Strategy for Public Spaces Regeneration along the Moskva River: Design Governance Examination

The paper presents a research upon public spaces regeneration along the Moskva River. An agenda to create a system of public spaces derives from a 2014 international competition that was held to develop a concept for the territories adjacent to the Moskva River. Based on a competition winning proposal a further strategy suggesting a design proposal for any specific site is under development. Considering the fact that the Moskva length is 83 km within the city limits, waterfront strip length is 196 km, and the total project area of 10400 ha each individual area cannot be addressed. Thus, the conditions created predetermine solutions unification and their subsequent widespread introduction. As a result, there is a risk of public spaces inadequate utilization and an impossibility to take into account territories critical aspects and diversity. In addition, within this framework an approach to the river as a single element occurs. It can be reliable when concerns management decisions in spheres of the ecosystem, transportation or other public services. However, may this attitude be reasonable when aimed at public spaces development? The paper examines the case applying design governance framework, studying stakeholders and tools they use operating on both: a city scale and a particular area scale and systemizing existing strategic documents developed for the purpose to guide the Moskva River regeneration attempting to anticipate regeneration project development. Consequently, we evaluate the Moskva River regeneration process in terms of design governance framework.