The history of the project and the unique features of the place

 The site proposed for real commission is located in the central part of Minsk, and includes about 7 hectares of free territory. This area is located within the boundaries of a residential quarter and is built up with industrial buildings of the transport depot. Historically, the territory has not change its mission. At the end of the 19th century, there was a horse market, then at the end of the 20th century there was a tram and trolleybus depot that lasted until 2010. There is a prominent relief on the site: the values of absolute marks vary from 200.56 at the border of the quarter beside the Vic- tory Square to 213.26 at the corner of Red and Kiseleva streets. 

The choice of a planning solution and building morphotype was based on the ne- cessity to create a complex, plastic, pic- turesque living space, built in contrast to strict perimetral quarterly development. Row-houses apartment buildings isolates the intra-quarter space and does not in- clude it in urban life, therefore, in the pro- ject, the building is formed by detached houses, giving the residential group trans- parency and the complexity of the pic- turesque perspectives. A project with a dispersed building morphotype with clear spaces will be the first example of such an environment in Minsk. According to the project, all residential buildings are orient- ed to the cardinal points, which improves their insolation characteristics. Buildings are divided into meridional and latitudinal types. 

This approach changes the planning grid in relation to the existing buildings, creating a unique space. One of the most important problems associated with design in a historically developed environment is the problem of continuity. The authors mean continuity by not copying existing forms, planning schemes and solutions, not imitating ar- chitectural elements and decorating their facades, but creating harmonious spaces associated with historical buildings and a humane environment. Therefore, the plan- ning decision of the quarter was based on the use of spatial and morphological char- acteristics of historical buildings.