Kyiv Riverfront | TALLER Architects

Kyiv Riverside

Kyiv, Ukraine

Category Landscape | Public Space | Infrastructure
Job type 1st Prize, International competition
Date 2011
Size 413 ha
Client Kyiv City State Administration I Kyiv Central Agency for Urban Planning, Architecture and Urban Design
Status Unbuilt

Context

Kyiv, one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, developed along the banks of the majestic Dnipro River, a waterway that defines its geography and history. For centuries, the river served as a central axis that not only physically connected urban areas but also structured the city’s social and economic life. However, after the fall of the Soviet Union and the shift toward a different urban model, a gradual disconnection between the city and the Dnipro has become evident.

- MOBILE CONTENT BELOW -

- MOBILE CONTENT ABOVE -

The Edge

Along Kyiv's urban edge, breaks had formed, revealing a lack of regulation and control over the territory. Without an authority to define land use, development edges have begun to encroach upon public space, fragmenting it and limiting residents' access to the natural landscape surrounding the city.

5-Design-component-of-the-Territory_convenciones

The Edge Concept

The project leverages an analytic scheme that maps the existing breaks and uses them as key elements in the design (Nodes). By integrating these gaps into the plan, we create transversal connections that link the city core with the riverfront, fostering new access points and pathways that enhance urban connectivity. This approach delineates a boundary for urban growth and ensures a fluid interaction between the city and its natural surroundings.

Improvement of the Existing Path

The walkaway section varies and adapts to direct circumstances. However a minimum width of 6 meters is to be kept at all times. The walkaway is formed by two principal sections: a concrete bicycle route and a wooden pedestrian route that cantilevers when encountering steep topography

The Nodes

In our project, these gaps along Kyiv’s Edge are defined as "nodes"—key points designed to host various programs that complement and enhance existing activities in the area. Each node serves as an active space that responds to the community's needs, incorporating functions that range from service areas and social gathering spots to parking spaces. By activating these nodes, the design transforms the once fragmented edge into a dynamic sequence of spaces that bring vitality to the urban landscape.

Ring Node Prototypes

The simple geometric shape can easily adapt to a wide range of scenarios. While maintaining its circular shape, it can vary in diameter or elevation to connect sides, offer soft slopes for easy access, create sightseeing walkaways or define small plazas.

It is an effective way of creating limits and characterizing space without affecting negatively the natural landscape. Maximum effect with minimum means!

The Edge + Ring Node

This element serves as a critical solution for connectivity between vehicular and pedestrian routes, seamlessly integrating different modes of transit within the urban fabric.

By carefully positioning the ring at a key intersection, we create a multifunctional space that facilitates safe and efficient movement between roads and pathways, ensuring accessibility for both pedestrians and drivers. As a connective node, The Ring Node not only supports the flow of transit but also enhances the surrounding public space, transforming it into a vibrant point of interaction and sightseeing within the city.

Reclaiming the Shore

A fundamental challenge in designing along Kyiv's riverfront lies in the conventional approach of building a road directly on the river edge. These roadways often create desolate, obscure, and sometimes unsafe spaces that discourage public use and hinder the natural connection between the city’s residents and the river. This barrier not only limits access but also diminishes the river’s potential as a vibrant public space.

From Barriers to Bridges: Enhancing Connectivity Along the Dnipro River

Acknowledging the limitations of traditional riverfront road design, our project embraces unconventional solutions inspired by landbridges built for wildlife. By integrating these landbridge-inspired designs, we aim to foster a harmonious connection between urban life and the natural riverfront, ensuring accessibility, safety, and continuity in the public landscape.

The Problem: The highway as barrier

The highway creates an impenetrable
barrier between the City and the River.

The Solution: The Landbridge Strategy

This infrastructure allows people, vegetation and wildlife to reach the water directly. No need to interrupt a main traffic artery to achieve a strong connection with the river. The city meets the water.

Strategic Landbridge Interventions

A network of landbridges are strategically positioned along The Edge, forming an integrated system designed to enhance connectivity between the city and the Dnipro River. By establishing a continuous flow of movement, this system encourages exploration and interaction with the riverfront, transforming it into a vibrant public space.

Programatic Landbridges

Each landbridge functions as a node within a broader framework, connecting key areas of the city and facilitating a range of diverse activities tailored to each zone. By integrating these activities with the riverfront, the landbridges foster interaction between urban life and the natural environment, enriching the overall experience for residents and visitors alike.

31-programatic-interventions—convenciones

Structure + Economy

Each landbridge is supported by evenly spaced concrete piers that support a concrete slab. The construction process (as opposed to a tunnel) does not innterrupt traffic along Nabarezhne road making it cheaper, faster and more convenient solution for the city