lack the
experience in decision making within projects
The division of the implementation process into a design and
construction implementation phase that usually have separate
architectural practices to work on often hampers delivery quality.
Few quality securing tools from the side of the public
sector when developers implement projects.
...in the
planning market
Planning is very technically driven and focusing on target
numbers. Quality objectives are underrepresented in the
planning system. the same is true for the scene of professionals.
Creative urban designers are the exception, urban planners
with economic or geographic background are the norm.
There is little continuity in urban planning and urban
plans are often used as tools in political fights.
Due to their history and a uniform planning regime Russian cities
all face more or less similar problems but nevertheless there
seems little collaboration between cities in solving them collectively
MYTHS
There are some myths circulating outside Russia
about working as architect and planner here:
There is no such thing as self-censorship in informal talks.
Business partners from private and public sector do not hide
their opinions and usually are well and broadly informed.
Particularly in urban planning projects the local population
actively participates and states its opinion, often with fierce
conviction and against the political establishment. Politics
try more and more to accommodate these opinions.
There is a big and active scene of activists around urban
questions. The usually involve themselves whether or not
they are asked and typically are very well informed about
latest developments worldwide in their field of expertise.
The Russian consumer did not have time to develop an
equally refined knowledge about what the housing market
could offer. Instead people are still rooted in the Soviet
tradition of ‘being given a house’, meaning that many still
feel they need to be happy to have something at all.
RUSSIAN MARKET CONTEXT
Nevertheless, Russia offers
interesting opportunities for
Dutch expertise and operating
in Russia at present often is
valued highly by clients.
M2RU 17

prologue
A DIFFICULT MARKET – BUT STILL A MARKET!
Source:
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/
upload/iblock/598/5555-20-BUILD-
ING-Yevgeny-Razumny-_-Vedo-
mosti.jpg
Since starting the market
research in the end of
2013, the market in Russia,
particularly for foreign
competitors has drastically
changed. The Russian
economy has slipped into a
veritable crisis, the Russian
Ruble has lost almost half
of its value and with the
conflict in Eastern Ukraine
and Crimea a degree of
alienation between Western
Europe and Russia has
taken place. However, any
crisis should be seen as a
challenge and opportunity
equally.
18
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Despite sanctions and an economic slowdown, it is by no means
such that the domestic Russian market has collapsed entirely.
There are clear signs of crisis but there is also sustained demand,
especially in second and third tier cities that are only in the
process of catching up with Moscow and St. Petersburg when
it comes to providing better urban environments and housing.
These markets are much less dependent on foreign investment
than the big two and investment here comes largely from the
local population that is buying for its own use. But also in the two
largest cities some market segments such as housing, urban
planning and landscape design still experience sustained demand.
The central government - even though short on funds - also
seeks to support urban development and the construction
market in introducing tools to get citizens on the property
ladder. Buyers get discounted loans or loans with less liens.
An increasing number of cities and political leaders understands
that making their city attractive is of crucial importance in the inner
Russian battle for talent but also for international investment. More
and more cities use the cycles of renewal of their regional plans,
general plans or local plans as well as larger events to introduce a
more quality driven way of urban development. With a widespread
lack of experience in quality based urban development plans, this
opens opportunities for Dutch expertise, especially in collaborating
with the big planning institutes that are inherited from Soviet times
more recently need to operate as commercially operating firms.
With the double crisis around Russia that we are
currently experiencing came a series of risks and
RUSSIAN MARKET CONTEXT
problems that require special attention:
– the Russian ruble is highly volatile which is a commercial
risk that, especially for long term projects needs to be dealt
with. Here contracts in other currencies or exchange rate
insurances can be a solution. Depending on clients, this can
come at a premium at the expense of ones own profit margins.
– even though there is no open disadvantage to foreign
practices, there might be a trend to favour Russian
expertise over foreign for political reasons.
– the current regime of sanctions against and of Russia
could make it impossible to perform (some) services
for Russian private and particularly public clients
– obtaining visa has become an issue, especially
with private sector client invitations that are often
rejected by Russian consular services.
– in case of legal disputes one cannot assume
Russian courts will decide independently. Therefore
it is advised to agree other mechanisms of conflict
resolution, e.g. by private arbitrary courts.
All of these issues have measures to mitigate them - either
contractually or by means of involving Russian or foreign partners
with experience in dealing with these issues but independent
of whether they might be an issue or not, they have an impact
on the way collaborations and projects need to be set up.
M2RU 19

research methodology
Russia often is reduced to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. They
are the two administrative, economical and cultural capitals of
Russia and naturally are markets that can be of interest to the
Dutch planning and architecture disciplines. But these two cities
house only about 1/8th of the population of Russia. Russia has
another 14 cities larger than Amsterdam of which 10 have more
than 1 million inhabitants - a market that is largely unknown to
most westerners. These and a number of ‘special’ cities which
are interesting out of other reasons. e.g. tourism, ressources or
events, form the league the market research focusses on.
Meanwhile in the «other Russia» there are many niches for
urban specialists to fill. We analysed the most active cities by the
level of their economic potential, desire of its citizens for urban
environment transformations and accessibility to detect the TOP-
12 elaborated further.
CITIES SELECTION PROCESS
What are the most
interesting places to
pitch for work out of an
assumed group of about
30 cities? This market
analysis aims to answer
exactly that question!
Population level
MOSCOW
ST.PETERSBURG
City funds level
MOSCOW
ST.PETERSBURG
MOSCOW
ST.PETERSBURG
Number of universities
22
M2R

CITIES SELECTION PROCESS
DATA RESEARCH
Hard data + Soft data
4 LOCAL DEMAND FACTORS
Economic potential + Desire for change + Accessibility + Urban Quality
TOP - 12 «OTHER» RUSSIAN CITIES
Economic potential + Desire for change + Accessibility + Urban Quality
8 APPROPRIATE DUTCH COMPETENCES
Strategic planning + Residential design + Sustainable mobility + Project management +
Complex development + Complex re-development + Waterfront development + Inner city
M2RU 23

RESEARCH METHOD
Market research in
developing markets such
as in Russia cannot be
done like market research
in a mature economy where
processes are formalized,
a high degree of market
transparency has been
achieved and where the
data available is more
complete and verifiable.
Getting to the bottom of
market potential requires
a different approach that
helps these deficits and at
the same time is capable of
capturing what is emerging
without it becoming a
random exercise whithout
any grounding.
Planned structure
Statistics
Parameters
Facts
Indicators
Raitings
HARD DATA
+
24
M2R

Citizen life The market analysis model
we developed therefore
combines the analysis of
data available with other
forms of evaluation of
information available. In
a subsequent step these
two types of sources of
information are weighted
against each other, leading
to a balanced picture of
where opportunities lie.
All information gathered
and evaluated provided
the basis for identifying
the most interesting places
to work for Dutch design
consultancy expertise. In
identifying these places
we looked for the ‘total’
picture, meaning that
what hard data indicated
had to be supported
by soft information and
the other way round.
Opinions
Special information
Personal contacts
Private initiatives
SOFT DATA
+
RESEARCH METHOD
M2RU 25

