The urban spaces atmosphere: the partnership between government and business in the historical locations revival was discussed in St. Petersburg

Maxim Sharipov, Investment Committee Deputy Chairman, made a presentation on the city and business interaction in new public spaces creating at the panel discussion «Gastrospaces as a modern way of updating and attracting attention to historical sites».

The International Gastronomy Festival’s business program in St. Petersburg was built around the restaurant industry role discussion in the historical sites revival. The key discussion experts were large restaurant companies’ leaders, professional communities’ representatives, officials and architects.

While commenting on St. Petersburg’s investment policy in relation to the historical objects updating, Maxim Sharipov mentioned that currently new spaces development is one of the priority areas. As an example, Tauride Garden greenhouses reconstruction project the was mentioned as the way to transform outdated historical location and transform the current location into a modern cultural object.

«It’s important to note that such projects are implemented without budget funding, while the city receives a reconstructed cultural heritage object, which has not changed its appearance, has become the residents attraction place and remains in city’s ownership», Maxim Sharipov said.

The experts discussed the restaurant business role, considering the international and Russian historical objects reviving best practices, which have lost their relevance.

«If looking at all the popular modern public spaces, it’s the gastronomic component, which becomes one of the anchor functions, allowing to generate traffic and revenue on the one hand as well as becomes literally a social glue that unites different audiences on the other one», Maxim Polzikov, Ginza Project’s partner and Chief Executive officer said. «Restaurateurs, the hospitality industry representatives, like no one else, are aware of the way to create an atmosphere and places where you want to spend time and come back, which you want to tell friends about».

The discussion participants came to a common opinion that dialogue between business and government is a fundamental factor in creating urban public spaces, and new infrastructure facilities must meet modern requirements for multifunctionality and environmental friendliness of the urban environment.