The capital's chief architect called for a refusal to increase the area of residential areas. Sergei Kuznetsov believes that the center of Moscow is capable of accommodating new residential buildings, in particular, due to former industrial zones. Experts agree: there is room to build in Moscow.

From the outskirts to the center. The chief architect of Moscow, Sergei Kuznetsov, proposed abandoning the construction of new residential areas and building residential buildings in the center of the capital. In an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the official said that residential areas are the “wrong format” for human habitation. According to Kuznetsov, there is still room for residential buildings within the Circle Line.

“I believe that in Moscow there is generally not enough density, there is not enough density of the international network - since there is not enough developed infrastructure, we do not have a balance between density and developed infrastructure. That is, density can be increased if we develop the city’s infrastructure. Secondly, density should be mixed in functionality, that is, a person within one block should have the opportunity to live, work, and have fun. Then this density does not provoke an extra load on the transport and road network,” says Kuznetsov.

Investments in such real estate will really be profitable, says expert Ivan Bogatov. According to him, new residential complexes could be located on the site of former industrial zones.

“Paradoxically, there is a place in Moscow where to build. There is a huge ring of industrial zones, most enterprises have been privatized precisely for the purpose of future development. The idea is not to build up the center of Moscow with high-density housing. The real estate being created was multi-functional and of high quality the work of urban planners, with correct functional zoning when creating planning projects, of course, you can do what the architect wants, what the city needs,” Bogatov is sure.

By refusing to create new residential areas, the capital’s authorities will solve the problem of Moscow’s endless expansion, architectural critic Grigory Revzin is sure.

“Integrated development in the center is generally nonsense. When we say that development can only be complex, it means that we simply do not build inside the city. Moscow is endlessly expanding. I am not close to this point of view, and I understand that in the background the fight against Luzhkov was picked up by everyone. I didn’t pick it up,” Revzin explained.

The first 16 projects for redevelopment of Moscow industrial zones should be approved by the end of this year. As Sergey Kuznetsov stated, implementation of the project for the AZLK industrial zone has already begun, the next one will be the ZIL industrial zone.

Olga Volkova

The center of Moscow may be densified