CITY, CATCH THE TIME!
Rediscovering socialist neighbourhoods in a new capitalist society
Revitalization strategy: From the periphery into the centrality
Case in Vilnius Lithuania Justina Muliuolyte // TU Delft, 2010 // justeem@gmail.com // +31624944011 // www.justinamuliuolyte.eu
However after analysis of the study case city Vilnius I have found that the city has more problems than the housing estates. There is a big threat of sprawl, and all developments go away from sustainability. While housing estates are popular among citizens, have public transportation, green Dark grey - former socialist Europe
Lithuania in Baltic states
Analysis of Vilnius. Morphology: compact centre, modernist estates and sprawled houses.
sa v. La isv e av. ves
The project is presented in few main sections: analysis of the city leaded to its development vision “Polycentric city with network of centralities”. One of the future centralities is housing estate area in Vilnius. Regeneration strategy for the estate is named “From the periphery in to the centrality”. Further is presented urban structure of the new centrality and public space system: routes connecting housing estates with the new sub-centre. For the public space design was used revitalization toolbox – generic rules how to humanize the space in modernist estates.
r.
Vilnius Region
Graduation project goals and solutions focuses on two scales: city and neighbourhood. Advantages of socialist housing will contribute to the new structure of the city, while the new city structure will be the way to revitalize neighbourhoods.
Siaurine str.
ges st Ukmer
In 1970s western European cities have recognized problems of modernist housing and started their regeneration strategies. However in former USSR construction of modernist blocks continued up until 1990s and in much higher scale. Currently huge housing estates in the peripheries of post socialist cities show their first decline signs. If the revitalizations strategies will not be started soon, most cities in entire Eastern Europe will face serious urban problems.
space and room for development and changes. All in all Vilnius need to search more sustainable future development vision.
Lais
Project area
Baltic States
Graduation project “City, catch the time! Rediscovering socialist neighbourhoods in a new capitalist society” focuses on regeneration of large scale housing estates in post socialist cities. Study case is Vilnius, capital of Lithuania.
Develop three axes + mix use centre in between them
Accessible network of public spaces and parks
Land use, density, identity changes according to proximity to the centre or landscapes
Vilnius. Dark grey - socialist housing estate
Functions: all the facilities and functions and jobs are in the centre. Housing estates are monofunctional and lack of diversity.
Road network: city has well developed road network, particularly socialist estates.
Vision for Vilnius: Compact city with network of centralities Development phases of Vilnius
Landscapes: Green belt and river valley hills separate housing estates from the old town.
Background image – future in the modernist estate. Route crosses housing area with ground floor shops. In the back is seen urban centre with a tram line and the station.
Ukmerges street - main district avenue
Avenue, route, square and new houses in microdistricts
Modernist city is different from the compact city
Perspective with strategic projects of the new sub-centre
Concept rules how to change modernist city into compact and diverse: Original structure
New structure Transformation of the centre: 1- Ukmerges street; 2 - Bus terminal-transferium in Ukmerges street, mix use area with shopping street and squares; 3 - new Siaurine street; 4 - Laisves avenue
Project area
Revitalization of housing estates: 5 - public space system, routes; 6 - Housing renovation Parks: 7 - Green belt park; 8 - Microdistrict parks with activity program; 9 - Neighbourhood avenues.
The beginning Compact European city
Past Modernist City
Present Monocentric sprawling city
Develop three different profile main streets
Future Compact City Network of centralities
Project area - future centrality in socialist housing estates
Modernist periphery with 150 000 inhabitants
Diverse, mix use, dense TOD centrality
Fragmented neighbourhoods
Continuous, diverse urban area
Tree like road structure
From “tree” structure into a network
Monotonous open green space
Diversity in public space
Shopping streets in mix use district centre
Route linking neighbourhoods with the centre
Revitalization toolbox Revitalization toolbox is a collection of public space problems found on the route area, mapped and presented with design solutions how that could be changed.
Pasilaiciai housing estate
Housing estates in Vilnius were planned applying the same design principles. Many times just copying / pasting the same layouts and the same houses. For the same design principles there can be applied the same revitalization rules – the toolbox. The toolbox is a list of design recommendations used in the route project that can be applied in other socialist housing estates of Vilnius.
New district centre
Remove the slope – recreate the street profile
Provide sport facilities Concentrate and combine playgrounds
Reorganize entrances from apartments to courtyards
Replace kindergartens towards the routes Make space for new housing
Define public space
Reorganize parking lots
Fabijoniskes housing estate
Transform the garages - recreate the street profile
Provide activity along the street
Soften the surface of parking lots
Currently two housing estates are disconnected. The new route have to link neighborhoods and connect them with a centre. The route project has two main intervention areas: centre and housing estates. The centre is converted into urban blocks, with pedestrian streets, mix of functions and density. In the microdistricts new public space system is achieved by few steps.
Microdistricts have to be connected with the future centre
Design urban centre
Create urban street
Shopping street
Street - a barrier
Station Tram stop
Pasilaiciai housing estate Pedestrian friendly
Interventions on the nodes Missing street links Pedestrian friendly street
Urban square Fabijoniskes housing estate
Business area Conference centre Exhibition area
Park, sport facilities
Market Square
Casino Hotel Cinema, Bingo Bowling club Entertainment area
Define closed and calm courtyards
Add program on the route
Add new housing typology
Community rooms Day care centre
Low-rise housing
Micro commerce Closing courtyards
Micro business
Micro culture Library
Keep the urban block structure
Recreate the street profile: transform the garages, close the courtyards
Develop “no land” and empty land into row rise housing