This scheme is for a large scale mixed-use development in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, located along Independence Road, in the Vostok district.  It includes a five star high class hotel and spa complex, which aims to be the best in Belarus and is prominently located in the north of the site, fronting the premium retail, dining and entertainment centre. The development is set in extensive grounds and the landscape is intended for outdoor use including an events area, outdoor skating rink and outdoor food venue with pop-ups.
 
The rich, natural landscape of pine woods and mixed forests surround the city of Minsk, as the city has grown some have been preserved as city parks, such as the extensive forest to the east of the site.

The landscape scheme creates a distinctive frontage to the Centre on each side and is defined by the character of the natural area. The Centre and it’s urban realm are set higher than the surrounding streets, with extensive promenades around the site that link the outdoor places- the events area, outdoor skating area, food venues, café and dining terraces. The landscape is distinctive in order to create a strong visual impact and as a green frontage wrapping the Centre on all sides. The landscape is proposed as a series of interleaving horizontal planes that step up to the upper promenades and terraces. These are extensively planted, with a mix of evergreens, grasses and herbaceous planting, interspersed with gravel terraces for sustainable drainage and for snow melt. The series of garden planes are overlaid with trees, native species connecting this proposed distinctive landscape with Minsk nature.

The landscape creates an approach to the Hotel entrance where elegant water features create a sparkling sense of arrival. These shallow features emerge from flat sculptural stone that are dry during winter months . Next to the hotel are a series of gardens and terraces for view form within the hotel communal rooms and dining.

Magnet Minsk has been exhibited at AJ’s Architecture Tomorrow Exhibition at MIPIM UK2014

Client:         Belpars FLLC
Architect:     HKR

Engineer: Ramboll