The Moscow Kurkino Metro Station Vestibule as a District Dominant structure (Landmark)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55287/22275398_2026_60_177-190Keywords:
urban dominants, point dominant, metropolis, system of landmarks, territorial connectivity, urban frameworkAbstract
Abstract. This article examines the phenomenon of point-based urban landmarks in the context of peripheral residential development. The relevance of the study is determined by the widespread morphological uniformity found on the outskirts of Russian megacities, the weak expression of spatial reference points, and the lack of local public centres. These conditions reduce the legibility of the urban environment, make wayfinding more difficult, and weaken the formation of local identity. In this context, point-based urban landmarks are considered as a possible tool for addressing these issues.
The aim of the study is to identify the key principles for forming point-based landmarks and to justify the use of a metro station vestibule as a local compositional and public centre. To achieve this aim, the study clarifies the concept of a point-based landmark, analyses the need for its placement within the urban structure, examines the possibility of integrating social and cultural functions into transport facilities, and evaluates their impact on the spatial organisation of the area.
Special attention is given to the practical application of the results. The identified principles—placement at intersections of flows, functional enrichment of the facility, creation of a clear architectural image, use of “controlled contrast”, and provision of a navigational role—can be applied in the design of transport infrastructure in other peripheral areas. Their use makes it possible to transform transit facilities into stable points of attraction, create local centres of activity within neighbourhoods, improve spatial connectivity, and strengthen the identity of the built environment without the need for large-scale reconstruction. The proposed approach is flexible and can be adapted to different conditions of peripheral urban development.
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