The purpose of the research
was an intermediation
between russian demand
for urban development
and dutch supply of
professional townplanning
skills; and conversely
- dutch demand for the
newest urbanplanning
ideas realization space
and russian supply of
immature urban territories,
ready for transformation.
RESEARCH FOCUS
In an economy in transition like the Russian one, one may well
ask what the market actually is. It has not matured as in Western
Europe and therefore the types of products different players offer
vary greatly and on the level of decision making in Russia it often
is not known what the market has to offer. Instead they usually
refer to well known but largely outdated products rooted in the
Soviet planning and architecture tradition. Following discussions
with clients, government officials and professionals, the types
of commissions Dutch architecture and planning professionals
excel in the eyes of Russian market parties can be identified as:
– Strategic planning: Development of framework
masterplans that set out development directions
– Waterfront development: water scape regeneration
and (re-)connection of urban areas to water bodies
– Inner city regeneration: Revitalising
and repairing existing city cores
– Residential design: design of mass market,
especially mid market housing in larger complexes
– Sustainable urban mobility: resolution
of transport related problems
– Complex development: Creation of mix use complexes
introducing centralities in strategic locations
– Redevelopment: reprogramming and
rescue of urban brownfield
– Project management: design, delivery &
quality management processes
Of course, this definition does not include all expertise that can
be found within the Dutch planning and architecture sector and
it is not meant to be exhaustive, but it leads to a selection of
projects or project types where Dutch architects and urbanists
stand a fair chance of excelling and competing in the market.
In the market research these types of projects played
a particularly important role when determining which
places and markets are most interesting.
What the Dutch can offer
26
M2R

RESIDENTIAL
DESIGN
WATERFRONT
DEVELOPMENT
RESEARCH FOCUS
INNER
CITY
COMPLEX
DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
SUSTAINABLE
URBAN MOBILITY
COMPLEX
(RE) DEVELOPMENT
M2RU 27

IDENTIFYING
LOCAL DEMAND
A market only emerges
when supply and demand
meet. Russian cities in the
last years of the Soviet
Union and the years after
have suffered from a great
lack of maintenance and
replacement of existing
infrastructure when
outdated. Consequently the
theoretical demand is huge
and - if ever possible - it
will take decades to help
these deficits. The practical
and real demand however
is currently focussed on 4
basic aspects.
Economic potential
is an exploiting the full economic potential of Russian cities and
fostering their economic development. To identify the economic
potential of a city, the following aspects have been considered:
– Rank in population
– Top Universities
– City Population
– Agglomeration population
– GDP per capita in rub
– Rank of airport(s) by passenger traffic
– Role as a centre
– Major events on the horizon
Desire for change & activity
is a provision of adequate leisure, sports and recreation facilities
and housing that reflect the diverse society Russia has become in
the last decade compared to the uniformity of the Soviet Union but
also the ‘drive’ a city has to change. Measuring these forces, these
aspects have been analyzed:
– Rank in most developed city
– Density of city communities
– Average size of city communities
– Places with high density of urbancultural events
– Interviews
– Higher architectural education institutions
Accessibility
is an increasing and improving accessibility to cities and within
metropolitan areas to reduce the omnipresent traffic breakdowns
and to allow for reduced travel times between metropolitan
regions but also opening local societies to accepting people
from elsewhere and actively working with them. Here we have
anayised:
– Rank in best city for doing business
– Top visited cities, foreign tourism
– Top visited cities, internal tourism
– Rank of airport(s) by passenger traffic
– Places with high density of urbancultural events
Urban quality
is an improvement of the Quality of Life in cities, ranging from
reduction of environmental pollution across human scale quarters
to a stronger mix of uses. Here we have focused on the perception
people have of a place and degrees of historical uniqueness:
– Rank in best city for living rating
– Rank in most attractive city rating
– Rank according to citizens perception
– Top visited cities, internal tourism
– Top visited cities, foreign tourism
– Historical cities
28
M2R

IDENTIFYING LOCAL DEMAND
ECONOMIC
POTENTIAL
DESIRE FOR
CHANGE & ACTIVITY
ACCESSIBILITY URBAN
QUALITY
M2RU 29

GOAL
PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
SUSTAINABLE
MOBILITY
RESIDENTIAL
DESIGN
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
INNER
CITY
WATERFRONT
DEVELOPMENT
COMPLEX
(RE-)DEVELOPMENT
COMPLEX
DEVELOPMENT
The market research
as presented in this
document therefore is a
comprehensive document
aiming at helping Dutch
urban and architectural
design expertise to
understand the places
and the market but also
to serve as a kind of initial
matchmaking, bringing
together people.
While it is titled market research, the purpose of this
document is reaching much further. Market research
as describing the market in an abstract and generic
way is of limited value for the one that wants to
enter a market. What is necessary is to have a good
understanding of what the place is about, what is going
on at the moment and what are big issues and topics
on the horizon. This allows positioning oneself in the
right way and coming prepared. This not only increases
the chance of being considered a viable candidate to
advise on a particular problem, it also saves time and
investment entering a market necessarily asks for.
Urban development in all its aspects is people business.
In the hierarchical structure of Russia and its cities, this
is even more true than in Western Europe. Therefore
it is important to know the people that can help
and – if convinced – can become public supporters
of both, the Dutch party and what it stands for. The
market research gives names that could be the first
point of contact when developing a local network.
30
M2R

URBAN
QUALITY
ACCESSIBILITY
DESIRE FOR
CHANGE & ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC
POTENTIAL
GOAL
MATCH–MAKING
M2RU 31

2A. IDENTIFYING
THE CITIES
HARD DATA

HARD DATA
HARD DATA
Hard data is information that has been gathered, assembled and
evaluated in a consistent way. Typically hard data uses statistical
information gathered by authorities, structured interviews and
questionnaires with a high number of respondents. The data
we used has either been pre-evaluated by those issuing the
summary or we have evaluated the data ourselves. The sets
of data utilized were selected in such a way that they allow for
conclusions in relation to local demand for design consultancy
services and what has been identified as ‘Dutch’ expertise.
Next to data that gives an overview of market sizes (population
numbers, growth expectations, development level…) the list
of data sets used also contains the results of polls (business
climate, quality of the urban environment, local happiness…).
Among the hard data available for Russian cities there is
firstly, a number of factors, wich define current ecomonical
state of cities and their position in the country as the whole.
Secondly, there was a number of attempts to rate Russian cities.
Each rating has different focus and different set of parameters
taken into account. Athough these ratings evaluated different
factors, different number of cities, had different focus, some cities
scored very high in all of the ratings. That was our starting point.
Following factors were selected:
– city population
– agglomeration population
– GDP per capita
– real estate prices
– airport passenger traffic
– internal tourism
Following ratings were considered:
– Integral rating of 100 largest cities
(best cities to live in) in Russia
– Rating of 164 cities (quality of urban environment) in Russia
– 20 most developed cities
– Best 30 cities for doing business in Russia
– Opinion poll on whether people are happy with their cities
M2RU 35

identifying cities
Rank in population [1]
City population
Role as a centre
INDICATORS STRUCTURE
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL
Ratings
Statistics
Additional facts
Rank in best city for
living [2]
Agglomeration
population [2]
Major events on
the horizon
Rank in most attractive
city rating [3]
GDP per capita in
rub. [3]
DESIRE FOR CHANGE
Ratings
Statistics
Additional facts
City population
Role as a centre
city rating [3]
GDP per capita in
rub. [3]
ACCESSIBILITY
Ratings
Statistics
Additional facts
City population
Role as a centre
city rating [3]
GDP per capita in
rub. [3]
URBAN QUALITY
Ratings
Statistics
Additional facts
City population
Role as a centre
living [2]
Agglomeration
population [2]
Major events on
the horizon
living [2]
Agglomeration
population [2]
Major events on
the horizon
living [2]
Agglomeration
population [2]
Major events on
the horizon
city rating [3]
GDP per capita in
rub. [3]
36
M2R

