“Improvement” in Uzhgorod. Despite the recommendation of the City Planning Board to preserve the authentic look, the “renovation” in the rock garden has commenced

Improvement works continue in one of the most secluded parts of the city – in the rock garden, which is one of the symbols of Uzhgorod.

This could be welcome, if not for one fact.

Namely, that according to both the public and specialists, including all members of the City Planning Board of Uzhgorod, this place does not need "renovation." And this decision was adopted by the Board at the discussion of the project, which was submitted for consideration. It was developed by young designers, and grant funds were attracted for its implementation. However, the City Planning Board did not approve the construction of new buildings, paving of the park with cobblestone, the construction of awnings and other significant changes in general. At the meeting, they recommended to revise the project, removing these significant innovations so that the rock garden retain its originality and authenticity. However, the designers submitted the project to the executive committee without making revisions, and the executive committee approved it. And so the work has begun.

We asked two architects to comment on the case. Oleksandr Sheba, which for a long time was the chief architect of Uzhgorod and is a member the City Planning Board, said: "My colleagues and I agreed on a common and logical conclusion: the rock garden just needs to be brought to proper condition. Clean up, repair the reservoir system, if necessary – add lighting. This corner is good enough and it just needs to be kept in order. And it does not need further interventions, construction of any structures, and "improvements" is general (as they unfortunately are often done in Uzhgorod – not always appropriate). Just bring it in order and keep maintained." 

The current chief architect of Uzhgorod Oleg Borshovsky commented to Uzhgorod.in that most of the works mentioned in the project can be classified as maintenance and bringing the park in order. "But, according to the contest conditions, the money was allocated exclusively for that project, and the City Planning Board had only to consider it and say yes or no. The proposition was to draft the concept of the landscaping of Zupanat area, including the rock garden and taking into account the "Owl’s Nest". So, if those works, that are being carried out in the rock garden, somehow contradict the concept, they will be revised in the future" – Borshovsky said.

 So far, we have not received comments of the initiators of the project and the answer to the question why they ignored the demands of the specialists of the City Planning Board.

Meanwhile, the reconstruction of the rock garden is being actively discussed in social networks, particularly in the group "Uzhgorod" on facebook.