Published on: 2026-05-25
Source: Saint Petersburg State Architectural and Construction University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Team No. 1 presents its project. From left to right: Mariya Efimova, Kamil Khabibulaev, Rukaya Muhammad, and Angelina Pushkaryova
The All-Russian Architectural Festival “ARH-IDEA 2026” has concluded in Dagestan. This year, the event was held for the first time in this region and was timed to coincide with the Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia. The festival programs were conducted with the support of the leadership of the Republic of Dagestan, the Ministry of Construction, Architecture, and Housing and Communal Services of Dagestan, as well as the administration of Makhachkala.
Within the framework of the competition program, five teams presented their concepts for the revitalization of the coastline. The first place in Team No. 1 was taken by a student of the architectural faculty of SPbGASU.Maria Efimova(the third course in the direction of “Design of the Architectural Environment”). Also included in the winning team wereAngelina Pushkaryova(fourth-year student at the State University of Land Management),Rukaya Muhammad(a fifth-year student of the Moscow State University for the Humanities – Moscow Architectural and Construction Institute) andKamil Khabibulaev(graduate of the Dagestan State Technical University). The curators of the team wereAndrey ShirokiyиIgor Zvyagintsevfrom the architectural consulting bureau Seven Solar Studio (Voronezh).
The team developed a comprehensive improvement project called “Ak-Gyel. Territory of Heritage.”
The object of the design was the coastal zone of Lake Ak-Gel in the southeastern part of Maachkala. Currently, this natural monument of regional significance is in a difficult ecological state: the water area is shrinking, and the shoreline is fragmentarily developed and lacks a unified improvement concept.
The task for the architects was to propose a strategy for revitalizing a 55-hectare area by creating a continuous pedestrian route four kilometers long. The project proposal is based on the principle of integrating the local identity of Dagestan into the modern urban environment through the development of public, sports, and landscape spaces.
Based on urban planning analysis and the study of local residents’ requests, the authors divided the designed embankment into four thematic zones with individual usage scenarios.
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The first of them is the Craftsmen’s Park: this is a central public hub where the Culture Pavilion, an amphitheater for lectures, and open areas for conducting master classes in traditional crafts are planned.
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Second zone – Sports harbor: a specialized cluster for water sports, including a rowing center, piers, spectator stands, equipped water lanes, and a skate park.
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Third of the zones – Tyulyachy Shore: here a recreational space for peaceful relaxation is provided, convenient piers for fishermen, and a landscape labyrinth.
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The fourth zone called the Space of Impressions includes an event area equipped with a singing fountain, an amphitheater, and an Alley of Heroes of the special military operation.
An important part of the work became the implementation of “symbiotic ecology” methods for the natural purification of reservoirs. The project involves the creation of an artificial bioplato with higher aquatic vegetation, performing the function of natural filters, as well as the placement of local settling tanks and forced aeration systems.
The visual language of the landscaping elements refers to traditional Dagestani crafts. The architectural form incorporates the use of local materials – stone, wood, and reed. The parametric shapes of gazebos, the perforation of shading canopies, and the mosaic elements on benches interpret motifs of national stone and wood carving.
The expert jury highly appreciated the depth of project elaboration. The proposed solutions not only allow creating an accessible inclusive environment for the residents of Mayachkala, but also address accompanying ecological and economic tasks: they contribute to improving the microclimate by reducing the “heat island” effect in dense development and form infrastructure for the development of domestic tourism.
Congratulations to Maria Efimova and her team on their victory title and we wish them further success in their professional activities!
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