Urban parks. Business as an inspiration for city transformations

/ Urbanism /

Business in its territories develops innovations and technologies, ideas and development scenarios, which then become the norm of civilization. This was the case in the Middle Ages, when the initiatives of guildsmen and merchants contributed to the emergence of Magdeburg law, and the industrial revolution shaped the philosophy and master plans of industrial cities. Currently, we are witnessing the maturation of concepts of cities into commercial, industrial ones і logistics facilities, innovation parks.

An example of the introduction of an innovation at the end of the 1878th century: electric lighting appeared in Kyiv in XNUMX thanks to Oleksandr Borodin, the chief engineer of the rolling stock service and workshops of the South-Western Railways. Borodin considered the improvement of working conditions and mechanization of railway transport to be the key to labor efficiency.

Therefore, he installed four "Gamma" generators and electric lamps brought from the World Exhibition in Paris in the premises of the turning shop of the railway workshops - as a high-tech production that requires high precision.

John Deere Service Center. Safe, ecological and energy efficient

In 1880, electric lighting appeared in the workshops of the Dnipro shipping company. The first major lighting project was the "Arsenal" plant in 1884. And only after industrial facilities did electricity conquer public areas. In 1886, the light of electric lanterns illuminates the avenues of the Château de Fleur garden, a favorite recreation spot for the people of Kyiv.

Model of the future: a closed system where maximum tasks are solved locally

Technical water is recirculated, after cleaning it is returned to the vehicle washing system. A system for removing oil products and biological treatment is provided for stormwater

A current example: the John Deere service center, where all civilizational problems have been solved on a plot of slightly more than 1 ha. According to Oleksandr Radchenko, general director of the ArtBudService company, requirements for safety equipment, alternative energy sources, and resource conservation were carefully prescribed in the TOR.

"A special attitude towards water. Rainwater is collected in the fire tank, the drinking well is in a special area, cleaning systems are installed, there is technical water, and there is drinking water. Technical is subject to recirculation, it is returned to the vehicle washing system after cleaning. A system for removing oil products plus a biological treatment system is provided for stormwater.

After the entire set of measures, it can be dumped into reservoirs. Domestic sewage is being cleaned in the same area, and the system is Ukrainian-made. Technologically, all risks are taken into account here. There is an enterprise nearby that produces water, and their artesian wells are very close," says Radchenko.

 

A commercial project is a marker of the well-being of the territory

Undoubtedly, commercial projects are aimed at maximum efficiency. Therefore, the appearance of any of them is a marker of well-being, business confidence in the successful future of this area, settlement, region, readiness to invest and take responsibility. Before choosing a location, a large-scale audit is conducted.

"The economic attractiveness of the region, the purchasing power of the population of this region, the average level of income, as well as the presence of large working enterprises or hubs in this city are evaluated. If we are talking about the district center, the coverage of the territory up to 15-20 km from the place we are interested in is taken into account for the assessment," the press service of "Epicenter" reported.

Again, most of the innovations that are still not always possible in public spaces are driven by business necessity: inclusiveness, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness.

"During the development of our shopping centers, we must take into account the aspect of inclusiveness. And these are not only ramps, but also a whole set of activities, the implementation of which in specific projects allows people with disabilities to visit our facilities. We take into account the convenience of moving around the facility (elevators, elevators) and entrance-exit, convenience at the level of fire protection systems, convenience of payment at the cash register and much more. You can get anywhere in our shopping center with a stroller or in a stroller.

Most innovations are driven by business necessity: inclusiveness, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness

We also take into account the requirements for the facility's energy efficiency. The high cost of energy carriers dictates its conditions: we implement technical and engineering solutions that allow us to optimize the consumption of energy resources. We are talking about both autonomous heating and enclosing structures that meet certain standards and requirements.

A special energy efficiency passport is developed for each object. Currently, we are not yet building completely green facilities. However, we try not to pollute the environment: we carry out primary sewage treatment ourselves. For example, we install special oil catchers in the parking lot, and grease catchers in shopping centers," Epicenter said.

You can get to any point of the "Epicenter" with a wheelchair or in a wheelchair

"Nova Poshta" is called a catalyst for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. Almost 20 years ago, the company created a successful business model by launching the express delivery market in Ukraine. "Nova Poshta" actually became the driver of the e-commerce market in Ukraine, creating an ecosystem that allows you to quickly start implementing online trade both within the country and anywhere in the world. And you can send your product from any branch of the company - whether in the city or in the village.

