Urban planning as a game
One of the concepts of modern urban planning is the city-cluster. Its idea is autonomy, which provides residents with a full range of services: work, education, medicine, culture, recreation. It is not limited to planning, architecture and environmental design, but also includes self-governance. It is necessary to have an active community, which would be immersed in the life of the city and make both current and strategic decisions regarding development. Only when people take an active part in solving issues and influence events do they begin to feel like owners of their home, street or city. In the opposite case, they feel like guests in their place of residence, and not its owners.
Play the City in Almere, organized for the Oosterwold area, former fields on the outskirts of the city
A good example of stimulating the participation of residents in the life of the city is the organization of Play the City game processes. This concept originated in the Netherlands and has already been tested in Amsterdam, Delft, Eindhoven, Utrecht and especially successfully in Almere. The idea is to provide its future residents and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to playfully place residential and commercial streets, parks, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure facilities on the territory of the district during the design of the new district. The game process involves the involvement of the widest possible range of future residents, where they arrive at the desired plan of the district as a result of discussions and consultations through compromises. In this way, planners, architects and designers get an understanding of society's wishes and can develop a new master plan much better.
Play the City for Oosterwold involved future residents, local authorities and banks
Thus, after seeing the results of a similar game process in Almere, the designers of the Oosterwold district even allowed the residents to determine the development of the block, the architecture of the houses and other aspects. On his own site the organizers note that an increase in the level of responsibility of future residents and entrepreneurs for their district was noticed. This is due to the fact that people made decisions on those issues that are usually taken over by the state. This is an important and quite unique example for the modern world, where people determined not only the location of street furniture, but also solved big long-term issues.
Play the City items used by future residents during the game
Recently, similar projects are beginning to appear in Ukraine. For example, last year, sales of the Vlasne Misto project (hereinafter referred to as VM) near Kyiv were launched. According to the plan, the city, which is located among the forests and lakes of Dmitrivska OTG, will be fully completed within 16 years. PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA talked about this innovative project in several materials. VM will become the first autonomous Ukrainian city-cluster with a population of 32 people. The concept envisages the creation of a sustainable settlement with low-rise buildings, a full range of services and infrastructure, as well as a strong community.
General plan of the Vlasne Misto project. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
Urban standard brand
The head of the project, Yaroslav Korniyachenko, set himself a doubly ambitious task: not only to introduce a new industry in Ukrainian urban planning, but also to implement it in extremely difficult times for the country. An important component should be an idea that, on the one hand, will highlight the progressive aspect of the new project, and on the other hand, will be able to unite people around the city and accelerate its development.
Yaroslav Korniachenko, CEO of Vlasne Misto
"In 2022 we were united, in 2023 everyone started to separate again. We need mutually beneficial relations in our society, says Yaroslav Korniyachenko. - Business, state and infrastructure facilities develop thanks to people, not robots. We need to maintain mutual understanding and responsibility, creating quality conditions for all residents. Joint efforts will allow us to build a sustainable economy and ensure the safety of our city. We carry the VM format as a brand of an urban standard, which can be near Lviv, Uzhhorod or in the future - near Kharkiv, as a way of rebuilding a new sustainable urban unit."
"The authors of this project have no ambition to become a fully autonomous city in a political or administrative format," explains CEO Vlasne Misto. — The priority is the development of the territory of OTG together with the already existing residents, who will become our primary employees, consumers, partners and participants of the cluster with their own businesses and ideas." The wage fund will also raise the level of the local economy, Korniachenko believes: "We do not pretend to be completely isolated from the rest of the world in order to build a completely independent economy. It is impossible. We just want to show that we can develop together, rejecting selfishness and ambition."
Maksym Golovko, architect and co-founder of the urban projects office "Urbanina"
Maksym Golovko, architect and co-founder of the urban projects office "Urbanina" and NGO "Agents of Change", gives advice to those who want to "glue together" a young community that is just being formed. It is also based on the principle of Play the City: "It is important to give people the opportunity to independently make joint decisions at the level of the house, block, city, state. They should be able to decide how they want to live in this city or settlement. Then they will be able to choose where to spend money, how this place should develop, how to organize leisure activities, as well as what public spaces should be available to them."
Harmony and freedom
In one of the previous materials of PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA, we discussed the issue of design code, in particular, using the example of VM. Using such a tool has many advantages: the city becomes more convenient and comfortable, visual noise disappears, and the opportunity to enjoy architecture appears. However, excessive control can limit the influence of the community on the city, which contradicts the idea of self-governance in a cluster city. In addition, it should be taken into account that during adaptation to the new environment, the citizens, as a rule, make corrections to the design codes proposed by the designers.
