Spatial planning problems of Naberezhnye Chelny in the post-soviet period

Abstract

Introduction. The research project is focused on the identification of formation features, the analysis and projection of functional and spatial development patterns of Naberezhnye Chelny, a unique Soviet city. The city’s rapid development dates back to the 70ies of the 20th century, when it was boosted by the construction of the Kama automobile factory in 1969. The city has a linear structure, which reproduces N. Milyutin’s linear city model. The objectives of the work are to identify features of the city’s structural and functional organization, to analyze the compliance between the present-day spatial structure of the city, advanced urban development trends and the customary mode of life lead by local residents, to set key development and transformation objectives in terms of the city’s functional planning structure and spatial environment. Materials and methods. The methodology represents an integrated approach that encompasses the collection, systematization and analysis of literary, project-related, and cartographic materials, comparison of data obtained from different sources and historic periods to identify urban development features and trends, the analysis of urban planning and legislative documentation, the reconciliation of field observations and the historic development of industrial cities with a view to the transition to a novel technological development paradigm. Results. Principal findings represent urban development problems identified by the co-authors, patterns of strategic spatial transformations of the city, and an integrated urban development model designed by the co-authors. Conclusions. The co-authors have designed a concept model for the spatial and territorial development of Naberezhnye Chelny as the basis for the development and update of respective urban and spatial planning documents. First-stage concept implementation actions are proposed.