Arctic Region Offers Unparalleled Accessibility and Comfort
Arctic City Planner: A New Era of Innovation
In 2024, visionary plans emerged for the future of Arctic settlements, addressing economic, social, and environmental development. VEB.RF and KB "Strelka" played significant roles in spearheading these strategic solutions for comfortable living in the northern regions.
The average annual temperature in foreign Arctic centers surpasses zero degrees, while in Russian cities such as Norilsk, Noyabrsk, and Novy Urengoy, which house over 100,000 residents, ranges between -5°C and -10°C. Despite these frigid conditions, the similarities between Arctic and Central Russian environments call for unique and innovative approaches to city planning.
Traditional methods of constructing houses and wide, open streets in the Arctic make city navigation unbearable during harsh weather conditions. It's high time to embrace fresh concepts for organizing the environment of northern cities.
A persistent issue for Arctic city residents is subpar housing and infrastructure, as well as limited leisure, entertainment, and sports facilities. These concerns are being addressed through thoughtful master plans.
Urban Planning in the Far North
Compactness is the cornerstone of contemporary urbanism, and nowhere is it more relevant than in the Arctic. In cold climates, large open spaces between buildings create insurmountable barriers. By employing small, perimeter-closed blocks, oriented to reduce wind penetration in courtyards, and adding covered playgrounds, a more cozy living space can be created. These small blocks when arranged in a frequent grid of narrow streets can prevent wind tunnels.
Arctic Housing Revolution
Securing quality housing in the Arctic Zone is identified as a critical national security concern due to high delivery costs for materials and equipment, a lack of local production, increased costs and instability of foundations in permafrost conditions, and climate change.
This necessitates a shift towards prioritizing low-rise and mid-rise construction methods. The Arctic might serve as a proving ground for large-scale implementation of modern industrial housing construction using wood. This approach would include both individual and multi-family homes.
Consider engineered timber structures for their reduced weight (6 times less than traditional concrete structures), improved thermal insulation, and the ease of transportation to remote locations. Rapid construction can be achieved with these high-tech wooden homes, allowing for completion in just six months. Moreover, these structures are easily dismantled and relocated.
Catering to Winter Comfort
Outdoor leisure activities are viable even in the north. Instead of artificially heated microclimates, open-space solutions can be utilized. A demand-driven pedestrian corridor, equipped with heating stations, can offer a warm, central promenade for locals and tourists alike.
To achieve this, strategically position wind-protection screens, artificial hills, wind-sheltered seating areas, buffer tree plantations, and consider prevailing winds during the cold season. Along the route, install a heating system with points no more than a 10-minute walk apart. This system may include cafes and kiosks, public building lobbies, heated bus stops, street heaters or fireplaces, and lighting, installations, and art objects to brighten shorter daylight hours.
Embracing the Future
While this is not an exhaustive list, it marks the beginnings of innovative urban design concepts tailored for the Arctic. With growing populations in some major Arctic centers, now is an opportune moment to transform the Arctic into a hub of urban innovation, going beyond industries and technologies to a new frontier in urban development.
So, stay informed with our Telegram channel, @expert_mag #Regions, #Arctic, #Urban Environment, #Territorial Development, #Architecture, #Master Plan, #VEB.RF, #KB "Strelka".
- In 2024, innovative plans for Arctic settlements, focused on economic, social, and environmental development, will offer solutions for comfortable living in the northern regions, with VEB.RF and KB "Strelka" playing significant roles.
- Considering the cold weather conditions in Arctic cities like Norilsk, Noyabrsk, and Novy Urengoy, a more compact urban design is essential, using small, perimeter-closed blocks to create a cozier living space.
- To address the critical issue of securing quality housing in the Arctic Zone, there is a need for a shift towards low-rise and mid-rise construction methods, such as large-scale implementation of modern industrial housing construction using wood.
- In 2024, the Arctic might present a unique opportunity to cater to winter comfort by embracing open-space solutions for outdoor leisure activities, like a demand-driven pedestrian corridor equipped with heating stations and Wind-protection screens.
