"University seasons — 2022" garden exhibition has been awarded as the best event of the year in landscape architecture

In 2024, the University and the Botanical Garden will celebrate its 300th and 160th anniversary respectively. In anticipation of these events, it was decided to start renovating the garden and attracting to the garden students, professors and representatives of the professional community: biologists, ecologists, urbanists, landscape architects and designers. Even though the Botanical Garden of St Petersburg University is located on the spit of Vasilevskiy Island, behind the building of the Twelve Colleges designed by Domenico Trezzini, from where you can see the Neva and St Isaac’s Cathedral, citizens and the University students did not know that there is a such oasis in the centre of the city. In this regard, St Petersburg University plans to make the garden more accessible to the public and make it an attraction point for all garden lovers and connoisseurs, citizens and guests of St. Petersburg.

The information about winners of the award is published on the website of the Association of Landscape Architects of Russia

"University seasons — 2022" garden exhibition was first held this year. It was meant to be an educational platform for students of SPbU and other universities. Competition of theme gardens became a highlight event of the exhibition. During the competition teams of three educational institutions of St. Petersburg under the guidance of advisors presented their projects on «Rhododendrons in the gardens» topic. The projects have been subsequently implemented in the Botanical Garden. Artem Parshin, landscape architect of the Lomonosov Moscow State University Botanical Garden, author of the SPBU Botanical Garden renovation concept, was the Chairman of Expert Council of the competition. Since the competition was held for the first time, it was decided to offer the right to choose the winner not to the jury, but to the visitors of the exhibition. Anyone could vote for the project they liked by pointing the camera to the QR code on the nearest stand. In total, 1,500 people took part in the voting. The project of the garden in Japanese style was chosen the best. Ceremony of awarding the winner team was held at the closing of the exhibition.

"University seasons — 2022" garden exhibition brought together three target groups in one place: student community, including SPbU students, green industry professionals and the public.

Over 7 months from early April to end of September a wide range of activities was carried out in the Botanical Garden of SPbU. It was the place where on the eve of the World Environment Day (Earth Day) and Ecologist’s Day in Russia the opening of the SPbU Environmental Clinic and presentation of University’s ecological projects were held. Furthermore, during the exhibition period teaching staff, scientists of the University, and invited speakers — specialists in landscape architecture and design, conducted around 50 masterclasses and presentations on landscape architecture, design, floristics, ecology, urban studies, and sustainability of plant cover. Also, there were held 2 panel discussions and around 30 excursions to the greenhouses and open ground of the SPbU Botanical Garden. Exhibition activities were followed by daily musical performances of SPbU artistic groups. Altogether about 5,000 visitors attended the exhibition.

How will the St Petersburg University Botanical Garden celebrate its anniversary?

Landscape festival organised in the beginning of July in Samara and the IV Eurasian festival of landscape art "Atmofest" held in Ekaterinburg were competitors of St Petersburg University for "The best event of the year" award. According to the supervisor of the SPbU Botanical Garden renovation project Natalya Dyuppey the jury chose "University seasons — 2022" because of the educational component of the exhibition. ‘This award means so much to us because on the way of renovation of the garden, and we are standing at the beginning of that way, it is important to be recognized. During preparations for the exhibition, we have gained invaluable experience. We received recognition of professional community. That is why it is the significant award for me and the Botanical Garden of the University’, said Natalya Dyuppey.

St Petersburg University has decided to hold «University seasons» exhibition annually. The theme of the next competition of theme gardens — "Rose, a queen of the garden" — has been agreed. Visitors of the exhibition will see roses in the gardens in English cottage style, French regular style, in the gardens of Islam. All interested students are encouraged to participate.