ABSTRACT
This article is of importance because St. Petersburg has been slowly losing its historical water & pedestrian charisma against the background of the boundaries of the center being extended and former industrial areas of the Grey Belt being developed. The Neva embankments that earlier were public spaces are now occupied by highways, which makes it difficult for city residents and visitors to access the main world-famous landscapes and scenery spots. A complex approach to the development of new Neva embankments is required. The purpose of the study is to design principles of implementing the public pedestrian function into the development of Grey Belt areas near the Neva River and define a system for choosing locations for the accommodation of this function taking into account the ensemble nature, continuity, and modern trends of city development. With limited territories of developed embankments, it seems possible to include public pedestrian spaces in the structure of one of the riverside complexes (pedestrian “House on the Embankment”). Methods of the introduction of such spaces were tested by means of experimental design. Proposals on how to clarify the documentation that regulates real estate development were made. The implementation of these studies in the design practice will restore the role of embankments in the city, which will increase its tourist and cultural potential. They can be of use for city architectural and city-planning authorities.
