Design principles of a multifunctional cluster-based center for monotowns in post-Soviet countries

Project idea

Today, there are about 500 single-industry towns in the post-Soviet space. Each of them arose around the city-forming enterprise and provided it with labor resources. Difficulties in the economic sphere of a single-industry town entail many problems, one of which is the lack of socio-cultural life. Today, single-industry towns' urban and environmental fabric can hardly be called favorable. Residents are striving to solve the issues regarding making the city green, safe, and fulfilled with diverse activities.

The main objective is to develop design principles for a public environmental space that meets modern problems of a cultural, educational, and urban nature that residents of single-industry towns face every day. This project was developed on the example of the city of Kolchugino in the Vladimir region. It is located 200 km from Moscow, the population is 40,000 people, and the city-forming enterprise is Kolchugtsvetmet.

Project description

The concept of the artistic image arose from the principles of bionics and geometry. The structure of a dandelion, combined with a geometric sphere found in wildlife — an octahedron — gave rise to a modular system. Ecological sustainability, combinatorics variability, and easy installation became the main features of the modular system. The module's design consists of a metal frame, transparent triplex, ETFE membrane, and wooden panels. All materials are anti-vandal. Large-scale cluster compositions are radial and include a system of pedestrian and bicycle paths.

Both Art and Tech clusters are located in abandoned areas on the opposite outskirts of the city. The Art Cluster includes a library, a gallery, a theater, a master class area, a recreation area, a sports ground, and a playground. The composition is two-level, on the second floor of which there are indoor greenhouses, recreation, and privacy areas. An eco-trail has been developed, passing at the level of tree crowns. The special coating of the eco-trail suggests the possibility of using it for running.

The functional content of The Tech Cluster includes a digital library, an Internet cafe, an area for IT master classes, a lecture hall, a recreation area, and a skatepark. The summer option of The Tech Cluster provides the summer cinema on the second level of the modular system.

Visitors of The Sports Cluster, located in the central part of the city, will be able to play table tennis, do yoga, try out a climbing wall and outdoor exercise equipment, and ride a skateboard, or a bicycle.

The ecological plan for the development of the central district, along with the green line development, involves the landscaping of an abandoned square. A special system of water supply, heating, and the temperature regime of materials allow the use of clusters both in summer and winter.

The principles of designing a multifunctional center are universal and can be applied in most single-industry towns in post-Soviet. The semantic content and design details of thematic clusters will be able to reflect the unique cultural code of each city. The urban routes system is a convenient and safe way to create city connections and to enhance a poor environmental situation. The system of multifunctional clusters acts as a center of attraction that opens up a wide range of opportunities in the modern world.

Technical information

The facade system in the project is modular, which allows you to combine the compositional structure in various sequences and, thus, change the appearance of structures depending on the artistic intent. Modular facades are used in two sizes - 5000 mm x 3000 mm; 3000 x 3000 mm. Facades are made of a transparent hardened triplex. In addition to frost resistance and sound insulation, this material is distinguished by anti-vandal properties and increased strength.

To illuminate the exterior environment of the cluster system, as well as the system of pedestrian and bicycle routes, it is proposed to use energy-saving lamps for street lighting. The power supply is planned to be provided from city reserves. To partially compensate for electricity consumption, it is planned to install electricity generators based on solar energy (solar panels). Solar panels are supposed to be installed on the roof of the modules included in the cluster system.

Taking into account the above proposals for the power supply scheme and the placement of local lighting devices, it is proposed to use autonomous street lighting lamps - (LED autonomous street lamps SMD 30W with a 150W solar battery), which will allow solar batteries to absorb the maximum possible amount of solar energy.

Based on the average amount of solar energy received by the region, the average day length in the Vladimir region in summer is 10-14 hours, and in winter 14-10 hours, which will make it possible to fully charge solar panels in summer and ensure the operation of lighting devices for more than 10 hours; in winter up to 6-8 hours.

Thus, the proposed power supply scheme for the lighting system of the designed urban environment increases the energy efficiency and autonomy of the cultural center energy system based on cluster platforms.