Planning and Spatial Models for the Formation of Park Territories in Northern Cities

The relevance of the article is determined by the fact that park territories in northern cities function under conditions of long winters, strong winds, snow accumulation, and a pronounced seasonal shift in use scenarios; however, in practice they are often formed according to universal schemes that do not sufficiently take climatic specificity into account. As a result, even well-designed public spaces tend to be comfortable mainly during the warm season and function poorly as part of everyday urban life in winter. The aim of the article is to identify planning and spatial models for the formation of park territories that are most appropriate for northern cities. To achieve this aim, the study examines climatic and spatial factors influencing park organization and analyzes models that ensure territorial connectivity, protected routes, and flexibility of seasonal use. The research materials include Russian and international academic publications devoted to open public spaces in northern cities, microclimate, climate-responsive design, and the seasonal adaptation of urban environments, as well as historical and contemporary design examples. The study employs analysis of academic texts, comparative assessment of approaches, morphological analysis of spatial structure, and a scenario-based approach. The results of the study showed that for a northern park, the decisive factor is not individual landscaping elements, but the overall spatial model of the territory. The most resilient solutions are those based on structural compactness, short connections between activity nodes, the presence of protected routes, the alternation of open and semi-enclosed areas, and seasonal zoning. It was established that a route in a northern park should be considered not only as a line of movement, but also as an independent element of spatial comfort that affects accessibility and the everyday demand for the territory. The conclusions of the article are that a park in a northern city should be understood as a climate-sensitive framework of urban life, and its effectiveness is determined by the combination of spatial connectivity, protection from climatic impacts, and the ability of the territory to function according to different scenarios throughout the year.

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