An example of the facade of a multi-storey residential building in VM. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
Maksym Golovko talked about what the authors of the project should be prepared for: "It makes sense to set strict frameworks for the design of facades, fences, landscaping. It is important for everyone to follow the rules that regulate life in the city, block or house. The public space is shared, the decisions of an individual should not worsen the lives of other residents. Therefore, it is important that architects, designers and managers establish rules for the organization of space. And this is exactly the task of co-creation: to find a general vision of how the city should develop, taking into account the restrictions and rules that exist in it. The general appearance of the city is the result of the joint efforts of all its residents. The more detailed the rules for the use of public space, the better the city looks. Another problem is that often these rules are not sufficiently regulated. Zelenbud can plant trees that do not fit into the aesthetics of the street. The buildings have different colors and degrees of glazing of the balconies, but here one must observe the general harmony and aesthetics. Public space has its own requirements, and they cannot be ignored."
The urbanist suggests a way for public creativity to co-exist with a holistic image of new residential areas: "To begin with, it is important to explain to future residents the rules and restrictions that apply in the area, as well as to provide means of influence to comply with these rules, for example, by prescribing conditions in the sales contract. It is then important to launch a communication campaign that explains why compliance is important. If the residents see the effect of the rules, they themselves will begin to participate in the formation and discussion of the public space, while preserving the general aesthetics. People need the opportunity to express themselves both in personal space and in public projects. There should be places for creativity: music studios, workshops, etc."
In the case of VM, the design code was developed by professionals. But a natural question arises: do residents have the opportunity to adapt the surrounding spaces taking into account their creative ideas, or are there still clear standards that do not allow violating the defined framework?
Yaroslav Korniachenko: "So far, only negative examples come to mind. We definitely will not allow the "Paint your city" action, which will result in defaced facades. The design code of VM is not burdensome, with minimal light and sound pollution, such that it takes into account the requirements of traffic safety and the comfort of pedestrians. There is a clear division of streets into active and passive, and all parking lots are hidden underground. In addition, modern architecture already dictates its style, in which there is no place for kitsch or bad taste."
Market square in VM. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
Urban public space, claiming individuality and its own identity, cannot remain sterile. But in order for it not to be filled with visual garbage, the CEO of VM suggests involving artists in the creation of art objects: "People can decide to decorate the street and say: we want to develop culture, put up a sculpture of an artist. The format of this sculpture is decided by the people themselves. We want to invite artists who will be able to work and develop their workshops in VM, but on the condition of communication with residents. Not all artists are ready to openly communicate or teach someone, but I am sure that we will find like-minded people."
Objects of public art often become the cause of loud scandals and discussions — this shows that Ukrainians react as acutely as possible to art interventions in the urban environment. But this is not a reason to avoid creative gestures - a lively discussion around another landmark in itself becomes a factor of consolidation and an opportunity for the residents of a new city to feel like a community that is able to form its own identity.
Trees that heal
In today's world, due to the unpredictability of the future and heavy workloads, the level of stress is increasing. Due to the war and economic instability, Ukraine is becoming a zone of special tension. Therefore, gardening and garden therapy can be one of the methods of relaxation and improvement of the mental state of people, as well as another way of consolidating society and creating good neighborly ties. Recently, this method is becoming increasingly popular in many developed countries. As defined by the American Horticultural Therapy Association, its essence is the involvement of a person in horticulture and plant growing with the help of a qualified specialist to achieve therapeutic goals. The main goal is to ensure peace and harmony with the environment.
An example of a low-rise residential building in VM. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
In VM, according to Yaroslav, residents of private estates will have their own plots, and therefore will have the opportunity to express themselves through gardening or horticulture. For those who will live in multi-apartment buildings, VM offers shared roofs on most buildings. There will be an opportunity to arrange greenhouses or decorative gardens. There will also be individual options: behind the apartment there is a fixed roof area on which a modular greenhouse can be located.
Yaroslav Korniachenko gives an example of a recent update: "We expanded our base beyond the main territory and developed the Farm Hotel project. There, our residents will have the opportunity not only to work in the fields and harvest, but also to participate in master classes or preserve for the winter.
Gardens and vegetable gardens will be integrated into the VM. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
Our program in the city is aimed at psychological relief. I personally like to visit my greenhouse - it is my recreation. We will have a kindergarten with a greenhouse and a school with open classrooms so that children learn responsibility. We make it possible for a person to relax thanks to a tactile household. We are also planning to implement the "agronomist for an hour" program, where a specialist will help you optimize the structure and health of your garden and vegetable garden. Achieving even the smallest successes in such things brings positive emotions - from the first few leaves to fresh vegetables grown on your roof."
The forest massif provides for the development and restoration of wild plants and mushroom populations. The forest must be restored together.
"People cannot be contained"
Involving all segments of the population in urban life is the key to creating an open and innovative environment. Not only active middle-aged residents, but also young people and retirees are of great importance for the formation of a diverse, dynamic city. It is important to avoid alienation among different social groups.
