Podium landscape of residential zones

Abstract

The density of the population in big cities is so great today that it inevitably leads to a strong cramping of urban spaces and deterioration in the quality of the residential environment. Yard spaces are getting compacted, green areas are replaced by parking, shops, service enterprises, courtyards are crammed with cars, so pedestrian can hardly walk along the sidewalk through the parked cars. It is an extremely important task for both Russian cities and most major cities and megacities of other countries to find solutions to the organization of landscaping and greening of residential areas in such conditions. The article considers the organization of courtyard podium as a possible solution of the problem. With a similar organization of the adjacent space, the raised courtyard becomes a recreational zone. There is a possibility of its additional gardening, which contributes to the reduction of noise and air pollution, the formation of a cozy and chambered living space that improves the social living environment. The article contains the results of systematization and analytical review of the most successful design solutions of the world experience in the field of landscape design of residential yards on the podium level. At the same time, the economic and climatic features of the territories are analyzed, their architectural and planning specificity was considered, and the design options for both the podium itself and its upper part for planting are discussed. A number of recommendations on the architectural and planning organization of spaces of this type for residential areas of the Moscow metropolis with suggestions for the selection of plants corresponding to the climatic conditions of the central Russia are proposed. These recommendations could be useful for other cities and regions with similar social and climatic conditions. The results of the research described in the article can be useful for architects, constructors, landscape designers, public service workers, as well as representatives of the management team engaged in the formation of a set of architectural and building norms and rules for the design of objects of this type.