Yaanila Country Park

Yaanila Country is located just outside of the ring of St. Petersburg, housing up to 9000 residents in a new mixed use urban quarter. The plan for Yaanila Country breaks with the current tradition of individual developments, increasingly depriving St-Petersburg of its public and green spaces. The new quarter is organized around a large park, amid residential and working neighborhoods.    All required sport- and playground facilities, traditionally located in fenced of private blocks, are combined in this central and public heart. Moreover the park anchors the new district in the surrounding forest landscape, rooting urban functions in a natural environment. As a cohesive green core, it provides a shared identity to all surrounding neighborhoods, reintroducing the creation of public space by private residential developments. slider The edges of the park are treated as interfaces, establishing strong connections with the surrounding neighborhoods. On the western side as a formal boulevard, accompanied by evergreen pine trees, creating a lasting experience in every season. On the eastern side as an informal walkway, planted with flowering shrubs and trees, creating a continually changing image. Both edges are interconnected by a network of paths, making the park an essential part of the daily walking routine of the residents. Sport grounds are clustered, and serve, together with the kindergartens, as neighborhood destinations. Playing facilities are spread over the entire park, and create an animated 3 dimensional landscape. The topography is carefully defined, to maximize the usability. Small hills offer dry playgrounds during a large period of the year, while depressions can temporarily store water. A series pocket squares and wooden piers creates unique anchor points along the park. Integrating all these different strategies, the park offers an inspiring and diverse realm, turning private facilities into public amenities.