"You can't keep people, especially young people," Maksym Golovko notes, "but you can attract them with interesting objects, events and public spaces in the city." By creating active places, cultural events and multifunctional areas, we can make cities attractive for everyone. It is important to understand why certain places are popular and to create similar ones where we want to maintain activity."
In modern cities, many residents, regardless of their age and physical activity, need places that will help them maintain and improve their health.
Street and building VM. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
According to Yaroslav Korniachenko, there will be a rehabilitation center for those who need recovery, as well as for people with chronic diseases in VM: "Today, the need for rehabilitation concerns not only the elderly, but also different age groups, including the younger ones. This can be due to medical conditions, war injuries or birth defects. In our city, we will create a rehabilitation center that combines psychological and labor rehabilitation.
This is an important strategy for society in general. Today, people are worried about the risk of losing loved ones, their own life, or even reaching old age, because they are afraid of being alone. Retirement programs are not very loyal, and geriatric centers are in short supply. It is scary to imagine that you can get sick and feel that you have become useless. Already today, we have to influence the support of such people, because tomorrow each of us may find ourselves in the same situation. Therefore, we pay special attention to educational institutions where you can exchange experience and communicate with others. It is important for us to pass on experience and knowledge from generation to generation."
City square in VM. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
A city from scratch
Administrative and political issues are an important component for the successful development of a cluster city. Establishing clear mechanisms will avoid most problems from the very beginning, provide reliable service and effective control. The authors of the project explain that in the future they plan to give the new settlement the status of a city.
Yaroslav Korniyachenko: "The legislation does not allow registering a city without residents. We position ourselves as a city, but before the arrival of residents, we are clearly part of the Dmitrivska OTG. If we reach 10 inhabitants, we can, of course, register our administrative unit, and the electoral legislation will affect only within the limits of our project. But in this way, we admit that we have lost the competition for the development of the society that already existed here before Vlasne Misto appeared, for the understanding of joint development of the territory and open coexistence with the existing residents and authorities, and that we have, figuratively speaking, "lost the battle" against segregation .
We have no ambition to have our own head of the OTG. We want our people to influence the development of the city themselves, understanding the amount of taxes paid. As it was, for example, in Energodar before the occupation, where most of the city council members were employees of the city-forming enterprise — ZAES.
The way to build trust, not to divide with existing residents, is about openness and that we all have to influence the economic development of everything around us.
We want to show that we, as a large cluster, a union of entrepreneurs, have no ambitions to become an autonomous city, to shut ourselves behind a fence and elect our own mayor. We are able to enrich OTG as a budget-generating enterprise, to create development, education and even medical programs together with the community. Today, OTG can still pay for children's education in kindergarten, but it already needs additional funds to build new kindergartens. Communities have a subsidy budget, and therefore are forced to apply to various donor programs to receive non-refundable donation funds.
Sports complex VM. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
To improve the system, it is necessary to involve large enterprises or cluster cities. This will create a new mechanism of communication between the managers of OTG and enterprises that pay taxes, taking into account the opinion of residents. It is the residents, paying taxes and demanding high-quality communal services, who make a significant contribution to the development of the city. Such an approach should remind that the city works for the benefit of its residents, and not the other way around."
A service cooperative will be created within the cluster. It is through it that residents will have the opportunity to influence the budget. They will know how much money is coming in and where it is being spent, and can even produce economic development programs to increase the budget. It is the residents who will have the opportunity to dispose of a certain budget that can reflect any manifestations of the community's will, such as support for boarding schools or the armed forces. If the service is of poor quality, then the citizens will be able to create their own condominium, where they will control the quality of services themselves and avoid overpayments, assures Korniyachenko: "But the residents will not need to take responsibility for the construction of playgrounds or the management of the city with its numerous infrastructure facilities and places to rest. This will be the task of the service company, it is already calculated in our business model."
VM will have a large number of sports facilities. Visualizations courtesy of Vlasne Misto
In general, the participation of residents in the life of the city and their sense of involvement in its development is a critical factor. Their attachment to the city where they live depends on how much people feel their importance to society and how strong their ties are with neighbors and relatives.
A significant number of utopian urban experiments failed precisely because the planners actually "overworked" them: they provided a ready-made rigid scenario of life in a new residential complex, district or city, leaving residents with only one role - consumers of goods. Deprived of space and opportunities for their own initiatives, residents very quickly lost interest in social life, limiting themselves to landscaping within their own apartments.
If a person loves his city, he will not look for extra reasons to leave it and migrate to other cities, regions or even countries. On the contrary, she will be interested in finding opportunities to improve her city and will actively interact with other residents to achieve common goals.
Yaroslav Korniachenko intends to unite thousands of future residents around the idea of flexible development of a modern cluster city on a pre-prepared framework: formed infrastructure and legal and organizational base. The VM team believes that community interest and creating conditions for effective self-governance is the key to joint growth, and plans to use all possible methods of public participation.
