Kremlin Quay

Kazan, Russia

About the city. Over the past 10 years, 99 recreation places have been renovated and created from nothing in the capital of Tatarstan. The total area of park spots has increased by 280 hectares. Today there are 145 parks and squares in Kazan with a total area of 432 hectares.

Goal

https://youtu.be/qacuZWmJQaA

The authorities aimed to create comfortable conditions for recreation with sports grounds and pedestrian zones.

Implementation period. The construction took place in several stages from 2012 to 2015. In the summer of 2021, on the Day of the City and the Republic, two more quay areas were renovated.

Fact

In 2005, Kazan residents celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the city. After the old houses were demolished near the Kremlin, new residential blocks were built instead. In 2010, the Palace of Farmers, a spacious square and a green square appeared. All this also became a prerequisite for the creation of the quay.

Solutions

In 2013, the shoreline was expanded for the Universiade, and the first area of the quay was opened. Its length was 1 km, the amount of investments is 1 billion rubles. It is interesting that the name was given by the Kazan people. An Internet vote was held in the city. According to the results, the new quay became known as the Kremlin Quay. The landscaping of the entire boardwalk was completed in 2015. In the summer, the quay was officially opened for citizens. That season the diving boards and tribunes arranged by the quay became the venue for the World Aquatics Championships and high diving competitions.

In 2021, two more spots of the quay were improved (from the Kremlin to the Kirov Dam and from the National Library to the Millennium Bridge) by the development strategy of the coastal territory of Kazanka. A pedestrian zone, bike paths, benches and sunbeds were installed. Some trees, shrubs and flower beds were planted. There are sports areas from the library to the bridge, for example, football fields, a beach volleyball playground, etc.

The length of the Kremlin Quay is over two kilometres. It is divided into two zones: a pedestrian area an entertainment lane. In summer, the second lane is used for bicycles, rollerblades and longboards.

Quay infrastructure

There are many restaurants, cafes, bars on the quay, as well as attractions, illuminated fountains, pavilions, benches, sculptures and numerous other small architectural forms. At the beginning of the quay, visitors can find a free workout area and a pier.

The quay includes three zones:

• alley of arts with a creative gazebo for performances of artists, pavilions for exhibitions and bookcrossing areas;
• family alley with playgrounds, a nursery, swing combinations, a library for children and funny decorative elements;
• youth alley where people can play twister, chess and checkers and so on.

In summer and winter, from year to year, various events are held on the quay: concerts, exhibitions, sports competitions and other events. So, for example, in 2017 and 2018, the quay became a viewing point for several tens of thousands of spectators of the Red Bull Air Race.

One of the longest skating rinks in Russia and Europe and a “Winter Town” with illuminated sculptures and themed houses are opened on the quay every winter.

The skating rink is open every day in winter. Skates and other equipment can be rented. The entrance fee is 50 rubles per hour, rental is 150 rubles per hour.

Team

The City of Kazan, Mayor Ilsur Metshin.

Timeline

The Kremlin Quay is a fairly recent landmark in Kazan, which has become a favourite place of rest and entertainment for locals as it is one of the most beautiful places to spend time in the city. Today it is a commercial organisation of the city of Kazan.

The development of the coastal territory keeps going. On June 1, 2021, the registration of applications for the Open international architectural competition for the best development concept territory on the right bank of the Kazanka River was completed. 188 applications were submitted from 44 countries. It is planned to improve the territory with a total area of 8.9 hectares, surrounded by Sibgat Hakim Street, the Riviera hotel, the Kazanka water area and the future park, the design of which is under the direction of French landscape architect Michel Pen.

“This will be a new history of Kazan, the largest international project that connected together five continents and the world’s leading architects. We are looking forward to getting started! We will carefully consider all the projects, together we will choose a worthy one and launch,” Ilsur Metshin said.

On June 30, the results were announced. The jury (the mayor headed the jury) decided not to award the first place but to divide the second among three teams. The concepts of three more participants took third place. The winners were companies, consortia and author teams from Switzerland, France, Spain, England, Russia, the Netherlands and Ecuador.

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