Published on: 2026-10-20
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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Polina Ionova, Yana Komogortseva, Svetlana Feofanova, Maria Puminova, Liana Shamshon
The SPbGASU team took third place in the architectural project competition of the 10th All-Russian online school of universal design “ArH-Perspective.” Senior lecturer of the Department of Architectural Environment Design (AED) Svetlana Feofanova and a second-year student of the Faculty of Architecture Maria Puminova, Yana Komogortseva, Polina Ionova and Liana Shamshon presented the project of the sensory garden “At Your Fingertips,” where the principles of an accessible environment are combined with the opportunity to perceive the surrounding space through different senses.
The school was held from October 7 to 12. It was organized by the Universal Design Department of the Regional Public Organization for People with Disabilities “Perspektiva” with the support of GTI Russia. Participants not only received training from experts but also developed their own architectural projects, which they presented in a competition.
Sensory garden for all
For the implementation of the project, the team chose the Square of the Liberating Warriors in the Frunzensky District of St. Petersburg, located between Bucharest Street and Zagreb Boulevard. According to Svetlana Feofanova, the area currently needs landscaping and new design solutions.
The garden concept is based on the principles of universal design: the space should be comfortable for all visitors, regardless of age and physical abilities. At the same time, the creators aimed to create not just an accessible, but also an emotionally favorable environment that helps people relax, explore the surrounding world, and gain new experiences.
The project includes raised flower beds with plants that have distinctive texture and aroma, including mint, lavender, thyme, and sage. Tactile paths with various types of surfaces—pebbles, tree bark, cross-sections, and sand—allow one to perceive the space through touch and simultaneously help with orientation within the garden area. Sound installations, “wind music,” and the murmur of water complement the sensory experience.
Garden pavilion
Special attention is paid to the accessibility of the infrastructure. Entrances and pathways are adapted for visitors using wheelchairs and strollers. Navigation signs and information stands are designed to use large high-contrast fonts and Braille, while tactile map diagrams help visually impaired visitors orient themselves. Additionally, the project includes a garden pavilion where seasonal plants can be placed in modular containers outside the summer season.
From concept to visualization
The project was carried out within the discipline “Design Projecting.” Second-year students of the “Design (environmental design)” program were offered four options of sites for developing an exhibition pavilion, and the team chose the Warriors-Liberators Square for the creation of a sensory garden.
The participants divided the tasks according to their competencies: Liana Shamshon handled the project and interior of the exhibition pavilion, as well as its ergonomics; Polina Ionova developed the general plan of the garden; Yana Komogortseva was responsible for 3D visualization and detailing of small architectural forms; Maria Puminova worked on the design and layout of the presentation. Overall curation was carried out by Svetlana Feofanova.
An important role in the work was played by the associate professor of the Department of Architectural Design, deputy dean of the Faculty of Architecture for career guidance, and an employee of the Educational Center for Project-Based Learning Oleg Fyodorov. He advised the team on matters of universal design for public spaces and the organization of an accessible urban environment.
Pavilion interior
At the defense held online, the jury evaluated not only the aesthetic aspect of the projects but also the adherence to universal design principles, the safety of the solutions, the independence of space use, practical applicability, and economic justification.
“Participation in the ‘Arch-Perspective’ school is a powerful reset of professional thinking. The students had a unique opportunity to design not an abstract object, but an environment focused on a deep understanding of human needs. Universal design is not a compromise for the sake of standards, but the highest expression of architectural humanism, when the space is equally comfortable for a child, an elderly person, and a visually impaired individual,” emphasized Svetlana Feofanova.
According to the instructor, such experience helps future architects better understand people’s needs and create spaces that combine functionality, accessibility, and emotional comfort.
Congratulations to the SPbGASU team on their prize-winning place and we wish them new creative successes!
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