Archimatika companies manage to change the attitude of citizens towards public property and turn residential complexes into real communities. In an interview, Vasiliev explains what affects the experience of using the garden and how to make it safer.
Residential complex "Respublika", Kyiv. Project: archimatika
Kirill Sopot: What is special about the archimatika approach? Why exactly your projects manage to change Kyiv for the better?
Dmitry Vasiliev: All cities of Ukraine, except for historical centers, are built according to Soviet urban planning methodologies, in particular the Athens Charter of 1950-x yr. Despite the fact that the rationality of this approach has long been refuted by architects, we continue to see new neighborhoods being built with sad empty spaces between houses and uncomfortable public spaces.
The problem is that many people simply do not understand that everything can be done-to the second They are not used to demanding the improvement of living conditions and believe that it is normal to live as before.
But creating a comfortable residential home does not mean making it expensive and with an emphasis on aesthetics. It's comfortable when you enter the entrance with a stroller without steps, when you don't have to maneuver between cars to get out of the yard. You give people similar examples, and they begin to think: "It turns out that it was possible?"
We build a city from scratch — we create it initially comfortable for future residents. Putting new values into our projects, we bring Ukraine closer to Europe.
Comfortable is when you enter the entrance with a stroller without steps, when you do not have to maneuver between cars to get out of the yard
KS: How are residential complexes being built in Europe now?
D.V.: They do exactly the same as we do: there is point building, and the planning of entire districts outside the city — in territories that are withdrawn from industrial use, or on the outskirts, if the city expands. The difference is that they already have a beautiful city center.
We were recently in London. Developers build new houses without playgrounds, because half a kilometer from the house there is a park - a good, well-maintained one, with paths and greenery, and it is looked after. There is already a cool children's playground there - newer, clean. It is pointless for the developer to equip his small area, because the city already works as a full-fledged organism, and only a residential building is added to it.
Sky pool in Embassy Gardens, London
Or this is how new districts are being built in Vienna. What does the city do? They build a metro line to the new district, implement engineering networks, draw up a master plan, and after that they turn to businessmen: "Here, please, what you want: housing, offices... We are ready to sell these plots to you." And here we fix a place for a school - it is not for sale." Plots are sold, and the proceeds go to kindergartens, schools, parks and other improvements. Therefore, when the district is just starting to be built, it is already convenient for future residents.
KS: What remnants of the past do we have to deal with in Europe now?
D.V.: Europe is trying to annihilate the importance of the car in the system of building cities and individual urban spaces. Instead, pedestrian space, bicycle and public transport are placed at the head of the corner.
The developers do not make parking lots either under the buildings or next to them. Parking lots were moved outside the territory of the district so that it took longer to get to the car than to the subway. We would tear them to pieces for anti-humanism. And their logic is as follows: if a person has a choice between taking a car or traveling two stops on the subway or by bicycle, let him choose the second option and not burden the roads once again.
Such an approach has a positive effect on the health of citizens. People begin to breathe cleaner air, engage in physical exercises, moving from point A to point B on foot or by bicycle. I hope that this approach will come to us in the next 10 years.
Europe is trying to annihilate the importance of the car in the system of building cities and individual urban spaces
Residential complex "FINE TOWN", Kyiv. Project: archimatika
KS: How to make urban spaces in Ukraine as comfortable and safe as in Europe?
D.V.: The safety of the city is when you feel safe both in your apartment and outside it.
Public city spaces must be filled with people. They should provide people with the opportunity to linger and spend time there. On the first floors, you need to equip shops, cafes, offices, lighting, shop windows, space for recreation and entertainment. These are places where you want to linger, sit on a bench to read or work with a laptop, get to know your neighbors.
A person always feels protected in spaces where there are other people. And the more people, the safer the space. Take, for example, Khreshchatyk in the evening on a day off. Everyone feels at ease there. Because we understand: если что-it will happen - we will not be alone, we will be helped.
In our projects, we depart from the usual physical layout of the neighborhoods, streets, and spaces themselves and move on to planning the metaphysics of emotional relationships. It is extremely important for us to build a cohesive community, to create new values.
