In Gomel approved the design code of the city: tell about the five main changes

The idea of developing a visual style is not new for Belarusian cities, but Gomel decided to go further and was the first in the country to give the design code legal force. The document has been formally approved by city authorities, and a process designed to rid the streets of the chaos of signage, poisonous flowers and visual noise has already begun. We went for a walk in Gomel and identified five main innovations that will change the appearance of the southern capital of Belarus.

We begin the tour from the historical center, where among the elegant facades of old buildings already appear “first swallows” of changes. One of the authors of the concept, head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of the Gomel City Executive Committee Larisa Kovaleva, immediately explains:

The design code divides Gomel into four clear zones: the historical part, the central main streets, courtyards and other spaces. The main principle here is gradation. The closer to the historical core, the stricter the requirements.

The first thing Gomel will try to regain its true architectural face. For businesses, this means no more cheap plastic in the finishing of shops, offices and cafes. In the historical center, wood and metal are now in priority - everything is as in the old days.

Larisa Kovaleva recalls a telling story: a few years ago, an old department store tried to replace massive wooden doors with modern sliding ones. City services had to convince the owners to return the entrance to its former appearance. Now for such cases there is a document and clear standards.

Similarly, colorful tiles will leave the sidewalks in the center - it will be replaced by a noble monochrome coating, and forged or cast iron casting of fences will additionally emphasize the spirit of the time. Change the second letter, equal!

The first floors of buildings in the city center are still habitually "noise" - every businessman tries to shout over a neighbor the size of his sign.

“The city facades should sound like one well-coordinated choir, not like a crowd,” explains our companion. We are not encroaching on the identity of brands, we are only changing the culture of their presentation.

In the historical zone, volumetric letters with internal white backlight without deaf substrates are now welcome. Signs must be placed along a single horizontal axis, creating a clear visual line. The test ball was a redesign of signs all on the same old department store. Beautiful? We address this issue to the residents themselves on the street. Gomel residents Ivan and Oksana Karpova share:

- We recently visited Kaliningrad and saw similar solutions with a single type of advertising, facades. It looked very pretty. We also have a cool historical center, which you want to admire without interference and foreign inserts.

Not so long ago, the sign was replaced by the Kalinin cinema. Architectural “old people” today set a trend for concise minimalism. Changing the Third Color Detox

No more than three shades on one facade is another useful design code know-how. Buildings will no longer be painted according to the random mood of numerous owners, but not everyone will be obliged to pick up conditional pink tiles from green plaster tomorrow.

- If the business managed to formalize its objects before the adoption of the document, they will remain in the same form. Adjustments to the new standards will have to be made when the owners need to agree on the extension of the lease, explains Larisa Kovaleva. The purity of perception will be provided by hidden details: the gutter pipes are disguised in the color of the walls, and the process of installing the corresponding concept of protective boxes for air conditioners is caught right on the city executive committee, which is symbolic. It was in this building that the landmark design code decision was made. Change the Fourth Opening Spaces

Gomel's infrastructure is also being transformed. Old public transport stops are already being actively changed to transparent pavilions that do not cover the cityscape and at the same time do not allow you to miss the desired bus due to poor visibility. Complement the picture neat vertical light boxes with a schedule.

Overly wide summer cafe terraces will also move, leaving more space for pedestrians. This same philosophy of openness goes into courtyards, where lawns and playgrounds will protect low fences from a safe picket. They do not overlap the view, but clearly zone the space. And on pedestrian paths there will be a mandatory tactile tiles for a barrier-free environment. Changing the fifth green all year round

Previously, Gomel lived on the principle of “beautiful only in summer”. Now plants will become a full part of the architectural code. The basis of plantings will be winter-resistant evergreen species: mountain pine, juniper, spherical thuis. To a single restrained range will lead benches with garbage bins. The latter will be provided with internal containers for quick cleaning. The problem of garbage containers in the yards will be solved due to their deepening, removal from the windows of houses and mandatory dense landscaping around, which will create a natural protective screen.

Discussing the adoption of the official visual style in the city, we note that among the many enthusiastic reviews on the network, a significant number of dissatisfied people appeared: some are worried about unexpected expenses in their business, others simply do not like to change something. The head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Development reacts with a smile:

- People, even during wallpapering at home, manage to quarrel. And here we have to create a design of the whole city - it is clear that dissatisfied will be. The main thing is that we have envisaged a very soft transition period and are ready for dialogue and adjustments.