Yakutsk is getting an award-winning educational park inspired by its permafrost cityscape

A new learning commons in the eastern Siberian town of Yakutsk won the Education-Future Project award at this year’s World Architecture Festival.

Designed by Russian practice Atrium Architects and Vostok+, SAKHA_Z will host exhibition spaces, a conference hall, co-working and training centres, over an area of 7,500 square metres.

The outdoor areas of the park are protected from wind, dust, and snow thanks to bulk hills and buffer zones.

Inspired by the meandering rivers and permafrost crystals in the city’s surrounding Sakha Republic, the sparkling white park relishes in curves. But the concept behind SAKHA_Z is also rooted in local cultural landmarks, such as ancient winter homes called “balagans” or the Yakut version of the tree of life, known as AAL Luuk Mas.

The project won a call for submissions by the government of the Republic of Sakha earlier this year and is scheduled for completion in 2022.