“WARM CITY” IN THE ARCTIC: ADAPTATION, OPTIMIZATION, PHENOMENOLOGY

Abstract

During extensive development of the Soviet mining industry, architecture was used as a tool for creating mainstream living conditions, which meant borrowing from the architectural realm of southern Soviet cities for the High North. This approach has led to the development of an unadapted and unoptimized urban environment that ignores the main features of the Arctic region. At the same time, the concepts of cities under a dome were proposed, isolating humans inside from the severe climate. This study aims to abandon any attempts of ignoring the northern climate or isolating the humans. The “warm city” concept is a system of design principles for open urban spaces in the Arctic. Here “warmth” is conceived in both physical and emotional sense. Principles of adaptation, optimization and phenomenology are focused on creating physical and psycho-emotional comfort in the Arctic city.

Keywords

• arctic architecture
• phenomenology of architecture
• urban environment
• arctic urbanization