Abstract
The future project of cities and highly attractive places must respond to global environmental goals, to historical and architectural heritage, and to the needs of local environments and quality of life.
Taking on that issue, this research project originates from the exchange of experiences between the Polytechnic University of the Marches (Italy), the Moscow State Forest University and the A&P Studio (Architettura&Paesaggio, Italy), who initiated the research on urban landscapes with particular reference to the sustainable regeneration in certain parts of the metropolitan area of Moscow, the saturated city at the top of the network of global cities, taken as a case study on the world level.
The trial field is the net of the “infra” spaces of Moscow, which is re-established by architecture restoring links which are broken by the infrastructure.
Infrastructure and its spaces, generally regarded as the developing drive behind the territory, in this study become the re-governing instrument of the city and opportunity for wise dialogue between the economic-financial, environmental and cultural spheres. That is possible through the project of multi-functional Hubs: they recover the marginal spaces of railway areas and tends to restore a state of dynamic equilibrium between multimodal mobility, parks and a functional mix of public services.
From the “Social Condenser” of Soviet Constructivism, the research alights on the catalysts (the new Hubs) of the collective life, which lead to the innovative use of public transport in relieving areas saturated by private transport. «Would it be possible to use the highway as a means of education?» (The view from the road, Kevin Lynch 1964). The “Moskva 7 Kholmov” idea-project replies by introjecting previous theories and more mature situations (Archigram, Yona Friedman, OMA/Rem Koolhaas) with ecological theories (Forman and Sperling).
The study suggests the overcoming of the evolutionary trauma of the metropolis in a project that reunites the senses of place and time through innovative architecture dedicated to people on the move. By skilfully balancing the infrastructural, urban, ecological and landscaping points of view, the new architecture fulfils the role of infrastructural shock absorbers, thanks to which the “Slow Metropolis” becomes a possible utopia: Moscow, urban-architectural utopia of the Twenties, becomes a positive example of the functioning of infrastructure and architecture for a mobile society.
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The “Moskva 7 Kholmov” research-project involves the collaboration of Vera Frolova (Dean, Moscow State Forest University), Arch. Olga Moskvina (A&P), Arch. Yulia Kuznestova (Moscow State Forest University) and Arch. Antonio Feligiotti (A&P).
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![Dr. Cecilia Carlorosi (Eng. Arch.) obtained the Master Degree at the Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy, with full merits and honour, and Phd in Engineering Sciences at UNIVPM with thesis entitled “Osmo.polis: socially useful and eco-friendly infrastructures”. Since 2009 she cooperates continuously to the training and research activities at the Department of Civil and Building Engineering, and Architecture, Faculty of Engineering Ancona, where at present she is post-doctoral researcher in Urban and Architectural Design, both developing national research projects as well as scientific programs for international inter-university cooperation and taking part to international conferences. She works as a teaching assistant in Architectural Design within the Building Engineering - Architecture degree course at UNIVPM, Università Politecnica delle Marche Italy.](http://media.springernature.com/lw685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.7603%2Fs40707-014-0025-z/MediaObjects/40707_2014_25_Fig1_HTML.jpg)
![Dr. Fausto Pugnaloni is an Architect and a Full Professor of Architectural Design since 1994 at the Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy. He is also a General Secretary of UNIADRION (Telematic University of the Adriatic Ionian Basin). He is the Ex-Dean of the Department of Architecture Survey, Drawing, Urban Planning and History at the Faculty of Engineering UNIVPM, and Ex-Dean of School of Architecture and Building Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering at UNIVPM and Deputy Rector for International Relations UNIVPM. He is also a Full Professor at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. He coordinated the “Master Mega Yacht Planning”and the “Master in Eco-compatible Architecture” He coordinates the International PhD Curriculm “Environmental heritage and sustainable changes” at UNIVPM. He coordinates international cooperation projects with MAE and ICE (Hue City- Vietnam, Wien Kun Kam in Chang Mai- Thailand, Chinese Great Wall).](http://media.springernature.com/lw685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.7603%2Fs40707-014-0025-z/MediaObjects/40707_2014_25_Fig2_HTML.jpg)
![Gabriele Filippini is an Architect and Partner of A&P Architecture Studio, operating in Russia within the fields of architecture, environment, cultural landscape and research. The office is currently involved in the development of Mechta ecotown for 30.000 inhabitants in Moscow. Winner of the design contest for Bulgakov Museum concept idea, he also participated to White City project for urban requalification of Volkonka Museum District.. He was jury member for Sokolniki Park design competition and realized Skolkovo Park project.. He is the President of A&P Architettura&Paesaggio.](http://media.springernature.com/lw685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.7603%2Fs40707-014-0025-z/MediaObjects/40707_2014_25_Fig3_HTML.jpg)
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Carlorosi, C., Pugnaloni, F. & Filippini, G. Eco-Infrastructural Labs for Urban Utopias Moscow as Slow Metropolis. GSTF J Eng Technol 3, 25 (2015). https://doi.org/10.7603/s40707-014-0025-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.7603/s40707-014-0025-z