All Seasons Park
Year: 2021
Location: Tarkhanovo, Russia
Competition Entry: Tarkhanovo Park
Hinterlands Team: Conor O’Shea
Consultants: Grant Penfield Haugen
Tarkhanovo All Seasons Park is a local and regional destination that provides year-round opportunities for visitors of all ages and new habitat for insects, mammals, fish, and birds.
The park’s circulation, landform design, and planting accommodate a range of active and passive programming and are designed to withstand future weather changes resulting from climate change. Main components include the entry plaza, a wooden bridge, the woodland plaza, the great lawn, and a playground area that can be converted into a skating area in the winter. Vendors and small structures can be accomodated in the park’s flexible areas.
The park builds on the existing strengths of Tarkhanovo Park by upgrading the existing football pitch, creating a new riverfront pathway to connect visitors to the Shoya River, and integrating some of the historic circulation and views. New circulation includes a multiuse pathway with paved and gravel running pathways for cycling and running, along with exterior sidewalks and new interior pathways.
Much of the existing forest is retained, with the eastern edge left to rewild and serve as a forest demonstration zone for educational purposes. Trees that are cut down are repurposed as retaining walls and other site furnishings. In addition, new areas are designated for local students to plant trees from seeds or saplings, like previous students did in the 1970s.
The park’s planting strategy is inspired by both Russia and, in particular, Mari El Republic’s rich, multicultural past. Trees, shrubs, grasses, herbaceous perennials, and bulbs from the the Scandinavian and Russian Taiga Ecoregion are selected for their cultural meaning, ability to withstand climate change, and ecological function. Trees that refer to Russia’s poetic and mythological soul can be found throughout the park. Some existing Birch and Rowan trees are reused as retaining walls, helping express local identity and the site’s history.
The planting palette is integral in attracting park visitors, as it displays multi-seasonal interest, signaling a safe space with year-round human and animal activity. This extends itself to encouraging exploration of the fauna. From fragrant flowers that create distinct aromas to the buzzing of bees and sounds of grasses gently blowing in the wind, the park creates lasting memories by actively engaging all the senses.
The park is a new meeting point for all types of fauna. In conjunction with Yoshkar-Ola’s ecoregion, vegetation is selected and planted that allows wildlife to secure proper nutrition and shelter. Local identity is celebrated through a planting strategy that also anticipates an unpredictable climate. For example, plants with the ability to withstand drought or large storm events are selected.