HARD DATA
Rank in most
developed city [4]
Prices for real estate,
1000rub/sq.m [4]
Higher architectural
education institutions [9]
doing business [5]
Rank of airport(s) by
passanger traffic [5]
Historical cities [13]
Rank according to
citizens perception [6]
Cities mentioned by
Anton Finogenov
Top visited cities,
internal tourism [6]
Density of
city communities
Places with high urban/
cultural events density
Top
Universities [8]
Average strength of
city communities
Top visited cities,
foreign tourism [11]
Cities mentioned by
Svyatoslav Murunov
doing business [5]
Rank according to
Cities mentioned by
Anton Finogenov
Top visited cities,
Density of
city communities
Top
Universities [8]
Average strength of
city communities
Rank in most
developed city [4]
1000rub/sq.m [4]
Top visited cities,
Cities mentioned by
Svyatoslav Murunov
doing business [5]
Rank according to
Cities mentioned by
Anton Finogenov
Top visited cities,
Density of
city communities
Top
Universities [8]
Average strength of
city communities
Rank in most
developed city [4]
1000rub/sq.m [4]
Top visited cities,
Cities mentioned by
Svyatoslav Murunov
doing business [5]
Rank according to
Cities mentioned by
Anton Finogenov
Top visited cities,
Density of
city communities
Top
Universities [8]
Average strength of
city communities
Rank in most
developed city [4]
1000rub/sq.m [4]
Top visited cities,
Cities mentioned by
Svyatoslav Murunov
Each indicator was composed
of several data parameters
given in a following table.
M2RU 37

identifying cities
INDICATORS REFERENCES
[1] Russian cities by population
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Russia_by_population
[2] Integral rating of hundred largest cities (best cities to live in) in
Russia (Top - 100) in 2012 by Urbanica
http://urbanica.spb.ru/?p=3461&lang=en
[3] Rating of 164 cities (quality of urban environment) in Russia 2012
- by Russian Union of Engineers and others
http://www.российский-союз-инженеров.рф/рейтинг-российских-городов/
[4] 20 most developed cities – Russian Reporter
http://rusrep.ru/article/2012/05/29/goroda
[5] Best 30 cities for doing business in Russia – Forbes
http://www.forbes.ru/rating/30-luchshih-gorodov-dlya-biznesa-2013/2013?full=1&table=1
[6] Opinion poll on whether people are happy with their cities –
Rosgosstrah
http://www.rgs.ru/media/CSR/Life_quality_by_cities.pdf
38
M2R

HARD DATA
[7] Russia’s 58 busiest airports by passenger traffic in 2013
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Russia
[8] Top 15 Russian Universities
http://raexpert.ru/rankingtable/?table_folder=/university/2013/main
[9] Higher architectural education institutions
http://www.institute-catalogue.ru/rus/specialty/27.html
[10] Top visited cities, internal tourism
http://www.interfax.ru/print.asp?sec=1481&id=316367
[11] Top visited cities, foreign tourism
http://www.tourprom.ru/news/print/23704/
[12] Special tourist economic zones
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Туристско-рекреационная_зона
[13] List of 41 historical city in Russia
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Список_исторических_городов_России
M2RU 39

identifying cities
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL DATABASE
AGGLOMERATION
POPULATION (mln p.)
GDP PER CAPITA,
(Rub)
REAL ESTATE PRICES
(1000 rub/ sq.m)
RANK IN POPULATION
(p.)
40
M2R

HARD DATA
RANK OF AIRPORTS
by passenger traffic
MAJOR EVENTS ON HORIZON ROLE AS A
CENTRE
TOP
UNIVERSITIES
M2RU 41

identifying cities
DESIRE FOR CHANGE DATABASE
MAJOR EVENTS ON HORIZON RANK IN MOST DEVELOPED
CITY
RANK IN POPULATION
(p.)
42
M2R

HARD DATA
RANK OF AIRPORTS
MENTIONED BY
A. FINOGENOV
MENTIONED BY
S.MURUNOV
RANK OF COMMUNI-
TIES DENSITY
RANK OF COMMU-
NITIES NUMBER
M2RU 43

identifying cities
ACCESSIBILITY DATABASE
TOP VISITED CITIES,
foreign tourism
TOP VISITED CITIES,
internal tourism
RANK IN BEST CITY FOR
DOING BUSINESS
44
M2R

HARD DATA
MAJOR EVENTS ON HORIZONRANK OF AIRPORTS
M2RU 45

identifying cities
URBAN QUALITY DATABASE
RANK IN BEST CITY
FOR LIVING
RANK IN MOST ATTRACTIVE
CITY
RANK IN ATTRACTIVE CITIES
(by citizens perception)
46
M2R

HARD DATA
TOP VISITED CITIES,
foreign tourism
TOP VISITED CITIES,
internal tourism
HISTORICAL
CITIES
SPECIAL TOUR-
ISTIC ZONES
M2RU 47

identifying cities
RESULTS FOR INDICATORS
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL
TOP-11
DESIRE FOR CHANGE
TOP-16
AСCESSIBILITY
TOP-11
URBAN QUALITY
TOP-8
48
M2R

HARD DATA
YEKATERINBURG
NOVOSIBIRSK
KAZAN
SOCHI
KRASNODAR
ROSTOV-ON-DON
NIZHNY NOVGOROD
KALININGRAD
VLADIVOSTOK
IRKUTSK
UFA
SAMARA
KRASNOYARSK
OMSK
YAROSLAVL
CHELYABINSK
VORONEZH
KHABAROVSK
TOMSK
IZHEVSK
TOTAL RESULT
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
CITIES MENTIONED #
OF TIMES
M2RU 49

2B. IDENTIFYING
THE CITIES
SOFT DATA

SOFT DATA
SOFT DATA
Soft data is information that has been gathered in a less structured
way. It neither is representative nor completely objective. In
difference to hard data however, it allows covering a much wider
field and, in dialogue, gather a more complete set of information
that is embedded in the context it has been communicated.
Typically soft data is gathered through interviews with a number
of prepared questions. The choice of people questioned has
a big impact on the answers one gets and a balanced and
therefore tangible overall result only emerges through a series
of interviews of individuals that understand the subject but come
from different backgrounds. For the purpose of this market
research we have chosen to focus on professionals that are
involved in urban development in the widest sense. Ranging
from the traditional urban planner across community activators
to politically engaged persons have been interrogated. The
interviews presented in this document show a representative
selection of answers and comments the team has received in
more than a dozen interviews conducted (both for the raiting – with
russian urban experts and for cities profiles – with city experts).
We were interested to understand which cities have the
biggest potential for actively developing in the future, but
also which cities are already today capable of formulating
their demand, have started that discussion.
Mapping opportunities
– places, where big events are happening
– special zones (touristic, economic etc.)
– places with big governmental investment programs
– places with big planning activity
– places with high intellectual capacity
Mapping special conditions
– places with special climate conditions
– historical places
Mapping activity
– places with high density of urbancultural events
– places, mentioned by experts as “active“
Photo from interview with Eduard Kubensky –
«Tatlin» magazine editor-in-chief.
Yekaterinburg, 2015
M2RU 53

