Galactika Park is the product of a design-led approach. Drawing together engineering, ecology, community, and cultural values, we have proposed a significant new public open space. Underpinned by a strong sense of place and informed by inherent cultural values, Galactika Park is set to be a park for the people.
In an ongoing effort to build a stronger hub for the Kogalym community, we are collaborating with Lukoil to make this ambitious public space a reality.
At its core, Galactika Park will provide a physical link between key attractions and experiences within the vicinity, sitting between Galactika Sports and Cultural Complex and Yaranga Botanical Gardens. With pathways and greenbelts granting public access and leading people from one facility to the other, the time and space experienced between the two sites naturally called for something more.
The concept has resultantly evolved to include amenities that encourage community, recreation, connection, and relaxation. Incorporating walkways, sports grounds, playgrounds and gardens, the park will adapt to the season. With walkways giving way to skiing and ice skating and slides giving way to sledges, it will be enjoyed all year round.
Central to the park is an amphitheatre where the public can organize open-air cinema, theatre performances, plays and other events. With the ability to accommodate a 20-meter Christmas tree, the amphitheatre will allow the community to come together and celebrate traditional state and regional holidays.
In our concept exploration, we found a natural affinity with the three overlapping philosophies of Japanese garden design: Shin, Gyo, and So. Shin refers to the use of human-made materials and orderliness, So relates to materials left in their original state and Gyo is a combination of both.
Our resulting design adhered to these principles, shaping our design considerations as we balanced the relationship between the natural and built environments to successfully achieve a fine balance between people and place.
A core consideration has been the selection of suitable plants to withstand the Siberian climate. With average temperatures ranging from 30°C in the peak of summer to -45°C in the depths of winter, we knew our flora range selection had to not only meet the vision but also hold up with shifts between the seasons.
To cope with the dramatic variation of the Siberian climate the park will feature extensive planting of native plants from the entire Siberian Plateau, including planting the main lawn area with reindeer lichen.