Revaluation of the Tomsk Women's Diocesan School quarter

Project idea

The project explores revalorization as a tool for restoring lost value and relevance to historical territories. The quarter of the former Tomsk Women's Diocesan School is viewed not as an isolated monument of the past, but as an active urban resource capable of responding to the contemporary needs of the city.

The concept aims to unlock the architectural potential of K.K. Lygin's complex by introducing a new socially significant function and forming a sustainable model for the coexistence of historical heritage and modern architecture. The project demonstrates how cultural heritage sites can become drivers of urban environment development — preserving their identity while simultaneously creating new usage scenarios.

Project description

The 3.5-hectare quarter is located in the historic center of Tomsk and includes the complex of the former Tomsk Women's Diocesan School. Over decades, the territory has undergone fragmented transformations, which has led to a loss of spatial integrity, deterioration of the visual perception of the cultural heritage site, and a decline in the quality of the urban environment.

The project proposes transforming the quarter into a modern technology and design center that combines research, educational, and public functions. The new program ensures continuous activity within the territory and creates conditions for its long-term development.

The architectural solution is based on the principle of prioritizing the historic building. New volumes form a contemporary layer of the quarter's development, not competing with the monument but rather reinforcing its role within the urban structure. To preserve the historic silhouette, a significant portion of the new floor area is placed underground. The freed-up space is used to create public areas, introduce landscaping, and restore visual connections with the historic building.

As a result, the former enclosed territory is transformed into an open public quarter that brings together cultural heritage, innovation, and urban life.

Technical information

Project type: Revalorization of a historical quarter.

Location: Tomsk, Russian Federation.

Site area: 3.5 ha
Historic building area: 16,000 m²
Number of storeys in the quarter: 14
Landscaped area: 8,000 m²
Paved area: 11,000 m²
Number of buildings: 6

Cultural heritage site of regional significance: Tomsk Women's Diocesan School, designed by architect K.K. Lygin.

Primary function: Technology design institute.

Additional functions: Educational spaces, public zones, multipurpose halls, and urban services.

Key project principles:
— preservation and revelation of the site's historical and cultural value;
— integration of a contemporary function into the structure of the historical quarter;
— use of underground space to accommodate large volumes;
— restoration of the visual accessibility of the monument;
— development of public spaces and landscaping;
— formation of a sustainable development model for the territory within the historic city center.

Documentation

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