Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
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Olga Lyumanova, a graduate of the Landscape Architecture program, won first place in the Green Infrastructure category at the ArchiStar 2025 international competition. She presented her extensive project, "Biodiversity Conservation in the Urban Environment: A Case Study of Landscape Improvement of the Northern Part of Meshchersky Park and Tikhym Lake in the Odintsovo District of the Moscow Region," to the jury.
Olga created a manifesto for respectful care of wildlife in the face of inevitable urban expansion. Meshchersky Park, with its crown jewel, Lake Tikhyi, was presented in the project as a complex living organism requiring protection and a sensitive approach. The competition experts were captivated by the way the designer managed to combine seemingly incompatible elements: the modern demands of metropolitan residents for comfortable recreation and the urgent need to preserve natural flora and fauna.
Save rare species
Olga's work focuses on exploring methods and principles for preserving biodiversity when creating modern public spaces in the anthropogenic environment. Meshchersky Park is a large green space southwest of Moscow, home to endangered plants and rare animals. The park's northern entrance section, adjacent to urban infrastructure and therefore most heavily impacted by the anthropogenic environment, was chosen for the project.
"The design goal is not only to minimize the negative impact of human activity but also to increase the diversity of natural communities to enhance their resilience. Methods for eliminating destructive processes include reducing the negative impact of light and noise through buffer plantings of native plants, as well as the use of low-mounted lighting fixtures that minimize excessive light scattering. To preserve soil structures and communities, the project avoided the use of low-transmittance surfaces, and the preservation of the existing complex topography was also considered," says Olga Lyumanova.
Additionally, to enhance biodiversity, the graduate of the Agrarian and Technological Institute incorporated new habitats into the design: a meadow zone in the central part and a rain garden on the site of a flooded area. Thanks to the presence of Lake Tikhoye in the park, she proposed expanding the habitat of endangered plants—the Tabernaemontana reed (Scirpus tabernaemontani Palla) and the water chestnut (Trapa natans L.). These plants are already present in more remote areas of Meshchersky Park.
"The project's visual focal points are the multi-level bridge over the lake and the aerial walkway running through the pine forest. Both design elements, echoing each other with their flowing lines, aim to bring city residents closer to the green environment they often lack in their everyday lives. The project's aesthetic was largely inspired by the work of architect Henning Larsen and BO Landscape Architecture. This is evident in the flowing lines, terracing, and the use of natural materials and color as the main connecting components," says Olga Lyumanova.
Olga's project addresses the central question of our time: how to make a city comfortable for people without turning nature into a soulless decorative element. In her work, Tikhiy Lake finds a voice, and the park offers a chance for a sustainable future, where biodiversity is not a victim of progress, but its foundation.
Under the mentor's wing
The graduate's success is partly due to her wise mentorship. The high level of execution and depth of the project's development were made possible by the guidance of Anna Sergeevna Shchepeleva, Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Design and Sustainable Ecosystems. She is known for her passionate attitude toward academic excellence and her ability to foster students' ability to think outside the box, yet sustainably. Under her guidance, Olga was able to refine her idea, transforming her thesis into an internationally recognized project.
Winning the ArchiStar 2025 award is a mark of quality that paves the way for the project to reach real life. The competition jury, comprised of leading figures in architecture and urban planning, particularly noted Olga's work's high potential for implementation. Perhaps very soon, the northern part of Meshchersky Park will be transformed while remaining a haven for rare plant and bird species, and Tikhiy Lake will become not only a tourist attraction but also a symbol of how humans can communicate with nature in its own language.
We congratulate Olga on her victory and thank Anna Sergeevna Shchepeleva for her contribution to the development of the professional school! We hope this success becomes a springboard to new discoveries and large-scale projects that change the appearance of Russian cities for the better. After all, it is precisely from such love for local places—for Meshchersky Park, for the lake with its quiet name—that truly great architecture is born.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.