The renovation project for the main public square in Naberezhnye Chelny, conducted by DROM, is a fresh take on the role of public space in the city.

A soviet city built in the late 1970’s around the famous Kamaz truck factory.

DROM is a group of young urbanists, architects, and designers. They operate out of Rotterdam on projects around the world.

The original square was designed around a formal central axis that intended to connect the municipality building to the Lenin Museum.

Since the museum was never built, the axis lost its meaning.

The project transformed it into a captivating, dynamic public space with multi-character environments and qualities that are inclusive of different groups of people.

DROM designed urban furniture and lighting elements, developed and produced by local manufacturers.

The intervention relocated the central axis, provides visitors protection from the elements and connects them directly to nearby neighborhoods. To intensify activity, a series of pavilions, placed along the way, were designed.

In place of the former central axis, DROM created a “city carpet”. This carpet functions as three squares, each with its own unique character.

Event Square is a paved urban space, also used for weekly outdoor markets. Green Square is for relaxing on the lawn. Cultural Square has a renovated fountain and a new shallow pool for playing in water on hot days.

It includes a movie theatre.

Each square is energized by an anchor program: an amphitheater doubles as a cafe, a “spiral” viewing platform adds a vertical dimension, and a circular fountain pool transforms into an ice-skating rink in winter.

The structure was made with the same technology that is utilized in making gas pipes. The benches were made in a local concrete factory, and the lamps were made using standard steel profiles.

A unique paving pattern was developed for each of the squares. Spaces for rest are integrated in such a way as to be protected from the strong cross-winds and sun by strategically placed “hills” and local species of trees.

The existing ecosystem was carefully respected by leaving most of the greenery and adding new trees, helping to reduce negative emotions about the transformation and making the project more sustainable, resilient, and financially viable.