Mitino Park: Housewarming
2014
A park is essentially a pristine grove with winding pathways for strolling, adorned with flowerbeds and play areas, typically enclosed and well-maintained. Our park fits this description perfectly.
But why "Housewarming"? According to Dahl's dictionary, it signifies "a home or dwelling where someone has newly or recently moved, a new state of being." We believe that this is precisely what our park needs – a new state of being while cherishing its distinctive features. It's like the "old walls" where the original function remains, but in a fresh "light."
The functional zoning of the park is preserved but enriched. This includes an updated central square, barbecue areas at their traditional spots, a new beach area by the pond (in the familiar location), a sports area on the existing enclosed premises, a new zoning arrangement for the pond that preserves its natural beauty, a year-round pavilion serving as a boat station in summer and a skate rental point in winter. The spring, now framed with a glass pavilion, takes on a new significance. The former water tower assumes a new function. Children's playgrounds remain in their original locations but with new enhancements. The "cemetery" area is retained with a revamped bypass path. New entrance markings are introduced but in their original positions.
The pedestrian and transportation structure of the park is retained but supplemented with new pedestrian "ribbons of connectivity." The "promenade ribbon" traverses the entire park, connecting the central square, the adjacent neighbourhoods, and the metro. The "trail ribbons" encompass historical pathways and a new ribbon of bike lanes encircling both the entire park and the pond.
The park's planting structure remains but is enhanced with visual and landscape connections. The introduction of vibrant "trail ribbons" flowing along and across the park, shrubs planted along all the ribbons maintaining their colour even in winter, new plantings of fruit-bearing shrubs as an addition to the existing apple orchard, where residents can partake in harvesting, and the "healing" of old apple trees through artistic compositions of various shrubs and trees (colourful bright "tongues").
Now, "adorned with ribbons," the park is reborn and ready to welcome its visitors.
Authors: Mikheil Mikadze, Mikhail Knyazev, Arseny Hechinashvili, X.Y.Z. Architects, Florissant, SHMA