Art in the City: an interactive map of art objects has been created in Kazan

Projects for the development of the urban environment were discussed at the Kazan Development Institute. Special attention was paid to the concept of Art in the City, which involves creating a map and mobile application with a list of art objects.

The Kazan Development Institute presented architectural and urban planning projects as well as concepts for the development of certain territories to the Mayor yesterday. Ilsiyar Tukhvatullina, chief architect of the city, and Alexey Gorbunov, director of the Kazan Development Institute, along with architects and specialists from the institute, discussed their vision for the development of the Grivka residential area in the Kirovsky district and Podluzhnaya Street in the Vakhitovsky district, as well as the reorganization of Vakhitov Square on the border between the Vakhitovsky and Privolzhsky city districts.

The Art in the City project aims to identify the number of art objects, planning the installation of new works and facilitate communication with various creative groups.

A creation of the interactive map of Kazan's art objects has become a key element of the initiative, with more than 700 graffiti, sculptures, and installations already marked on it. Each location on the map provides detailed information about the object. The majority of these artworks, which include stained glass windows, graffiti, mosaics, arches, busts are located in the Vakhitovsky city district. Researchers have counted 163 murals, 25 panels, 120 statues, and 50 memorial plaques.

The map will include a guide to the art objects in Kazan. The service will provide residents and tourists with easy access to information about existing and planned art installations.

The institute is also exploring locations for planned art projects. These will be divided into three categories: locations for urban or regional-scale installations; sites for works that commemorate a specific place; and locations for murals. The Architecture and Urban Planning Department has already requested that any installations larger than 1,500 square meters include elements of monumental or decorative art.

The project aims to strengthen the cultural identity of Kazan, attract tourists and support creative community in the city.

«At the Kazan Development Institute, you are implementing promising projects that will help make the city better, more comfortable, and more attractive. You approach issues such as the lack of small architectural forms that decorate streets and parks in a way that is not local, but rather by developing a systematic solution. I encourage you to do so more boldly, so that we can ensure the continued development of the city», – concluded the Mayor.

He suggested discussing the initiatives at the Kazanysh International Architectural and Construction Forum on February 6–8, 2025 in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, which will be attended by 300 speakers and 7,000 participants.