Workshops
Harborpolis Odessa 2012
Odessa is the most important port city at the Black Sea coast and has a great geopolitical importance as goods handling center at the intersection of Europe, the Caucasus and the Orient. With 1.2 million inhabitants, Odessa has a tremendous urban dynamic that is being reinforced by its „mediterranean character“ and the image that has been created by Sergej Eisenstein's classic film "Battleship Potemkin".
The content of the design programm „Harbourpolis Odessa“ was made up of three subjects, of which students could choose one: Two of them focusing on inner city locations at the port and next to a park. The projects were to focus on the relation between „town and water“ / „town and park“ by proposing a concept for a transformations and modernisation with the involvement of the genius loci. The third topic focus lay on the relation between „town and public space“. The place of intervention was free of choice.
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Student Projects
The conceptual formulation of the project is an extension of Odessa to the North of the old town, in the harbor. For this goal, a pier currently used for container loading would have to be metamorphosed. The planning zone covers a surface of 11 ha and is totally separated from the rest of the city by railways, a transit highway and the difference in level.
The project dimensions and solutions are in imitation of the existing environment. The typical block size from the old town (130m x 130m) will be used on the pier and adapted to the characteristics of this strip of land in the sea. The heterogeneous program of living, working, shopping spaces and restaurants offers an ideal mix.
The shopping and office zone begins in the south and ends with a park and a museum – as attraction and landmark of the project – to the north. From the eastern shore to the western shore the height of the buildings and the density are increasing by 1 to 2 stories in the buildings used as shops and up to 4 to 5 stories for living and office buildings in the western part of the pier. With this strategy a direct view on the new yacht harbor and the cruise boat terminal as well as an efficient exposure to sun light from the south-east are guaranteed.
The pier is accessible with vehicles on the western shore road, leading directly into an underground parking area whereas the main boulevard and the eastern shore promenade are pedestrian zones.
Christian Fuchs
Christophe Waber
master students
TU Vienna
