To develop a development strategy for Yekaterinburg to host the EXPO 2020 exhibition (if, of course, Russia wins this right), the chief architect of Barcelona, José Acebillo, has been brought in. In an interview with Kommersant-Review, he told what distinctive features of the city he had already noticed and what infrastructural aspects, in his opinion, should be paid attention to.

— Tell us about your first impression of Yekaterinburg?

“I was struck by the relationship between the city and water—few megacities are lucky enough to have natural bodies of water. But for now Ekaterinburg has not been turned towards the water. Although, I am sure that the future development of the city lies precisely in its relationship with water surfaces. This must be taken into account when preparing for EXPO 2020. Particular emphasis should be placed on the line of contact between the city and water. This may apply to embankments and rivers located in the city. For example, the possibility of developing the area around the Iset River as a linear park and a distinctive element of modern Yekaterinburg.

— What problems do you see in the infrastructural and architectural appearance of the city?

— Cities have three levels of functioning: systemic, infrastructural and architectural. In the case of Yekaterinburg, the infrastructure and architecture are well developed, but some systemic things can be improved. For example, the city has wide roads with good traffic capacity, but at some points they simply do not function. There is a clear lack of parking spaces. In this regard, it is necessary to introduce intercepting parking lots, as well as the reconstruction of key transport hubs. The most important task is to complete the construction of the Yekaterinburg ring road, which will allow the transit flow of freight and other transport to bypass the city and relieve congestion on city highways. If we look at EXPO 2020, Ekaterinburg has a chance to show itself from a new side thanks to the transformation of existing transport flows and the introduction of new modes of transport, including those using urban water resources. In addition, the city has the potential to develop a high-speed rail network. I also drew attention to the uneven distribution of people in the Yekaterinburg agglomeration, which ultimately affects the overall indicators of residential density and complicates the development of the transport complex, making it less economically profitable.

— What advantages of Yekaterinburg could you highlight in comparison with other cities that have applied to host EXPO?

— In my opinion, Ekaterinburg has two main advantages from the point of view of urban development: the relationship between water and the city and the possibility of transforming the historical center as the main core for its future development and preserving its own identity. In fact, the city’s application for EXPO is an opportunity to identify the main directions of the city’s development.

— What should the city become by the time the exhibition is held, what will fundamentally change in it?

— We must understand that EXPO is a reason to enhance development. The exhibition will be a kind of tool to support the work that is already being carried out. Naturally, thanks to EXPO, the city should transform. What is important for Yekaterinburg is the legacy that will remain after the exhibition closes. Perhaps we should even use a term like “Ekaterinburg-2021” to talk to the public. After all, the city will reach another level; changes will affect the road network, public transport, hotel services, and the service sector. Believe me, after hosting an international event of this level, Yekaterinburg will be a different city, as happened with Barcelona, Chicago, and Shanghai. The most important thing is that holding the exhibition will put Yekaterinburg on the world map of cities. This is a tremendous opportunity to get the word out about the city and let others know about it.

— What changes will city residents feel in terms of social infrastructure?

— About 100 thousand additional jobs will be created in all service sectors. Major events provide an opportunity for economic diversification. Yekaterinburg will not just be an industrial city, it will move to a more modern level. The exhibition will give a powerful impetus to development, including tourism and logistics. A promising direction for Yekaterinburg and its suburbs could be the creation of conditions for active recreation and sports. In particular, we can talk about the construction of golf courses and ski resorts. The advantage of Yekaterinburg lies in its climatic conditions, which make it possible to combine summer and winter tourism and ensure a continuous flow of tourists. From April to October, for example, you can play golf here, and from October to April you can go skiing. This option is optimal for a city located at 250 meters above sea level. Few cities in Europe can boast such a combination.

Interview conducted by Tatyana Drogaeva

“Thanks to EXPO, the city must transform”