Mariinsky Posad

The Special Way / Russia

Location: Mariinsky Posad, Russia
Project type: Public landscape / Walking routes
Site area: 46,400 m²
Year: 2023
Design stage: Competition concept
Result: Competition-winning proposal

My role: Lead ArchitectDeveloped the public-space masterplan and key design solutions for hillside routes, viewpoints and recreation areas.

The special way — one route through the hillside landscape, in three characters.

Winning competition project for the Small Towns and Settlements of Russia programme by Rostourism.

A roundabout way, a complicated way and a free way offer different ways to explore the area. The environmental design searches for local identity: the arch, the main form of the historical Russian context, links cultural heritage sites with their modern perception.

Situation plan of Mariinsky Posad with the project site — Situation plan — the site is within walking distance of the town centre, and much of it lies on top of Gosudareva Gora (the Sovereign’s Hill), a specially protected natural area. The site becomes a link between the town, nature and history.

Masterplan of the special way along the Volga bank — Mariinsky Posad — Masterplan — the special way along the Volga bank, from Volzhskaya Street to the top of Gosudareva Gora.

Masterplan fragment of the roundabout way — Mariinsky Posad — Masterplan fragment — the roundabout way: an art object, natural garden, plunge pool, viewing platforms, seating and landscape elements. The entrance zone marks the border between the town and the hill.

Masterplan fragment of the complicated way — Mariinsky Posad — Masterplan fragment — the complicated way: a bridge over the Nizhnyaya Sundyrka, springs, and the stairs up the hill with viewing platforms and seating.

Masterplan fragment of the free way — Mariinsky Posad — Masterplan fragment — the free way on top of Gosudareva Gora: observation tower, arch photo spot, stage, café, playground, newlyweds’ maze, wind shelters and an eco trail.

Arch portal among drawings of historical characters — An arch portal among characters from local history.

Diagram of a heritage site seen through a phone — Cultural heritage sites and their modern perception.

Roundabout way — Mariinsky Posad — Roundabout way — a winding path on the border of the real and the imaginary, full of finds and surprises: light installations, landscape artefacts, a natural garden and seating with panoramic views.

Winter scenario of the route — Winter scenarios — skiing among the trees, Epiphany bathing in the spring-water plunge pool, Christmas events on the hill, a hot drink on a walk along the high bank and a warm café at the top.

Free way — viewing zone on top of Gosudareva Gora, Mariinsky Posad — Free way — a variety of activities and multi-level objects at the top of Gosudareva Gora create a feeling of free movement: land art, the observation tower, the arch photo spot, wind-sheltered ‘shell’ benches and the newlyweds’ zone with a mirror maze.

Navigation and information stands — rethinking and preserving local architectural elements: the onion-shaped trim of shutters, window frames and roof ridges typical of the Chuvash house.

Arch photo spot and red seat tower on one continuous ground line — Mariinsky Posad — Photo spot — an arch with a panoramic view of the Volga, and a seat tower among vertical arch structures.