Revitalizing the Heart of Minsk: A Strategic Framework for the Ecological and Urban Regeneration of the Svisloch River

Abstract

This thesis investigates the ecological and urban regeneration of the Svisloch River in Minsk, focusing on its central urban segment. Historically a natural watercourse and public axis, the Svisloch has undergone a significant transformation into a technically regulated water body, reflecting the city's changing priorities as a result of Soviet-era infrastructure development and contemporary urban challenges. Today, the river's physical fragmentation and ecological degradation emphasise the wider loss of public access, spatial continuity and environmental vitality.

Responding to these challenges, the project develops a strategic framework for revitalising the Svisloch water-green corridor through integrated design measures. The proposal addresses four key aspects: ecological restoration through natural systems; reactivation of public space and soft mobility infrastructure; spatial reconnection of riverbanks; and cultural reinterpretation of historically rooted forms. At the core is a pedestrian bridge that functions not only as infrastructure but also as a symbolic public pivot, connecting the main green spaces and transforming the river into a living landscape.

The project, based on case studies and informed by international best practice, sees the Svisloch as an environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive and culturally embedded urban system capable of maintaining a long-lasting, sustainable and sustainable urban environment.

Popular Abstract

The project envisions transforming Minsk’s central riverfront into a vibrant , unified,
and resilient urban landscape. Once a city's natural lifeblood, the Svisloch River is
becoming more and more estranged from its ecological and public roles; Soviet - era
projects have strengthened its banks, and its natural flow has been restricted to a
controlled, engineered channel. Currently, this division appears both physically and
metaphorically in the metropolitan environment.
The proposal aims to restore ecological, geographical, and cultural oneness through
a series of targeted interventions. At its core is a pedestrian bridge that serves as an
infrastructural and spatial link between two disconnected park areas in the heart of
the city. The elevated concrete embankments along the river's banks have been
reconfigured to serve as platforms that encourage public involvement, promote
biodiversity, and buffer the water and land.
The project's strategic framework is based on local research and global precedents.
It aims to restore Svisloch as the center of Minsk by developing sustainable solutions
and making appropriate modifications to its historic sites.
The idea behind this project is to replace the outdated infrastructure with systems
that are more flexible and human - centered. The river will be used to foster a dynamic
community by integrating its scenery, identity, and infrastructure.

• author: Siarheyeva, Palina
• supervisor: Andreas Olsson
• organization: Department of Architecture and Built Environment
• course: AAHM10 20251
• year: 2025
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Arts and Architecture
• keywords: Urban river regeneration, ecological infrastructure, Minsk, water-green diameter, public space revitalization, nature-based solutions, pedestrian connectivity, cultural landscape, post-Soviet urbanism, sustainable mobility, climate adaptation, civic infrastructure, layered urban strategy, participatory design, heritage and transformation
• language: English
• id: 9198839
• date added to LUP: 2025-06-16 09:41:57
• date last changed: 2025-06-16 09:41:57