August 30 is Republic of Tatarstan Day and Kazan City Day. Traditionally, this date is planned for the opening of landmark facilities, such as the Dubravnaya metro station in 2018 or Yelmai Park in 2024. Where official delegations visited this year is covered in this article.
Familiar Faces: How the Walls of Kazan’s Buildings Have Been Transformed
The head of Tatarstan and the mayor of Kazan opened several memorial plaques and other signs referencing well-known personalities and enterprises of Tatarstan. One of the first stops on the officials’ tour was house number 16a on Tolstoy Street, where playwright and writer Tufan Minnullin lived. The appearance of the bas-relief was initiated by the regional Writers’ Union, timed to coincide with the 90th anniversary of the birth of this outstanding figure.
Against the background of a memorial plaque
It is noteworthy that this year the delegation of high-ranking officials spent a considerable amount of time in the usually overlooked Aviation District—the northern outskirts of the city, largely consisting of private housing and industrial enterprises. At one of them—JSC “KMPO”—a bas-relief was unveiled in honor of the general director, who dedicated 50 years of his life to the enterprise, and a stele commemorating the plant’s 90-year history. This is one of the oldest machine-building enterprises in the region. The idea for these monuments belongs to the plant’s current director.
KMPO in KazanKMPO in Kazan
Without the head of Tatarstan and the mayor, but with the participation of the regional State Council speaker and his deputy, a memorial plaque was unveiled for the chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the TASSR from 1930 to 1937. Speaking in front of the plaque on one of the houses on Karl Marx Street, he was called the architect of Tatarstan’s economic miracle, under whom the foundation for the republic’s industrialization was laid.
Against the background of a memorial plaque
No Longer a Swamp: New Squares and Long-Awaited Renovations
Perhaps the biggest opening of the day was the completion of the second phase of improvements to the boulevard on Serova Street. The area was landscaped, and the pond, which more closely resembled a swamp, was restored. An eco-pavilion for lectures and meetings also appeared here. Like the first part, the second section of the boulevard is adapted for people with disabilities.
<img alt="Opening of the boulevard on Serova Street" src="https://asiacity.news/wp-content/uploads/
Dubravnaya metro station
Dubravnaya is a metro station on the Moscow Metro’s Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya Line, which opened in 1999. It is a single-vault, shallow-level station located in the Maryino District of the city. The station’s name is derived from the Russian word for “oak grove,” a reference to the area’s history before its urban development.
Yelmai Park
Yelmai Park is a modern public recreational space in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, named in honor of the 19th-century Kazakh poet and philosopher Zhambyl Zhabayev, whose nickname was “Yelmai.” It was established to provide a green oasis for residents and features walking paths, playgrounds, and monuments celebrating local cultural heritage.
Tolstoy Street
Tolstoy Street is a notable thoroughfare in Moscow, Russia, named in honor of the celebrated 19th-century author Leo Tolstoy. It is a historic street that has been part of the city’s fabric for centuries, reflecting the architectural and cultural evolution of the capital.
Aviation District
The Aviation District is a modern urban development area, often found in cities with a significant aerospace history or industry, designed to celebrate and capitalize on that heritage. It typically features a mix of commercial aviation businesses, aerospace museums, and technology parks. While not a single historic site, such districts are built in areas that were historically central to aviation manufacturing or operations.
JSC “KMPO”
JSC “KMPO” (Kazan Motor Production Association) is a major Russian industrial enterprise with a history dating back to 1931, originally established for aircraft engine production. Today, it is a leading manufacturer of gas turbine engines for both aviation and power generation, continuing its legacy as a cornerstone of Russia’s aerospace and engineering sectors.
Karl Marx Street
Karl Marx Street is a prominent thoroughfare found in many cities across former Eastern Bloc nations, most famously in cities like Chemnitz, Germany (which was named Karl-Marx-Stadt from 1953 to 1990). These streets were typically renamed during the Soviet era to honor the philosopher and economist Karl Marx, whose theories of communism were the foundation for the state’s ideology. They remain as historical artifacts from that period, often featuring socialist-era architecture and monuments.
Serova Street boulevard
Serova Street boulevard is a prominent green space in Saint Petersburg, Russia, named in honor of the renowned Russian portrait painter Valentin Serov. It was established in the late 19th to early 20th century as part of the city’s urban development, providing a tranquil, tree-lined promenade for residents. Today, it remains a popular recreational area that blends natural beauty with the city’s rich artistic heritage.
eco-pavilion
The Eco-Pavilion is a modern architectural concept designed as a sustainable structure that minimizes environmental impact, often using renewable materials and energy systems. These pavilions are typically built for exhibitions, educational purposes, or as public spaces to demonstrate principles of green design and ecological responsibility. While not a single historical site, the concept gained prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as part of the global sustainability movement.