identifying cities
ANTON FINOGENOV
«Urbanica», Director
St.Petersburg
1. Which of the Russian cities is currently taking
the lead in formulating urban agenda (apart from
Moscow and St.Petersburg)?
This is a hard question if we speak exactly about ur-
ban agenda …. It’s one thing to attempt urban projects
implementation, and the other thing is a real startup of
a systematic action program. There was an example of
Perm, but the trend is downward, as I understand…
There are urban centre s and regions that pay attention
to urban planning. Among them Moscow and St.Peters-
burg are the most obvious, as the problem of agglomer-
ation is especially acute there.
If we talk about Russian cities,
some processes of urban
transformation begin in cities of
FIFA World Cup.
.. because they already have some tasks for sites con-
struction (not only of a sport infrastructure, but also for
transport infrastructure). These are 8 cities - ... but I
can’t emphasize any of them yet as long as the process
is in the initial stage.
Some processes were in Tomsk, led by Kazmin and
Gradirovsky, including Tomsk agglomeration and urban
transformation of the city of Tomsk. But it hadn’t materi-
alized into action.
2. Which forumsevents related to urban develop-
ment that happened around Russia were memora-
ble?
If talking about any event, Vladivostok with the APEC
SUMMIT 2012, Kazan with The Universiade 2013 and
Yekaterinburg with SCO SUMMIT 2009 Made them-
selves visible.
On the subject of urban planning the events have a local
character. There was an interesting urban development
project implemented in Irkutsk, named “130 QUARTER”,
but it is rather an event in the new for Russian mar-
ket sphere of peripheral cities development. As about
urban planning…the space is a vacuum. All the events
organized are quite local in my opinion.
I participated in winter school organized by the National
Guild of Urban Planners, it was something like a series
of conferences. Usually they were held in Omsk, as I
understand it, this year the school will be in Yekaterin-
burg. Anyway it’s a sort of “local hobnob”. There is also
a “Baikal University” in Irkutsk, but it is also a local event.
From global - I was at the Sochi Economic Forum, which
was held in September, 2013. But, there’s was just one
section curated by Minregion and somehow linked to the
urban development. There are some events all over the
country curated by Minregion, but the most regular ones
are held in Moscow.There are some exhibitions on ur-
ban development themes such as Innoprom, again held
in Tomsk, “SmartCiy” in Kazan… there was a forum in
INTERVIEW EXTRACTS
54
M2R

SOFT DATA
Yekaterinburg. But all these events are mostly about in-
novation development. They pay attention to the urban
environment as it is one of the key factors to keep inno-
vators within our country.
It is worth noting, especially in the last three years, that
the topic is now drawing much more attention, but this is
not to say that some radically new activities appeared.
But the most serious level it still Moscow UrbanForum.
Yes, there is a good level of international experts, may-
ors of large cities and Moscow government were dense-
ly involved… but the format is still for showing off...There
was also a FarEast Forum held for several years.
3. What kind of projects cities are looking into now?
What is hot on the drawing boards?
Evidently there will be some actions in the cities of
World Cup - 2018. There is some activity now in Irkutsk,
Tomsk and Vladivostok (associated with the extension
of the embankment line). The topic is usually emerges
in the regions where the new governor is appointed.
Perhaps an urgent topic
would be a question how to deal
with Sochi Olympic legacy.
Most likely it will end by a number of facilities transported
in other cities, plus a gambling status zone designation
for the Olympic Park ... but I hope something positive will
happen on this subject. Maybe they’ll try to think about
the question in the logic of urban planning & strategy,
and not only of utilitarian economic efficiency.
4. Which cities are working towards formulating
their urban development policy? Working on stra-
tegic plans?
Our strategic plan is the reincarnation of an active pro-
cess of strategic planning documents preparation in the
mid-2000s...Perm attempt for masterplan was really
something new, and it’s still something new.
I do not see any new
in all these strategic plans,
even with any kind of spatial
reference.
The first strategic plan in our country was made in St.
Petersburg with the participation of the Leontiev Centre
way back in 1996. There is nothing fundamentally new
added in the last 18 years.
5. Which cities envisage big planning & architec-
tural projects in the nearest future? Hold competi-
tions?
The largest development project in Tatarstan is Kazan
SmartCity, they have really begun to build it! Many pro-
jects are being implemented in the Moscow suburbs,
CITIES MENTIONED WITH +Sochi, Tomsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok,
Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Ufa,
Krasnodar
CITIES MENTIONED WITH -Omsk, Surgut, Khanty-Mansiysk, Tyumen,
Khabarovsk
M2RU 55

identifying cities
involving not only housing, but also business property...
One of the largest development projects in Russia is a
new business area in Grozniy.
In all the cities the stadiums are erected near the wa-
terfronts, so it will inevitably cause some reconstruction
and the creation of new public spaces. But the form and
kind of implementation for that is still an open question.
Perhaps the first city to propel the question to the dis-
cussion level is Kaliningrad. The other cities still haven’t
done this, but it’s a matter of time. Yeah, there can be
listed Nizhny Novgorod - the confluence of the Oka and
Volga … It may really give an impulse to the creation of
new centre s. For instance, in Kaliningrad there was a
serious discussion about how to create a stadium as an
object integrated in the existing housing rather than a
traditional “object in the park”.
What is about Omsk, it has a very little lobbying power;
there is a very weak governor there ... unfortunately, the
quality of the projects in our country directly depends
on it.
It is clear that there are some relatively wealthy cities
of Ufa and Kazan. There are some northern cities such
as Tyumen, Khanty-Mansiysk, Surgut - there is always
some construction activity there. Something is going to
happen Krasnoyarsk, because of the next Universiade.
6. Which city do you personally find most interest-
ing as a planner?
I look at this question from the complex positions: firstly
certain positions related to strategic spatial expediency.
Anyway we have to create some
points of growth in sub-regions,
so that we would have neither one,
nor two, but a plenty of capitals.
In this case Vladivostok
looks very promising
Vladivostok has more potential now even if compared
with Khabarovsk, which until Vladivostok investment
for APEC Summit 2012 was even more well-designed.
The potential of Vladivostok can be explained by several
reasons. First, it’s a seaside city. And these are seaside
cities which mostly become the centre s of growth. Sec-
ond, the city is closer to the capitals of the Asia-Pacific
region; and finally it’s more southward so the climate in
Vladivostok is more interesting, milder than in similar city
of Khabarovsk. It was now invested with a lot of money,
so that two giant bridges [Golden Bridge and Russian
Bridge - MLAb +], a Campus [FarEast Federal University
campus on Russkiy Island - MLAb +], some public spac-
es were constructed. In my opinion we should continue
to strengthen this point, aim to create a metropolitan city
in the Far East, which would be able somehow to attract
residents of the Far East. Obviously it hardly competes
with Korean, Japanese, Chinese cities, but the difference
could be not by 5 times smaller. Vladivostok really has
a potential, as it has always been such “trade-and-cre-
ative” city. All the industry was rather quickly imploded
there way back in 1990-s.
Vladivostok view at the night
In the past it was very much tied to the military complex,
there was a navy base there with lots of military units. So
they had to rebuild their city, and herewith it was quite
rich. It was 2006 when I firstly came to Vladivostok, and
it seemed to me so...dynamic, buy-sell, trade, port, you
know, even at that times. In my belief this is the base for
creation a special creativity and “metropolitaness”. Plus,
the relief with its hills is outstanding. Buildings, even
those miserable soviet “nine-floors” were built according
to the relief, so that it has created… such a San-Fran-
cisco spirit during the night, you know....the lights on the
hills; all that rises to a height of 100 meters - it forms a
special image for the city. I think it’s important, because
56
M2R