At the same time, a significant part of branches, more than 5 thousand out of 7,4 thousand, are opened under franchise. "We are developing a long-term partnership, so we carefully approach the choice of a partner. In addition to a number of technical requirements for the premises of the branch, including inclusiveness and the availability of transport, it is important for us that the partner is in solidarity with us in terms of values ​​and spirit, is on the same wavelength with us. "Nova Poshta" operates in the market in compliance with all legal norms, paying taxes to the state and local budgets.

The company officially employs all 28 employees who receive "white" wages and have health insurance. We are honest with our customers and our partners. We expect the same from our franchisees, that they adhere to the quality standards of Nova Poshta, because for customers there is no division, whether it is a branch or a franchise, for them it is all Nova Poshta, - the press service emphasized.

Franchise branches of "Nova Poshta" blur the line between client and partner

Franchise branches of "Nova Poshta" are examples of a gentle change in interaction with the consumer, when the boundary between the client and the partner is blurred. Small points of NP with an area of ​​50 square meters. m carry a powerful charge of development in the villages where they open. But the core of global changes are innovative terminals in the capital, Khmelnytskyi and Lviv. They symbolize the transition of business to a digital format, they are equipped with automated sorting of parcels and cargo, barcodes, a clear schedule, a delivery board, and more. The management of "Nova Poshta" has repeatedly voiced its intention to fully robotize delivery: to launch delivery with unmanned cars and drones.

 

Innovation park: live, grow, create

In large cities, the influence of point objects is not so significant. Changing the quality of the environment requires large-scale complex projects initiated by business and a systematic approach, clear rules for the development of territories from the side of cities. We have to admit: at this stage, the business shows more activity and interest. A vivid example of this trend is the UNIT.City innovation park.

"Currently, there is a situation where the rules of urban planning in Ukraine are decades behind the needs of modern people. As a private investor, we cannot change the entire city, but we are able to create an environment of a completely different quality in those areas that are leased or owned by us, because we are oriented towards international trends and embed it in the philosophy of the territory's development," explains UDP Vice President Vitaly Melnyk .

Using the example of the largest of the three innovation parks, the capital's UNIT.City, he explained what is included in the concept of a comfortable environment. The project envisages a complex building, offices and housing plus infrastructure. Offices for more than 15 workplaces and residential buildings for more than 5 residents are planned.

Innovative parks implement international trends in the philosophy of territory development

Kyiv Innovation Park "UNIT.City". The project envisages a complex building, offices and housing plus infrastructure

If the markers of well-being in such entities can be defined in a few words, it is the reduction of time loss, the quality and completeness of services for UNIT.City residents.

"We calculated: in the capital, a working person spends four to five weeks a year moving between home-work-home, which is not very comfortable. This problem will not be solved in a year or two, the transport collapse is only increasing, and the human desire to be more flexible and free is not going anywhere. Hence the key point of the philosophy: a person should receive all services within walking distance, because the most valuable resource is time," says Melnyk.

Office real estate is primarily focused on IT and the creative industry — from startups to established businesses. The target audience of residential projects is successful professionals aged 30-35. "For comfortable work, we create business campuses with flexible spaces, for life - a residential quarter, where there will be a kindergarten, a school, and even a university.

That is, not elite housing, but also not the cheapest in the area. It will be a model cultural environment, higher not in status or money, but in standards. We are creating the entire infrastructure to make it convenient to spend time with friends and loved ones: cafes, restaurants, sports and green areas for walking," says Melnyk.

The "Beacon of Innovation" art object in UNIT.City (Kyiv) has become an urban dominant

He emphasizes that there can be no single ideal infrastructure solution, which is why UNIT.City offers maximum diversity. There will be a Main Plaza, which will allow large-scale events, a party zone. A green walking area, close to the natural landscape, has already been laid out, it is comfortable to relax in a different format, such as yoga. Sports infrastructure, tennis courts, and a football field will be concentrated in the third place. Depending on the mood, a person will find a place for rest and recovery.

In terms of philosophy, essence and design, the projects of innovation parks in Lviv and Kharkiv are similar to those in the capital. However, smaller scales will allow some functions to be implemented only in a limited format.

The main task is to make the desire to live alongside work appear

All projects have a residential part. This is a necessary infrastructure element of our innovation parks, not a separate business element. But this is also a huge task — to make the desire to live next to work appear, so we put a lot of effort into making residential neighborhoods not just as comfortable as possible, but points of attraction," says Melnyk.

