Alisa Aleksandrova

Project Location 
Kharkiv, Ukraine 

Topic 
Urban Regeneration Infrastructure, Vegetation 

Program 
Infrastructure Road & Highway, Subway 

Bridging the gap of urban fabric 

The project addresses overlooked resources and neglected areas activation. As opposed to the municipal proposal, an alternative scenario for the intersection of metrobridge, river and a future roadway focuses on preservation of green areas, development of cycling infrastructure and public space. 

Metrobridge in Kharkiv used to be a breakthrough of soviet times. Located in the low-dense area of private housing it contrasts with the environment and offers an intense cinematic experience that was under the threat of destruction due to the new road project. The road would not only eliminate the green area around the bridge formed by its clearance space, but also create a barrier for potential cycling paths along the river and marginalize the residential area, which is already being absorbed by the storages of neighboring whole-sale market Barabashovo. I challenged myself to preserve all the potentials of the area to activate the neighborhood and emphasize development of green-blue infrastructure. 

The plot is situated at the crossing point of five types of infrastructural grids: subway line inside the experimental soviet metrobridge, project of the new highway line along the bridge (planned in the general plan of 1930s, but never built), popular bicycle route along the river, the river itself and the green corridor along the subway line. At the same time it is a white spot on the map of Kharkiv between the historical center and the largest microdistrict in Ukraine — Saltivka, with low density private developments, no public spaces nor amenities and extremely unpleasant proximity to the back side Barabashova market — clothing and industrial goods market of 75 hectares. The concept suggests to revise the project of the highway, as it will inevitably consume the beautiful green path along the bridge, affect the habitat of the river, disturb acoustic and visual comfort of the neighborhood and block the cycle-path along the river. As long as it's necessary to create a road connection in this area to redistribute the traffic from Saltivka, It is reasonable to combine both transport lines and place the road above the metrobridge to minimize environmental impact and preserve recreational routes. Therefore this solution leaves the centerpiece for nature and emphasizes its crucial role in the welfare of the city. The project suggests creating an extra metro station above the river extending the central part of the metrobridge in order to make wild nature as well as bicycle and morning-run routes along the river accessible for every citizen. The station along with locker rooms and bike-rental will help to fit sport activities into a busy daily routine and facilitate micro mobility, stimulating further development of green spaces along the river and along the bridge, therefore healing the scars of urban fabric. Circular pedestrian bridges will provide public spaces with panoramic views on the river for local communities and green corridors for small animals.