Your home is where you feel safe
Therefore, we reduce the density of buildings, despite the fact that in Ukraine this is perceived negatively. We have only about 40 apartments in one section. The number of floors is low, and each building has its own yard. He helps neighbors get to know each other better. As a rule, tenants who have children know each other by name - even if they do not live in the same section.
In such conditions, residents begin to perceive the yard as something-that's his: "I live here, here I will plant bushes so that the yard becomes greener." I'll connect Petya, Masha and my daughter's friend (whose mother's name is Natalya Arkadyevna) - together we'll go down, dig and sow the lawn." Social initiatives really bring people together. And the opportunity to establish close ties between residents is the first step towards a comfortable and safe environment.
Also, the perception of the environment and emotional safety is greatly affected by the absence of cars in public spaces. On a walk, you stop worrying that the child will run into a car now, and start walking along the path without looking back.
The safety of the city is when you feel safe both in your apartment and outside it
Children's playground in "FAYNA TOWN" residential complex, Kyiv. Project: archimatika
K.S.: Is it necessary to enclose such territory with a fence, to take any protective measures?
D.V.: Unfortunately, our experience shows that initially these safety measures are simply necessary. When the complex is only being built and the territory has already been formed, but the tenants have not yet moved in, the residents of neighboring houses begin to use it. Some come with children just to play on the playgrounds. But along with them come those who want to drink beer with vodka. And then the tenants of the new house discover in their sandbox a storage of glass containers mixed with more dangerous objects.
But I perceive fences as the primary stage of protection. It's like a child. He must grow up, get stronger, and then he can resist any adult. At this primary moment, the ego must be supported, protected, and then let go.
Everyone is forced to independently organize the security of their own property, additional security structures will be involved
When people have become closer and the community has strengthened, we remove the fence. Formed values are spread over nearby buildings. Residents of neighboring districts are also beginning to self-organize, trying to improve yards and abandoned areas, forming public budgets. People see that it is possible to live on-to the second, they understand that changes are beginning - initiative movements are born, young people appear who try to make their yard more comfortable.
If two housing units that stand opposite each other have the same landscaping, the tenants will not feel any opposition. They will not complain about neighbors who come to their sites and whatnot-then they break it.
In modern Ukrainian realities, protection of the territory of the complex is a forced measure. Because if any-sometimes the company drinks beer on a bench under your window, then it is useless to call the police: no one will come. Therefore, tenants are forced to jointly pay for security services, which will respond to minor offenses and protect public property: children's and sports grounds, green spaces.
Residential complex "Respublika", Kyiv. Project: archimatika
KS: And what about the protection of personal property in homes? Is it possible to say that the responsibility for monitoring the safety of personal space lies with the apartment owners?
D.V.: It can be said that everyone should take measures to ensure the safety of their property. But I would not say that everyone bears full responsibility for their own safety. All-after all, for this there are state structures that are obliged to ensure our protection in society.
In Switzerland, for example, the entrance doors are glass. And they are not closed. Local residents are not afraid of being robbed, because the property is insured, there is an alarm system, and the police always punish intruders. Are they very worried about the safety of their apartments? No, because they know: there is a well-functioning law enforcement system in the country.
In Ukraine, law enforcement agencies do not provide the necessary level of protection and it is impossible to rely on them. Therefore, everyone is forced to independently organize the security of their own property, they will attract additional security structures.
In modern Ukrainian realities, protection of the territory of the complex is a forced measure
KS: But in addition to protection from invasion, there is also protection from man-made disasters: fires, floods. And they threaten not only personal space. Should the owner of the apartment take responsibility for incidents of this type?
D.V.: I think that any person who creates risks for the lives of others should take them into account and be insured. Here you can draw a direct analogy between car owners and apartment owners.
The motorist is aware of the potential danger on the road. Careful driving can prevent an accident, but accidents are inevitable. In order not to cover losses out of their own pockets, car owners usually insure them.
Housing protection is the responsibility of each owner
Defective changes occur in apartments over time, which can lead to water leaks, gas leaks, short-circuiting... If you understand that you might flood someone or that a fire might happen, then, first of all, you are able to prevent the threat with the help of a fire alarm system and sensors And secondly, if you don't want to be financially responsible for emergency situations later, think about insuring your property.
Text: Kirill Sopot
The interview was prepared together with the Ajax Systems team, a manufacturer of security systems.
