2026, Vol. 13, No. 2. - go to content...

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DOI: 10.15862/17NZOR226 (https://doi.org/10.15862/17NZOR226)

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Illarionova O.A., Petrov L.A., Shunyaeva A.V., Chernoivanova P.A. Functional and structural transformation of urban historical landscape in Kaliningrad region. Russian journal of resources, conservation and recycling. 2026; 13(2). Available at: https://resources.today/PDF/17NZOR226.pdf (in Russian). DOI: 10.15862/17NZOR226

Functional and structural transformation of urban historical landscape in Kaliningrad region

Illarionova Olga Alekseevna
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: heatherpaw95@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4211-5290

Petrov Leonid Alekseevich
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: leonid_petrov_1997@mail.ru

Shunyaeva Alexandra Vyacheslavovna
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: aleksandrashun5@mail.ru

Chernoivanova Polina Alexandrovna
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: chernoivanovapolina@gmail.com

Abstract. This article presents the results of a comprehensive study of the historical urban landscapes of six cities in the Kaliningrad region: Kaliningrad, Svetlogorsk, Zelenogradsk, Gvardeysk, Chernyakhovsk, and Baltiysk. The region has a unique situation for the post-Soviet space: the change of state affiliation after World War II, large-scale military destruction, and subsequent Soviet urban development have formed a complex spatial mosaic of fragments of German (pre-1945), Soviet, and modern Russian buildings. The study’s methodological framework includes GIS analysis of digital elevation models, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, and OpenStreetMap vector data, a field inventory of building morphotypes and types of green infrastructure, and a reconstruction of historical dynamics using re-photography — a comparison of archival photographs from the early 20th century and contemporary field photographs. A two-component quantitative assessment system was developed and tested, incorporating criteria for the preservation (authenticity) and amenities (comfort) of historical landscapes. A stable relationship was identified between the modern functional specialization of cities and the state of the historical environment: tourist resorts (Svetlogorsk, Zelenogradsk) demonstrate high amenities while preserving their heritage due to tourist demand; a multifunctional regional center (Kaliningrad) exhibits the greatest disruption to the historical fabric due to active modern development; small towns with a conservative function (Baltiysk, Gvardeysk) exhibit high preservation of their appearance, but at the cost of low amenities. Chernyakhovsk occupies an intermediate position, demonstrating a belated but rapidly accelerating tourist development. The proposed methodology can be applied to historical and geographical studies of other regions with complex cultural heritage stratification.

Keywords: urban development morphotypes; historical and cultural heritage; heterogeneous environment; state of the urban environment; tourist potential; urban landscape; historical geoecology

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