Zaryadye is a remarkable site hidden behind a fence in the heart of Russia’s capital. Positioned along the Moskva River the site is proximate to the Red Square, Kremlin, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and GUM Shopping Arcade. Zaryadye is of both cultural and historical significance for Muscovites. Thus, its proposed redevelopment, whilst highly anticipated, has been controversial and has resulted in a complex and contradictory wish list. Zaryadye needs to be a connection between history and the future, city and nature, summer and winter, global and local, iconic and sensitive, community and individuality, idealism and realism and so forth.

MVRDV proposes that the traces of Zaryadye’s history are explored and brought to the surface. These traces will mark a new period of the site’s history whilst acting as an x-ray of the site’s past.  The remnants of the past and required programmatic elements are translated into a fine, lace-like network of footpaths gently draped over the site. History and future become walkable on a sunny winter’s day, or a warm summer night. Without distinction, without hierarchy, without nostalgia and without judgment, each trace of Zaryadye’s history is drawn up from the ground and celebrated.