SOFT DATA
80% of our cities unfortunately give an impression of
replicable standard Soviet Grad. There is something in
Vladivostok, which clearly distinguishes it.
There’s a potential in Irkutsk, firstly because of the Baikal
brand. In our country there are 3 or 4 known brands, and
there are only two territorial ones, generally speaking.
They are Kamchatka and Baikal. Ask a foreigner, where
to go except Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Golden
Ring, he would point - Kamchatka, Baikal, maybe Vol-
ga - that’s all. All the other has a local character. So,
that is the first point. Second, the flow of foreign tourists
to Irkutsk is consistently high enough (in spite of all the
infrastructure complexities, a long expensive flights, un-
developed hotel infrastructure, etc.). Plus there’s still a
not completely killed historical wooden housing in centre
here. Something could be done with this background.
There is some potential there.
Novosibirsk - yes, of course. Because in fact it is a cap-
ital of such a large (in russian scales) by population, but
spatially compact sub-region. Total population of the re-
gion is 6.7 million people, and Novosibirsk is an obvious
capital for it with an education sector, developed sector
of research. The Academic town of Novosibirsk is one of
the top three in the country. Yes, I believe in Novosibirsk.
If we move further. Omsk not very believable. Tyumen
- is also too artificial... too extreme northern conditions.
That is, if all the investments, which were made in Sur-
gut, Khanty-Mansiysk, Tyumen, were concentrated in
one city, it would be possible to build something artificial,
like Dubai. And since the investments and efforts are
decentralized, they are lacking. As for me, a vivid image
has Khanty-Mansiysk, as a town created from scratch ...
In the Urals, and in all this
vast region I believe most in
Yekaterinburg.
As the capital, they has already begun building a City
with skyscrapers.And besides not because of some pro-
ject, but on the basis of commercial logic. The city hosts
international events, there is the third largest modern
international airport there. It’s a quite an interesting city,
where some events are regularly occur.
Moving on, it is clear about Kazan and Ufa - they are
the capitals of national republics, so they have the mo-
tive. These republics are always payed with attention by
the federal centre . At the same time there is a factor
of multiculturalism, which creates the right atmosphere.
Kazan and Ufa are not “somewhat” Bashkir-Tatar towns,
but absolutely multicultural cities, notably, they are mul-
ticultural by centuries. And there’s also a powerful ed-
ucational sector there, while not only for the titular na-
tion. Actually Kazan is already the capital: there were so
many investments, so many events held including the
anniversary, Universiade, and now the World Cup, so,
in fact it is already the capital city. Ufa as well, but to a
lesser extent.
The problem is with the
central Russia, as there are
Moscow and St. Petersburg, which
are bloating
… One can say «bloating» about Krasnodar, but it’s not a
very good example as it’s more like a «bloating village»,
In terms of urban planning Krasnodar is an example how
we shouldn’t do. It grows very.. very rapidly. Probably it
is much more a capital of the Southern region (and Cau-
casus as well) than Rostov-on-Don. There’s something
going to happen there.
Now I really believe in Sochi, just because such a vol-
ume of investments was put in infrastructure, such a
great PR scale was done and because it has such a
unique combination of mild climatic condition and moun-
tain cluster. There is a perspective for Sochi to become a
capital of the South. In the European part of the country
I can’t even notice anything else.
M2RU 57

