The old quarter of wooden houses in the center of Irkutsk was formed in the XIX century. Now the territory has fallen into disrepair due to chaotic development and poor care. The revitalization plan involves the restoration of the historical structure of the quarter with attention to the preserved buildings and the spirit of the place.
Date
Location
Study project
Location
Study project
March 2020
Irkutsk, Russian Federation
Moscow, Russian Federation
Irkutsk, Russian Federation
Moscow, Russian Federation
It is impossible to get inside the block now. Fences are everywhere.
There is a huge amount of self-construction on the territory: warehouses, garages, fences and outdoor toilets occupy most of the house space. The vast majority of historical buildings are on the verge of complete destruction and are uninhabitable. A third of the territory of the historical quarter is occupied by a huge hangar for cars, which by its appearance and purpose not only does not fit into the environment, but also greatly spoils it. Since the block and the surrounding buildings are monofunctional and are used only as housing, the streets around are empty and of no interest.
The main goal of the revitalization of the quarter is the creation of comfortable living conditions outside the home, i.e. the creation of an attractive urban environment. The integration of new functions, the concentration of various ways of using the territory in one place, inviting spaces - all this contributes to the enrichment of sidewalk life and makes staying on the street a welcome leisure.
Variants of the internal structure of the quarter.
An important decision was to demolish the car hangar, and in its place to build a small hotel with a courtyard that would meet the needs of travelers, and at the same time not interfere with the residents of nearby houses. It was decided to reconstruct and convert some buildings that are in a state unsuitable for living into guest houses. Next to the main building of the hotel, it is planned to build a restaurant and an additional building with rooms, underground parking is organized for hotel guests. New buildings are inscribed in the historical environment: number of floors, style, materials correspond to the surrounding buildings.
According to the project, the inner space of the quarter is shared and open to everyone, both for tourists and residents, and for passers-by. The passageways and courtyards formed by the houses act as public spaces of a more intimate nature. In such places, new hotbeds of activity can form, local pleasant places for leisure can develop, which can contribute to the formation of local communities, strengthening neighborhood relations.