There is no possibility to place large-scale infrastructure projects on 5 hectares in Lviv. Therefore, there will not be a separate building for the university here - it will be placed in one of the business centers with 100-120 workstations, which will allow to organize training for about 300 students. A big plus of the Lviv location is that it is 20 minutes from the center, there are enough places in nearby schools, unlike kindergartens, which is why LvivTech.City has designed a kindergarten.

The first line in Lviv, an office building of 18 square meters. m of total area with parking, are planned to be completed in the second quarter of next year. "We are negotiating with a number of companies - potential residents, significant changes have certainly been brought about by the quarantine. Lviv is much more sensitive to these changes than Kyiv, both in terms of rental rates and companies' plans for expansion," says Melnyk.

The "Beacon of Innovation" art object in UNIT.City (Kyiv) has become an urban dominant

A kind of showroom was opened in Kharkiv last year, an environment was created with a set of functions that we would like to develop in the future. On 2,5 thousand square meters. m open university, co-working space, club offices, there is a cafeteria in the same building. Landscape design is currently being implemented, there will be a multi-purpose sports field, UNIT.Cafe and UNIT.Gym in separate buildings. They will be opened for residents by May.

 

Innovation as a style

All office buildings are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, certified according to the LEED standard, which is still an innovation in our country. Solar batteries are installed on the houses, and experimental energy blinds of one of the UNIT.City residents are installed on the cafe. "No one in Ukraine encourages the use of energy-efficient solutions, this is exclusively our initiative," Melnyk emphasizes.

The peculiarity of innovation parks is a bet on startups, but the latter are very mobile. At UDP, they accepted the challenge during the turnover of such projects, which is why they create club offices and flexible spaces. According to Melnyk, COVID-19 did not affect the dynamics of startups in any way, but it increased the trend towards flexible spaces. Thus, the lockdown has once again shown that commercial projects adapt to challenges more quickly.

A feature of innovation parks is a bet on startups

"We constantly consult with our partners abroad, in particular, regarding health and safety measures. During the implementation of the B11 campus project, which was opened this fall, a number of innovations have already been introduced, the effectiveness of which has been confirmed in the world. The lobby has mandatory elements such as disinfection and temperature screening, contactless access to common areas, etc. Everything else is at the level of a hypothesis — how to distance yourself, how to minimize piling up near the elevators, etc.

We are an innovation park not only in the sense of the industries we concentrate on. Yes, innovative products are created here, startups grow. Residents and residents will communicate with the service organization in a completely different way. The entire range of services will be digitized — from accounting for utility payments to an innovative security system. For example, we use the Face ID scanner, access to the business center based on facial recognition," says Melnyk.

Interiors of UNIT.City Kharkiv

Traffic management will also be digitized. UNIT.City is designed according to the principle of a car-free space - two-level parking lots will be arranged under all the buildings. It is planned that transport will be located there, and AI will be used to manage this complex system for more than 6 parking spaces, and routes will be laid for drivers to a free location.

 

Going beyond the perimeter in the city and business

"In fact, for Kyiv, 25 hectares of UNIT.City is a very small area. But we understand that by transforming the space into ourselves, we stimulate the transformation of the space around the perimeter. It's not just that the value of land and real estate is increasing — this place is becoming more attractive for other businesses to appear," Vitaliy Melnyk explains.

The emergence of such a powerful core of development, Melnyk is sure, should lead to the adjustment of the transport infrastructure of the entire city. For example, the DPT stipulates that Beloruska Street will be extended to the territory of the innovation park. This is not an easy task, because part of it has to pass through the territory of the neighbors. There are no developments with the "frozen" metro station with the working name "Herzena". "When we developed the concept of UNIT.City and approved the DPT, we asked the city about the subway. At that time, we were informed that it was not economically feasible to complete the station. Of course, it is in our interests to have a subway here, but will the city hear our arguments?" Vitaly Melnyk says.

Most of the barriers are planned to be landscaped

The developer is calm about the potential contradictions that gentrification can cause: "The only way to minimize negative factors is open communication at the stage of project implementation. We constantly have meetings with residents of buildings around UNIT.City, they have our contacts." The possible migration of residents of neighboring houses, and therefore the increase in the homogeneity of the environment, is not alarming. "We don't see a problem if some people decide to move and take advantage of the increased price per meter, this is a natural process," says Melnyk.

