TRANSFORMATION OF THE URBAN SPACE OF ARKHANGELSK

Abstract

The emergence of a city, the creation of its infrastructure, and the population growth depend on many factors, butof decisive importance are the main city-forming functions. With time, the value of such functions changes, they can disappear. Thisprimarily concerns industrial cities. If there are no other sources for growth, the urban space begins to transform under the influenceof the closure of industrial enterprises, reduction of the population. This is often expressed in contraction and degradation of the cityareas being released from their functions. This is a problem for many cities around the world in the context of the changing economicparadigm and transition to a post-industrial economy. Arkhangelsk is an example of a city that was gradually involved in performingvarious functions from its foundation, but the main growth of its urban space began with the development of the timber industrycomplex. The modern reduction of available forest resources led to the closure of numerous enterprises of the timber industry, whichthreatens the existence of villages created around these enterprises. The author conducted a retrospective analysis of the urban spaceformation and transformation in Arkhangelsk, identified the main areas that have lost their former functions and are degrading. Thequality of the environment was assessed by the cost of housing in the city districts, its territorial disproportions in peripheral andcentral areas were identified. A study of the population dynamics showed a partial contraction of urban space, manifested in thegradual loss of population in former timber mill settlements, especially those located on islands. The city is losing tebecame its part due to Soviet industrialization. The author analyzes the prospects for the development of the urban space basing onthe study of the general plan of Arkhangelsk.rritories that