While waiting for the end of the quarantine, we rejoice in the warmth and the spring that has come into its own. The sports facilities and the building of the Volga Academy itself are missed not only by employees, students and teachers of the University who work remotely, but also by residents of the city who are used to the thoughtful landscaping of green areas around the Academy's facilities. The recognizable landscape is the work of the owner of these living beauties, Venera Karimova - a leading specialist of the economic Department, landscape designer, certified designer and architect by education:
- When we took over the facilities before the Universiade, there was almost no improvement on them. Since joining the Academy in 2012, my task has been to monitor the repair and restoration work on the territory of objects (mowing, watering, etc.) and prepare a long-term plan for their landscaping. The tennis Academy held a clean-up day, completely redesigned the lawn. In the center of the rowing all the landings were replaced. 12 cars of land were brought to the badminton Center. In 2019, 145 fir trees were planted in preparation for WorldSkills. Every year we update the flowers on the Avenue of flags. The Ministry of forestry of the Republic supports us, gives us trees, and subcontractors sometimes plant plants as restoration. For an educational organization, the improvement of 10 large objects is an expensive pleasure. Every year we buy land, fertilizers, and lawn grass seeds. We divide perennials on our own, and employees bring plants from dachas. Green spaces are the first thing a person sees when entering the territory of the Academy, so our facilities begin with landscaping.
For the Academy, looking good is important! Citizens and guests of the capital come here to study, relax, and play sports. Major forums are held here… And we need a large-scale approach. Each of our objects already has its own face. You can't mistake them for each other. The specifics of the University leave their mark, you need to be sporty, strict and sustained. Architecture is an environment that should be comfortable for living, working and recreation. So that the beauty, order and fragrance of a person's mood rises. I, for example, am happy when people come up to me and thank me for what we have so beautiful! I'm sure the Academy is one of the best places in the city.
From the history
Venera Karimova started as a designer after graduating from Kazgrazhdanproject. In 1984, she moved to work in Gorvodzelenkhoz.
-Then there was no word for it – landscape design. At the Institute there was a subject of landscape art, I liked it. But the city solved the problem of continuous landscaping to solve environmental problems. It was necessary to choose a tree that grows quickly and absorbs carbon dioxide, captures noise and dust. The best of these is poplar. It was planted in rows inside industrial zones or as a green fence. In General, there was no time for art. Gardens and parks in Kazan have been preserved since pre-revolutionary times. They were planted, restored, and reconstructed. Gradually, the assortment began to expand, chestnuts, pyramid poplars appeared, and southern crops began to take root. In the 85th year, Victory Park was laid on the Block, on the marshes. For 20 years we took the peat and put ash in its place. This is a difficult and very long process. Gradually, the Park grew. Then we first planted large-sized trees for the Victory Day – on Yamashev street. Everyone has taken root! I went on business trips - to the Baltic States, Moscow, Leningrad, Donetsk, where vertical gardening and a lot of roses were developed. I got a lot of ideas on my trips. We brought and put containers on Bauman street, planting TUI in them. People at first threw garbage there, they laughed at us. But gradually the situation changed. We reconstructed the Kazan Kremlin, the presidential Palace, and planted trees on Bauman street. We had a shop of small forms. At that time, a team of creative people gathered there, including Ildar Khanov. In the 90s, there were enthusiasts who went to study in Europe. Rolled lawn has become fashionable. But the understanding that the landscape is a design that takes into account the proportions and compatibility of plants came later. People realized that in a modern city there should be other forms of landscaping and landscaping. We have been holding a flower festival for 5 years. There is a program of parks and squares. In Russia, not every city can afford such an abundance of flowers and gorgeous landscaping as in Kazan. We couldn't afford to reconstruct parks either. Black lake has been redrawn 20 times, and is still not finished. Because this is not just a huge investment, it is a complex project that includes solving large environmental problems, creating an architectural environment with many elements, in harmony with nature!
Venus Karimova knows what she's talking about. In the plans for the Volga Academy, she has three-dimensional figures, a winter garden, and a greenhouse for growing seedlings. Plantings made with love already give the desired results. Rows of rose bushes at the entrance to the building of the educational and laboratory building of the Volga Academy became the" business card " of the University and flew around many countries, thanks to photos taken against their background.