identifying cities
SVYATOSLAV MURUNOV
Centre of applied urbanistics in MSSES,
Director
Moscow
Ufa and Perm. Despite of a fact that they gave up the
idea of Masterplan, there are some groups and subjects
maturing, who try to restart some local activity. Samara,
even after the chief architect, a sensible man, dismissal;
Voronezh!
All the processes are now
boiling in Voronezh!
In Voronezh they also have different entities that act in
parallel (they don’t know each other, but we know all of
them); Murmansk, Ulyanovsk (there is a vigorous activi-
ty now in Ulyanovsk, organized by senior architects, who
say: “there’s nobody here - it’s necessary to cultivate
something - we are losing our young people”); Izhevsk
- well, Izhevsk is generally a very correct story, as the
association of the city has integrated into the city man-
agement as a consulting body. This was just the very
base for Izhevsk Urban School formation. Yaroslavl,
where the Head of the Department of Architecture is
now ready to withdraw an urban activity on a governor
level for administrative sources attraction. And there are
also guys here, who boost a creative cluster Textil [more
information on http://textil.in/ - MLA+]. Omsk is moving,
Krasnoyarsk is moving, Tomsk is moving a lot. All Mos-
cow suburbs have been moving now a lot.
ble?
I have visited many activities this year, more than 10
specialized actually: it is clear that from the point of
topics raised and the number of invited experts Mos-
cow Urban Forum is beyond competition. There are two
architectural festivals in Voronezh - first, “Zodchestvo
Chernozemya” and the second, informal, is “Archidrom”.
«Zodchestvo Chernozemya» Forum in Voronezh, 2015
Nizhny Novgorod - there were several either urban or
architectural events there; in NN they have activists,
inner experts, but in Business as well as in the Admin-
istration there is an absolute lack of interested people!
There was Izhevsk forum about the city. There is a good
association in Yekaterinburg namely a very active devel-
opers community. I was on their local gatherings, called
INTERVIEW EXTRACTS
58
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SOFT DATA
«smart environment», and saw developers, architects,
planners and local lunatics talking about the city, notably
on a qualitative level, without any fights.
It’s determined by the audience. We are making the
research of urban communities across the country, in
every city we are building inventories, add them to the
common map, and conduct a survey.
Problem of communities
is very simple: they don’t know
how to grow, how to
commucate with the authorities,
how to build relationship
with the business.
The problem of authorities is the opposite - many au-
thorities are afraid to raise bottom-up activities because,
in their opinion, any initiative that comes not from above
only, but from below - it is a very dangerous path.
For example, there won’t be an UrbanForum in Kazan ,
because the local president administration is sure that
as soon as they start to analyze city problems... a grab
bag of problems would emerge.
If the administration is adequate, such as in Ulyanovsk
and Izhevsk, there is a current request for education.
They think: “let’s educate, hold forums, festivals and
conferences, arrange projects, let’s try something to do
something elsewise for the city…” Often they start with
public spaces: parks, squares, embankments; there is a
large request for public art - how to change something
quickly in urban environment with the help of artists. De-
velopers now also have a different request. In large cit-
ies developers demand history before the project - func-
tionality, how should the courtyard look like, what is a
social scenario of a project ... plus a specific request for
the establishment of community centre s in the existing
residential complexes.
tegic plans?
A very illustrative project was in Makhachkala, namely
Kaspiysk - Makhachkala agglomeration. The president
wished, found money for the early stages, but then all
it failed, because the request was not of a good quality.
Urban planning policies should be based on the specific
city subjects, on the clear objectives of these subjects.
In our country there are no fully
fledged cities, because city
subjects are absent.
CITIES MENTIONED WITH +Ufa, Voronezh, Samara, Murmansk,
Ulyanovsk, Izhevsk, Yaroslavl, Tomsk,
Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan,
Kaliningrad
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identifying cities
For example, the citizens are absolutely not articulated -
and it won’t happen yet as long as we don’t create THE
CITY. Until we create urban network models Communi-
ty/ Business/ Рower. It is difficult even to talk about ur-
ban policy. Urban planning policies at this stage can be
such tactical ones: to try to detect their subjects through
urban environment changes and some projects in the
city. To create a long strategy, all the actors should be
detected. That’s what we are working on.
A qualitative inquiry for urban planning is only in Ufa.
here is a source of energy there, as well as in Kazan,
which is their national identity. Kazan and Ufa have such
an effect, which is not typical for other Russian cities.
There is a special national identity, which wants to be
retained and understood. The physical space - city and
architecture - could be the platform for that.
«Religions Dialogue» Youth Forum in Ufa
5. Which cities envisage big planning & architec-
tural projects in the nearest future? Hold competi-
tions?
Yaroslavl, Murmansk, Ulyanovsk, Voronezh, Izhevsk,
Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk and Kaliningrad under the ques-
tion. In Krasnoyarsk, there is a large book fair planned in
Krasnoyarsk (we enter the cities through such projects).
At this fair the topic of urban communities and urban de-
velopment will be raised.
6. Which factors can you name that influence the
city development?
Cities shoot ahead, if there is a qualitative dialog starts
there. A city is as interesting as many subjects are de-
termined there. If there were, for instance, association of
manufacturers, association of small businesses, some
urban communities network, communities of city activ-
ists of different ages (to represent different generations),
an adequate authorities with different stakeholders (rep-
resentatives of federal, municipal authorities, regional
authorities), inner community of experts in the city - and
all of them stopped grabbing the biggest piece of the pie,
but began to negotiate - such a city begins to change im-
mediately. At least it begins changing in terms of internal
communication, the culture of dialogue appeares and
the city starts a valid request on education and urban
environment. This attracts normal experts, and there-
fore the problems of a city begin to be recognized and
worked on.
ing as a planner?
I like multi-layered cities, where a historical centre sur-
vived somehow. The more such centre s a city has, the
better it is, because one can experience more of dif-
ferent meanings, functions, scenarios. I like cities of a
several stages of industry, preserved (by architecture
and planning) and integrated in an urban fabric; cities
with complex landscapes; finally the cities, which with
all this represent a kind of a one-piece construction: St.
Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Yaroslavl Centre , Arkhangelsk
and historical part of Samara.
Art-platform «TEXTIL» in Yaroslavl
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identifying cities
YANA GOLUBEVA
«MLA+ Saint Petersburg», Director
St.Petersburg
INTERVIEW EXTRACTS
Today we see several cities arising in intellectual urban
realm, and for me these are Kazan, Yekaterinburg and
at some point Ufa. I think this is linked to the political
leadership, as soon as politicians understand that they
need to promote their city, that they need to fight for their
citizens, that they want to have good cities for living, they
start talking about all the urban related issues.
ble?
I think it is understood now that we need to discuss ur-
ban issues and each city is doing this differently. The
groups of people were formed that are now becoming
professionals in organizing these events. For example,
those people who organized Moscow urban forum, now
started spreading their influence on other cities. At the
same time the cities themselves organize the forums
because they don`t want to do business as usual but
also want to start discussing critical issues. Recently I
have been at such forum in Voronezh, a lot things are
happening in Ufa, the forum in Tolyatti is happening reg-
ularly, new competition is now being prepared in Sama-
ra, more and more cities want to look at the development
process from societal angle: what is public benefit?
In 2015, Kazan held a very interesting competition,
which was focused on the inner city lakes system. The
fact that inner city regeneration was put into such focus
is exemplary and telling about the city ambition. I believe
all cities in Russia should look at their inner city opportu-
nities for redevelopment and stop the sprawling process.
Presentation of MLA+ project for Lakes Kaban cometition in Kazan, 2015
Nowadays every architectural and planning activity in
each city is done according to the usual legislation and
to the usual procedure that was inherited from the Soviet
Union.At the same time what is interesting is that people
start understanding that is not enough, that prescribed
procedures do not deliver the required quality, they don`t
tackle all the aspects that need to be tackled.
The cities started to have the demand for Visions, they
want to understand what the cities should be focusing
on, which directions they should be going, at the same
time they start looking at other systems they have in the
cities, for example green networks, waterways… so they
want to get away from the traditional developments per
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SOFT DATA
CITIES MENTIONED WITH +Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Voronezh, Tomsk,
Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Kaliningrad
area and more look on the connected structures.
And what is really hot on the draw-
ing boards right now and every city
is busy with is public space rede-
velopment.
Many-many projects happened around parks, around
squares, around streets, streets become more pedestri-
an, cycle networks are being introduced, and I think this
is a very big niche, so there is a market for that.
tegic plans?
All of the cities are still in a process of questioning what
needs to be done, they have not decided the direction…
Moscow as the strongest intellectual player starts to for-
mulate agenda for everybody else, they are busy now
with an experiment of creating new type of residential
neighborhoods based on block structure, they are also
trying different street sections, and I think these will set
the trends for the other cities. Locally Ufa is trying now
hard to establish some specific rules. Interesting thing
is that each city in Russia can now establish their own
planning rules and regulations and they are starting
thinking into that.
5. Which cities envisage big planning & architectur-
al projects in the nearest future?
To me the cities which have the biggest problems actual-
ly think about establishing some big planning and archi-
tectural things: to hold some big competitions. From my
personal experience and from the people I met in recent
years I see that Tomsk and Irkutsk will be looking at the
city centre s, for Kaliningrad and Samara this will also be
the hot topic. Tomsk is going to look at the embankment
systems. A lot of cities look at the embankment systems,
for example, Kazan is now working on several river em-
bankments.
Of course, all the cities are doing projects which are
linked with the World Cup, and that is Nizhny Novgorod,
Rostov on Don and others.Around those World Cup sta-
diums big neighborhoods will be developing and I think it
is quite an ongoing project.
6. Which city do you personally find most inter-
esting (as a planner)?
For me the most interesting city is the city I have not
been to. In Russian context it is Vladivostok, last years
we were involved in planning issues around Vladivostok
on several occasions, but until not did not have a chance
to go there. I see something is happening there, I want
to go there next. Another city on my plan is Novosibirsk,
I am also very curious about this city, how it grew from
three different industrial satellites into one big city that
now is a centre of the region with a population of 5 mil-
lion people. And from those I have been to, I think the
favorite is Kaliningrad, it has history, interesting traces of
different historical layers, and at the same time it has the
sea nearby which is a big quality.
M2RU 63

