Dialectic contradictions of global and local within the city transformations. (Case study of Russian cities)

Abstract

[EN] The results of morphological analyses of the urban structures more and more attract attention with the aim of understanding the processes and laws of transformation of the city fabric. Comparison of the case studies representing different regional cultures gives reasons to presume the presence of global trends as well as local features. Their dialectical contradictions lead to a unique urban form very often. Thus, recent global conversion caused very similar urban problems as well as methods for their solution characteristic to the whole world. Popularization rate of the past is comparable to the speed of propagation of a certain fashion lifestyle. As the result - reversal of thinking to find local uniqueness of each settlement and this tendency again step by step became global. From other side universal morphological conceptual apparatus built on factual analysis allows to trace the objective process of urban transformation and to give some forecasts concerning changes in their structure. Assumptions must be considered with the adjustment for the modern scale. Never the less contemporary cities - Krasnoyarsk, Nizhnyi Novgorod, Irkutsk demonstrate building and fabric adaptation, redevelopment, additive processes, contrast with transformative processes, agricultural residual (areas of town dachas in Russian urban tradition), augmentative redevelopment, different scales of changes of use, loft-cycle (second, re- use) development, street markets concretion, other, characteristic not only for the historic heritage areas but for the modern city as well. Russian cities in our days demonstrate urban-rural fringe development - somewhat even similar to “cocktail-belts” but with the local eclectic Siberian architecture.