Russian Garden Project for International Flower & Gardening Exposition Completed

In the afternoon of December 15, Trukiakof · Yefgani · Antonovichi, chief director of Architectural and Urban Construction Bureau of Irkutsk came to Shenyang Gardening Design Institute to give a seminar, introducing his concept in designing Russian Garden for International Flower & Gardening Exposition to fellow traders in Shenyang.

Irkutsk is a friendly city of Shenyang. Invited by Shenyang Municipal People's Government, Irkutsk Government sent Antonovichi to take charge of planning and designing Russian Garden for International Flower & Gardening Exposition. Russian Garden covers 5600 square meters and is located at the southern tip of Botanical Garden between British Garden and the Zoo area.

Antonovichi came to Shenyang on December 9. He worked out the sketch design for Russian Garden at the hotel after visiting International Flower & Gardening Exposition sites. He told reporters that these also need to be confirmed by Shenyang International Flower & Gardening Exposition Committee and approved by mayor of Irkutsk. As academic exchange he talked about his design in detail at the seminar.

Antonovichi said that gardening design in Russia dated back to the end of the 17 th century when the tsar Emperor Peter invited architect experts from Germany and Italy etc. to take charge of the design to introduce western culture. Representatives include royal gardens of St. Peters etc.. But these cannot be moved to Shenyang International Flower & Gardening Exposition, as they belong to European style. He is preparing gardens and architectures with strong Russian styles, enabling people to know it is Russian at the first sight.

Russian Garden site for Shenyang International Flower & Gardening Exposition includes two parts, the open northern part and the woody southern part. He worked out his plans by considering local conditions. The northern part is designed into a garden with reference of key elements of St. Pertersburg garden. Flowers of Russian species are to be planted here. The central part is a miniature of the Moscow Kremlin tower and a section of palace walls. There are platforms on the palace walls on which tourists can have a whole view of Russian Garden. There are many trees in the southern part. Some common Russian birches, pines, and firs etc are to be planted. Malls paved by using stones connect current recreational sections. A map of Irkutsk is formed by the malls with the center being the flower bed. The edge of the southern part is a contracted Baikal Lake and a miniature of Russian Dome Church. Bear framework made by metals will also be prepared inside the garden. On top of the framework is plant coverage in shape of a bear sculpture. All these are of typical Russian styles. Antonovichi said that if the northern part of the Russia Garden represents characteristics of the country, then the southern part reflects the folklore culture in Russia.

Antonovichi expresses that he hopes to reflect the friendship between Irkutsk and Shenyang as well as communications between people in the two cities through construction of the Russian Garden, making Russian Garden a symbol of the friendship.