identifying cities
ILYA ZALIVUKHIN
«Yauzaproject», Director
Moscow
Only those, where I appear :) We all know the story of
the Perm ... no one speaks about it anymore... This is
very characteristic, because silence - it is also a sign of
paying attention to the thing.
Masterplan was too imposed from the top, it had no in-
ternal roots, was too perfect.
Now the activity is visible in Yekaterinburg. It feels
like a different world there – beyond the Urals. With
Akademichesky Project they tried by all means, but it
did not work out. Here we see how by landing on our
soil the perfect costume cracked. Following this project,
I realized that urban planning is not the images and the
design, but it’s a system of rules, guidelines that should
meet economy and include implementation procedures.
Recently in Yekaterinburg, I had to talk for 3 hours to
explain simple rules of the compact city. Everywhere it’s
a proved phenomenon, but in Russia you still need to
prove the obvious.
I hope Yekaterinburg will focus on developing its city
centre. Here the municipality should act as developer
and take the city as the project.
Outside of Yekaterinburg I have not seen much, but it is
worth mentioning the Moscow region.
The region is now being promoted as the place for living,
the governor Vorobyev emphasises it by saying: «we do
not opt for the construction of square meters; we opt for
the creation of cities». This ring around Moscow has
potential to become vital alternative to the Moscow city
itself and I am personally working on it right now, being
part of multiple coordination bodies. We are trying to cre-
ate a structure in which the normal specialists could find
their place.
ble?
I remember Izhevsk. Everyone went there. I was not
there, so I do not know the results.
When I come to a place, I try to come up with a draft
strategy for the city.
All the cities that we have
need a serious study,
to establish a system, a
framework for further work.
Spatial strategies that we do for some of the Moscow re-
INTERVIEW EXTRACTS
64
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SOFT DATA
gion cities I do not see being done elsewhere, because
this stage of work does not exist in the official planning
documentation.
tegic plans?
None. I do not know such cities.
I believe that the authorities do not have such task. They
completely not understand the value of complex urban
projects.
The authorities should understand that if they want to do
anything with the city, even shrink it, they should have
the coherent plan.
At the Ministry of Regional Development we call those
perspective projects Spatial strategies.
Today we as the company are working on the creating
of the future work; we are opening up the new market.
Which does not exist yet.
All are tired of building square meters, but no one knows
how to go to the next level. And the next level is the
development of an integrated project. And if that works
out – then every city requires so much work!
From professional perspective, I very much like Yekater-
inburg and Vladivostok.
In general, the older and the worst condition the city is –
the more interesting it is for transformation.
CITIES MENTIONED WITH +Yekaterinburg, Izhevsk, Voronezh,
Vladivostok
CITIES MENTIONED WITH -Perm
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identifying cities
ELENA BATUNOVA
«South Urban Centre», Urban planner
Rostov-on-Don
Perm in the professional field is leading and has a great
impact on all. However, judging by the results - Belgorod,
because here the population is growing and residents
state that it is a comfortable city. Voronezh and Irkutsk.
Kazan - a very ambitious city with a lot of projects.
ble?
For me, the most interesting event is the Winter Irkutsk
University, because it is a platform, where it was pos-
sible to unite all the structures - the city authorities, re-
gional authorities, international experts, business and
others. This event was now held for the 16th time, if I
am not mistaken - this is a very long period of time, so
we can see the implemented results. Solutions, which
they found in the course of this action, they are trying to
include in urban policy. This is a very positive example
of long-term fruitful cooperation, which was organized by
the Union of Architects.
In many other cities, workshops and multiple urban
movements started to happen more and more often - it
is very interesting, for example in Rostov we have Ur-
banFest.
I would also like to note the events that take place in the
south, organized by the Southern Russian architectural
society - these events play an important role in our pro-
fessional association.
The biggest demand is still
for mass housing projects.
This is very sad, because most of these projects in dif-
ferent cities do not differ from each other, they are dic-
tated purely by developers’ interests - but they make
up the bulk of all design market. Another hot topic is
social facilities. These are the two main directions.The
remaining objects are related to the ambitions of the cit-
ies and government programs.
tegic plans?
In addition to the major cities - Belgorod, Voronezh, Ka-
zan, there are many cities that are not visible.
Smaller cities with population
of about 100 000 people are
becoming active and sometimes
realize interesting projects
INTERVIEW EXTRACTS
66
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SOFT DATA
For example Novoshahtinsk. The city was in a very de-
pressed state, but they were able to use all possible
resources and city is actively reviving. They have very
interesting urban policies, for example, an interactive
master plan for the city. City Nevinnomysk in the Stav-
ropol region also has its own active approach towards
the formation of the urban fabric. Such positive devel-
opments are taking place more often, which makes me
feel positive.
If you compare Rostov-on-
Don and Krasnodar, of course,
Krasnodar has more potential.
What is happening in Rostov on Don, I would call
great stagnation, because the city has no clear policy
- everything that is happening is associated with some
events. Now we are preparing for the World Cup: we
frantically build some infrastructure facilities, at the
same time there is no coherent view on city develop-
ment from the administration. Even superficially, if you
visit the Krasnodar and Rostov you can see a notice-
able difference, it is about the improvement of the city,
its appearance and residents being satisfied with their
government.
If we talk about Russia, it is, first of all government pro-
grams related to any of the events, like the World Cup
or with some infrastructure projects. For example, many
cities are now developing in relation to infrastructure pro-
jects in the field of maritime transport, railway transport,
as well as economic projects related to the development
of new industries.
ing (as a planner)?
I like many cities, but my favourite is Nizhny Novgorod, i
love it for the “Russian” beauty. I love Elista, because it
is very distinctive Buddhist city, the most western Bud-
dhist city. I love my city - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, al-
though it is in a very sad state, but it has great structure.
Chess square in Elista
CITIES MENTIONED WITH +Belgorod, Perm, Voronezh, Irkutsk, Kazan,
Krasnodar
CITIES MENTIONED WITH -Rostov-on-Don, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy
M2RU 67

identifying cities
ALEXANDER LOZHKIN
Professor of architecture, Mayor Council
Novosibirsk
Still, Perm - because it is the only city in Russia which
formulated the urban planning policy and, in spite of all
the problems we see that the struggle of ideologies in
the field of urban policy is happening there. In other Rus-
sian cities, urban policy de jure does not exist, and de
facto, it is carried out in the interests of the construction
industry.
I did not see anywhere anything even slightly near the
strategy that would not be the fictitiously-demonstrative
product.
Novosibirsk, in this case is an example of a «liberal»
policy. There is a good purpose - to attract investment
to the city, attracting investment by providing maximum
freedom for developers. All the existing town planning
documents are aimed at the realization of this interest.
ble?
In my opinion, the most interesting debate in urban plan-
ning is happening in Perm, because level of competence
of opponents there is rather high.
As the experience of Novosibirsk shows - a candidate
program for pre-election period. The same theme is in
demand in Perm for the city manager program.
This is corresponding to formulating the key goals and
directions of city development.
tegic plans?
This question very much lies in the field of politics. There-
fore, it is a question of the authorities’ competence. The
question whether the authorities are interested in the
real development of the city.
Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk
Nizhny Novgorod is quite problematic at the moment -
too close to Moscow
Something’s going on in Ufa.
In the Siberian context, one can note important cities
Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk. Irkutsk leaves a positive im-
pression, though, as it seemed to me, whole urban en-
vironment is fully formed only along one street – Karl
Marx.
Tomsk is not doing well. Although it is very unique city,
but its loosing this uniqueness very fast.
INTERVIEW EXTRACTS
68
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SOFT DATA
The uniqueness of Tomsk lies in the fact that it is a huge
wooden city, which had to be saved as phenomenon.
What they do now, they have defined several zones that
are to be preserved, but the phenomenon of the wooden
town - quickly disappears.
Prospects for the city are rather vague, but the city has
very powerful educational cluster, which could contribute
to its development.
Wooden architecture in Tomsk
Decaying wooden architecture in Tomsk
CITIES MENTIONED WITH +Perm, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk,
Yekaterinburg, Ufa
CITIES MENTIONED WITH -Nizhniy Novgorod, Tomsk
M2RU 69

identifying cities
1. What makes the
city different from other
large cities in Russia?
ONLINE QUESTIONARIE EXTRACTS
« Obviously, it is mentality. The
city is like a merchant house after
a visit of Bolsheviks. »
Rostov-on-Don
« Dirty streets and abscenece of
roads. Memorable war heroics. »
Volgograd
« There are no plots of new
development now, city and region
administratin do not work with
developers...City centre is full with
shabby architectural monuments,
but where are the money to restore
it? They could burn as quick as a
match...» Irkutsk
« None. City is in stagnation »
Volgograd
« There’s no vector for future city
development »
Vladovostok
«...After 10 pm the citylife is frozen
everywhere exept night clubs and
dive bars »
Nizhniy Novgorod
« City is preparing for Universiade
2019 (new sport complexes are
being built; the work of public
transport is being improved etc »
Kazan
« Nothing inspiring. Roads, a
couple of crossroads and the
aquapark. »
Novosibirsk
« Festival «o’Gorod»; festival
«Ancient Gorkiy» by Artyom
Filatov; events in Arsenal space;
exibitions in Tolk space; workshops
in «Masterskaya» space »
Nizhniy Novgorod
« Should I mention all or just useful
ones? :) »
Krasnoyarsk
«Alexandr Lozhkin (how without him!:)
Yulia Prokopova (cycling)
Mikhail Nikulin (trams)
Oleg Alaev (landscaping, benches)»
Novosibirsk
«Yana Golubeva :) »
Voronezh
«Myself »
Irkutsk
2. What are the current
“hot topics” in the city?
3. Which problems
does the city have?
4. Which projects
are on the horizon?
5. Which activities/
events related to urban
topic can you name?
6. Which people would
you recommend as
local urban experts?
Questions for the form Extracts from form answers
70
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SOFT DATA
To collect a common citizen & experts opinion as well
as to find out some special information about cities’ life
we arrange an online questionnarie.
Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gPqptiugAPx9d824TGUesu6Gf9mEQlcDdUiLBGLtRpo/viewform
M2RU 71

