Urban Planning Principles in Design of the Ethnographic Centres

Abstract

Federation Government Resolution on Adoption of the Concept of the Federal Target Programme "Development of the Domestic and Inbound Tourism in the Russian Federation (2019-2025)" foresees the comprehensive development of the tourist clusters in the priority types of tourism1. Within the tourist industry, the ethnic tourism is one of the priority directions, which has the great potential, but is still in the stage of infancy. Currently, there are 49 ethnographic centres in 36 regions of our country. In recent years, the trend for creating the ethnography-oriented recreation centres in the south of Russia becomes evident. In the south of Russia the following destinations are referred to such centres: the ethnographic centre "My Russia" in Greater Sochi on the territory of Rosa Khutor, the “Ataman” exhibition complex in the village of Taman in the Krasnodar Region, the ethno village of the Nekrasov Cossacks and Molokan Spiritual Christians in the Stavropol Region, Novokumsky settlement, however, their number is not enough for the territory of the south of Russia. The acquaintance with the experience of building and designing the ethnographic facilities has led to the conclusion, that nowadays the creation of a new type of the ethnographic centres combining the education and recreation functions with resting in the natural environment is highly relevant. However, the normative and methodological documents regulating their creation are missing.Materials and methods. The research included: the analysis of development of the various types of the ethnographic facilities using the analytical and graphical analytic methods, field research and photo-fixation, as well as the comparative analysis of the functional zoning and layout, spatial arrangement and composition of the ethnographic museums and the ethnographic parks "in the open air". The article investigates the foreign and domestic examples of the facilities.Results. Based on the study of the ethnographic facilities, the main scientifically based urban planning principles for creation thereof have been distinguished, their features and territorial planning distinctions within the structure of the settlements have been found. The research results are being piloted within the conceptual project of layout and development of the tourist ethnographic centre in the city of Semikarakorsk, Rostov region. The proposed project aims at creating the tourist ethnic environment within the structure of the planned urban settlements of the south of Russia for preserving the Don Cossacks’ traditions and boosting the development of the ethnic tourism in the south of Russia.Discussion and Conclusion. The layout and functional zoning of the ethnographic centres depend not only on the urban planning situation, location of their territory within the structure of the urban entities, but also on the identity of the culture represented on their territory. The results of the study enable the geographical expansion of the ethnographic centres across the south of Russia, increase the range of the recreation and education services provided within the urban environment through their enlargement and transformation, bring a person closer to the natural environment and different peoples’ national environment. This will enable each ethnographic centre to demonstrate its distinctive features ensuring its individual character.