POLTAVA

POLTAVA, 2008

The main goal of the client was to develop a huge shopping centre and DIY market close to the city centre of Poltava, a city of 300'000 inhabitants 350 km east of Kyiv. But first, a general master plan for the 55ha site was needed. On the site visit Maxwan found a typical block structure in the existing city centre measuring 280m x 170m, on which they based the design of the new neighbourhood. This structure not only continues the urban fabric but also incorporates a great potential for the new neighbourhood. While only the edges of the big court blocks are designed to be built, the interior of the block is left for additional more informal buildings. This way, a wide variety of different qualities of public, private and semi-public spaces exist within the court A linear park flows diagonally through the site, designed to connect two existing green areas into an eco network.