2C. IDENTIFYING
THE CITIES
EVALUATION

identifying cities
ACCESSIBILITY
URBAN
QUALITY
DESIRE FOR
CHANGE
RATING DATA
Rank in population
City Population
Role as a centre
Rank in best city for living rating
Agglomeration population
Major events on the horizon
Rank in most attractive city rating
GDP per capita in rub
Rank in most developed city
Prices for real estate, t.rubsq.m
Historical cities
Rank in best city for doing business
Rank of airport(s) by passenger traffic
Active places by Anton Finogenov
Rank according to citizens perception
Density of city communities
Active places by Svyatoslav Murunov
Top visited cities, foreign tourism
Average size of city communities
Places with high density of
urbancultural events
Top visited cities, internal tourism
Top Universities
RatingsStatisticsAdditionalfacts
Higher architectural education institutions
ECONOMIC
POTENTIAL
74
M2R

EVALUATION
Yekaterinburg
Ufa
KazanRostov-on-Don
Samara
Chelyabinsk
Omsk
Krasnoyarsk
Khabarovsk
Novosibirsk
Nizhny Novgorod
Yekaterinburg
KazanRostov-on-Don
Voronezh
Krasnodar
Sochi
Kaliningrad
Novosibirsk Irkutsk
Vladivostok
Nizhny Novgorod
Yekaterinburg
Ufa
Kazan
Izhevsk
Rostov-on-Don
Krasnodar
Sochi
Kaliningrad
Yaroslavl
Samara
Chelyabinsk
Omsk
Krasnoyarsk
Tomsk
Novosibirsk
Vladivostok
Yekaterinburg
Kazan
Krasnodar
Sochi
Yaroslavl
Novosibirsk Irkutsk
Nizhny Novgorod
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identifying cities
OVERALL RATING
Voronezh Nizhny Novgorod
Yekaterinburg
Novosibirsk
Sochi
Krasnodar
Kazan
Ufa
Kaliningrad
Rostov-on-Don
Yaroslavl
Samara
Chelyabinsk
Omsk
Krasn
76
M2R

EVALUATION
Irkutsk
Vladivostok
noyarsk
Khabarovsk
We analysed which cities occur in most of the ratings
and then select TOP-12. In case of dispute the priority
was given to the cities recommended by experts.
Economic
potential
Desire for change
& activity
Accessibility Urban
quality
Samara
Krasnoyarsk
Omsk
Yaroslavl
Chelyabinsk
Yekaterinburg
Novosibirsk
Kazan
Sochi
Krasnodar
Rostov-on-Don
Nizhny Novgorod
Kaliningrad
Vladivostok
Irkutsk
Ufa
Voronezh
Khabarovsk
Experts
recommendations
M2RU 77

COLLECTED INFORMATION
INTERVIEWS
WITH CITIZENS
INTERVIEWS
WITH EXPERTS
ONLINE
QUESTIONNAIRE
80
M2R
CITY PROFILE

The information about the 12 cities presented
in following profiles was collected from
different resources to сonsider either facts
& statistics or perception & opinions.
PROFESSIONAL
DOCUMENTATION
NEWS &
INFOPORTALS STUDY
CITY VISITING &
IMPRESSION
PROFILES CONTENTS
M2RU 81

CITY
TRAITS
COVER
INFORMATION
As Russia is a strongly centric country,
here we indicate the distance to Moscow
and Saint Petersburg, as well as city
unofficial names, which characterize it as
a «capital of something».
CITY
STRUCTURE
Structure of a city defines most of its
specific characteristics and helps to
understand the context for all the following
information.
RESUME
DNApage describes the overall situation of
a city and the information worth mention.
The DNA image was selected carefully to
illustrate the realistic and highly distinctive
urban panorama of a city.
Each real city produces some social and
culture capital, so that we can define its
special traits. We define six famous traits
for each city, which helps to understand its
potentials and specialization.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
This page provides basic and statistic
information about each city (population,
transport means, status, age, etc.) as well
as about their agglomeration situation for
quick understanding of the context.
GENERATED INFORMATION
CITY
STRUCTURE
Structure of a city often defines most of its
problems. According to the scheme on p.
14-15, we explain the character of different
structural parts of each city.
82
M2R
CITY PROFILE

CURRENT
PROJECTS
On this page, the most noticeable
developing projects are mapped on cities
maps.This page provides context of
current city developers market & gives the
character of typical and unique projects.
Each of 12 profiles encloses the following set
of information (11 pages), giving the fullest
overview of a particular citylife and planning
context.
GENIUS
LOCI
HOT
TOPICS
The most debated and challenging
problems in a particular city. Each topic is
linked to a suitable Dutch competence by
corresponding pictogram.
KEY PEOPLE
WHO DO CARE
Onthispage,onecanfindcontactsofactive
people interested in city development as
well as some useful links to actual news
& events portals and noticeable city
developers.
CITY
INITIATIVES
Hereonecanfindsomehoturbaninitiatives
(state, commercial, non-commercial) which
are underway. These initiatives could
become the entrance doors to particular
city planning market.
«Genius loci» could be defined as a specific
spirit of a particular place. This information
notifies individual city character to place
reader in cultural, historical and emotional
city context and inspire for diverse ideas.
USEFUL DUTCH
COMPETENCES
This page observes vacant urban planning
& design niches in a particular city
according to the skills Dutch can offer (see
p. 24-25)
PROFILES CONTENTS
M2RU 83

1284
km
to
M
oscow
963
km
to
Saint Petersburg
84
M2R
CITY PROFILE

KALININGRAD
WEST CITY
KONIGSBERG
M2RU 85

KALININGRAD
RESUME
Kaliningrad, also known as Königsberg, is the capital
of the Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea.
Historically the place developed as part of the former East Prussia.
After 1945 it was taken over by USSR. The city was largely
destroyed during World War II. The city centre was almost entirely
lost, thus leaving mental and physical hole in the urban heart.
The city was rebuilt mostly in 1970s, when the culture
of high modernism was at its rise. The new city fabric
does not follow the initial urban pattern, the logic of large
scale mikrorayons that were constructed did not fit into
the prewar block city. The city feels empty, torn apart,
unstructured with objects floating in the greenery.
The major issue is how to deal with urban fabric repairs, how
to connect the old mental image and the existing reality, how to
fix the city. At the same time the city has an interesting culture,
uniting people from all over USSR under the new identity,
inhabiting European culture and reinterpreting it for themselves.
The city today is about sea and sea tourism - a
Window to Europe for Russian tourists.
It is about Prussian history and new Russian history - an odd
mixture of the two manifested in space.And it is about the
greenery, lots of green networks connecting the city are being
enjoyed by the citizens and are perceived as a true valued quality.
Kaliningrad panorama on Cathedral and
Soviet housing.
Image source: http://www.skyscrapers.com
M2RU 87

Market Research on Russian cities _ MLA+

Market Research on Russian cities _ MLA+

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