The Northern River Terminal of Moscow

Public space for The Government of Moscow

The Northern River Terminal known as the Five Seas’ port is a Moscow landmark public space and transportation hub. The River Terminal was built in the Stalinist Empire style in 1937. Its characteristic features include a spire decorated with a star from the Kremlin’s Spasskaya Tower and a wide central staircase. In 2020 the North River Terminal has been reinaugurated after 2 years of reconstruction. During the reconstruction most of the original elements of the building and interior details were preserved, and the missing parts were overhauled according to the historical patterns.

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The Northern River Terminal by Olga Smirnova

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Public space by Olga Smirnova

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Olga Smirnova The Northern River Terminal

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Olga Smirnova Public space

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The Northern River Terminal of Moscow Public space Media Articles

Our articles on The Northern River Terminal of Moscow, prepared for immediate use, are offered in several languages, including Dutch, German, Arabic (Standard), Hindi, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Italian, French, Turkish and English.

Unique Properties

A unique historical piece of architecture from the 1930s, the Palace of the Northern River Terminal, was restored. During the reconstruction works it was possible to preserve most of the original elements of the building and interior details, and the missing parts were overhauled according to the historical patterns. The restoration project was aimed at reviving the historical services of the river terminal as a transportation infrastructure and a place of mass attraction.

Tags

historical reconstruction, urban planning, piece of architectural heritage, transportation hub, place of mass attraction

Production Technology

The successful synthesis of architecture, sculpture and painting made the station building an outstanding example of the Stalinist Empire style. The basement of the building is made of polished red granite, the main portals are made of gray-green diorite, combined with the whiteness of the gallery columns, the color composition enhances the expressiveness of the building. The design takes into account the natural slope of the land towards the embankment; the architects used it to create the transition of the building from two floors of the park side to three floors of the quayside.

Design Challenge

The main goal of the restoration was to preserve the original appearance of the river terminal. At the same time, it was decided to use modern technologies and materials in the design of the park's spaces. During the restoration, the greatest attention was drawn to the restoration of the Star, which was located on the spire of the Northern River Terminal.

Project Duration

The restoration works started in August 2018 in Moscow, Russia, the inauguration of the renovated river terminal was held in September 2020.

Operation Flow

The restoration project was aimed at reviving the historical services of the river terminal as a transportation infrastructure and a place of mass attraction for year-around recreation activities. Besides, the palace-terminal can now be used again to shoot movies and hold city events.After the restoration and adaptation for contemporary usage the Northern River Terminal is able to accommodate 4 vessels at a time, and 24 vessels a day. As at its best the river terminal capacity will amount to 1.5M passengers a season.

Research

The research and design institute of urban planning MosTransProekt created the project for improvement and landscaping of the Northern River Terminal and transport services schemes on the territory. It was possible to preserve most of the original elements of the building and interior details, and the missing parts were overhauled according to the historical patterns.New materials, systems of electrification and water supply would preserve the environment. E-vehicles are used on the territory of the Northern River Terminal to decrease negative footprint for the park territory and nearby residential areas.

Inspiration

The Palace of the River Terminal is a piece of architecture heritage of regional significance and is one of the most-known symbols of Moscow that is captured in many famous movies Volga-Volga, Novaya Moskva, Colleagues, Vertical race, Domestic Circumstances and others. The main architectural design theme of the Northern River Terminal is the depiction of Moscow as the Harbor of the Five Seas.

Image Credits

The Government of Moscow

Project Overview

The Northern River Terminal of Moscow Public space has been a Bronze winner in the Urban Planning and Urban Design award category in the year 2020 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

Bronze Recognition

Olga Smirnova was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2021, a testament to excellence of their work The Northern River Terminal of Moscow Public space.

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