Unfortunately, UNIT.City has not yet managed to overcome the capital's disease of fences. "Any kind of demarcation is in every project. But we plan to make most of the barriers in the form of landscaping. Where it is necessary to ensure the safety of children, there will be a fence around the school. The territory of UNIT.City will be provided with security at the highest level, both parts: office and residential. If we talk about access from the outside, it will be controlled, as it is now. If you violated the rules of UNIT.City, access restrictions will appear the next time," Vitaly Melnyk explains.

A multifaceted infrastructure has been created, where it is convenient to spend time with friends and loved ones: cafes, restaurants, sports, walking green areas

"Perimeter development" also occurs in business processes: in order to develop, UDP teaches contractor partners the basics of LEAN management.

"We in the company have been implementing LEAN management for the fourth year - it is definitely an innovation in Ukraine, and in the world too, I don't know of any examples of a development or construction company that has managed to fully integrate LEAN management into its business processes and approach to work.

Take a look at the autograph that John Shook, director of the LEAN Institute, left us: "If you can solve problems in a fast-paced, multi-tasking, project-oriented job, you'll become super famous." But I want to note that the use of LEAN tools, especially 5S, significantly improved the atmosphere at workplaces and the order on construction sites, says Melnyk. — We understood that sooner or later we will have to go outside the company, the same Toyota teaches everyone "around the perimeter", and full implementation is possible when all project participants think alike.

It is a difficult task to train partner contractors, we conduct courses for them and observe a gradual increase in engagement. Digitization of work processes is very important, nowadays you either go digital or you go out of business. And, by the way, digitization at UDP was accelerated by the coronavirus, because when significant restrictions began, our digital solutions were in greater demand among contractors."

It is necessary to identify, discuss each problem and find its solution

The appearance of such a powerful core of development as the innovation park should lead to the adjustment of the transport infrastructure of the entire city

Another component of LEAN is continuous learning. "Moreover, it's not just training, but a change in thinking. Improvement is possible only when you understand the essence of the processes, strive to do better tomorrow. And from this follows one task - identifying problems. Traditionally, people tend to hide them, saying that it devalues ​​us. But LEAN is precisely about the fact that every problem must be identified, discussed, and its solution must be found. If the problem is not solved at one of the levels, it is raised higher and higher, to the level at which there is authority to solve it," Vitaly Melnyk explains.

 

"The city as an umbrella formation over growth points"

Vitaliy Melnyk

Vice President for Development of UDP Innovation Parks

Vitaly Melnyk, vice president for development of UDP innovation parks

"These tasks cannot be solved at the level of one project, the city needs a master plan in order to develop. All developers must be in the same coordinate system, with clear rules, zoning. Success lies in responsible regulation by local authorities. Developers cannot form urban planning rules. They should certainly be included in the discussion, but their word should not be the main one. Developer is about business feasibility. No one will build roads or bridges just like that, but as part of a complex development, where there will be an opportunity to make money, developers can be interested. And the duty of the state is to create infrastructure and form rules. Not prohibitions, but rules.

The developer cannot form meanings at the city level. Why should a foreigner come to the city? Not to look at a cool apartment complex or shopping center. And this is the scale at which the developer thinks. In order to create markers of success in Kyiv and the country, it is the government that must think, regulating the rules of building and the development of territories.

The master plan should clearly suggest where housing is needed, where the recreation area is, where the business center is, where suburban development is. And the developer, having received this information, looks for plots with the function that he can best sell. Indeed, points of growth are born from the interaction of the community with its needs and businesses determined to anticipate them. But the city itself should become an umbrella entity that unites these points of growth.

Conscious and thought-out rules should be adopted at the city level, and some issues at the country level," Vitaly Melnyk believes.

Vitaly Melnyk described his vision of a comfortable city:

  • Competently built full-fledged infrastructure, in particular transport, with calculated modern high-speed corridors and pedestrian, bicycle and jogging paths;
  • A developed system of municipal transport;
  • Accessible and safe park areas and recreation areas;
  • High-quality architecture and functional landscape design;
  • A comprehensive waste management system: not only separate collection, but also storage and processing;
  • High-quality water, ideally of drinking level;
  • Solving the noise problem. The main arteries of the city should be designed so as not to create discomfort in the adjacent residential areas.
Text: Oksana Hryshina