WEAVING CULTURE INTO THE CITY: DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SPACES IN MOSCOW

Abstract

The rapid expansion of cities often leads to generic, identity-poor public spaces in peripheral and mid-ring districts, undermining social sustainability and community cohesion. This study explores the integration of intangible cultural heritage as a tool for creating more meaningful and sustainable urban environments. This research aims to develop and test a methodology for transposing the rich symbolic language of traditional Azerbaijani carpet ornaments into the architectural and landscape design of public spaces near metro stations in Moscow. The research employed a mixed-methods approach: ethnographic fieldwork at the National Carpet Museum in Baku to decode the semantics of recurring motifs (e.g., 'Buta,' 'Tree of Life'); urban analysis to identify suitable underutilized sites near metro stations based on functional balance and pedestrian accessibility metrics; experimental design by architecture students to apply these motifs to facades and public squares. The study resulted in a portfolio of design proposals that demonstrate a viable model for ‘cultural transposition.’ The motifs provided a framework for organizing space, creating rhythm, and embedding narratives, moving beyond mere decoration to inform layout and function. Sites near stations like Belayevo and Babushkinskaya were identified as high-potential candidates for such interventions. The research concludes that traditional ornaments can serve as a powerful database for sustainable urban design, fostering place identity and cultural connectivity. This approach offers a transferable model for leveraging specific cultural heritage to address the global challenge of sustainable and culturally sensitive urban development, contributing to the sustainable cities and communities’ goals.