Konstantin E. Axenov | Saint-Petersburg State University (original) (raw)

Papers by Konstantin E. Axenov

In present-day Saint-Petersburg socio-spatial differentiation can be observed in various morpholo... more In present-day Saint-Petersburg socio-spatial differentiation can be observed in various morphological post-transformational urban zones, but has not yet led to full-fledged special polarization or segregation. At the same time, the extent of socio-spatial differentiation varies in morphologically different urban housing types and can only be understood on the basis of the historical context and residents’ preferences. In order to understand their impact on socio-spatial differentiation of various urban areas more concretely, two studies were conduc- ted (one in 2007, another in 2009) with the participation of the authors of the present contribution. The results of these studies, which are based on two different samples of model zones or building types in Saint-Petersburg, showed that residents’ preferences were driving socio-spatial differentiation or segregation both on a microscopic (for example, closed staircases in an open court with otherwise open staircases) and macroscopic s...

Известия Русского географического общества, 2019

Using the example of retail development in the former socialist large housing estate areas of Len... more Using the example of retail development in the former socialist large housing estate areas of Leningrad—St. Petersburg in 1989—2016 the paper outlines and provides evidence for 3 principles of the spatiotemporal systems (STS) development under urban transformation: principle of essence changing during transformation of a STS; principle of joined-up nature of spatial, temporal and essence-based parameters of urban STS (USTS); possibility of mismatch of spatial, temporal and substantive hierarchies of transformational USTSs. Paper describes 6 stages of spatial development of retail during the studied period and corresponding spatial forms and peculiarities of retail STS spatial development: early transformation; first stage of administrative reform; pavilions and market places; specific transformational forms displacement; domination of large stationary trade forms; convenience shops stage. Corresponding spatial forms and specificities of retail STSs organization in former socialist l...

Disp, Dec 1, 2012

Since the early 1990ies, investigations about socio-spatial change in Central Eastern European (C... more Since the early 1990ies, investigations about socio-spatial change in Central Eastern European (CEE) urban regions were focused on large scale housing estates and suburban developments. Subsequently, the attention was directed on the upgrading of CEE inner cities as attractive living places and focal points of sociospatial change. In many cases the socio-spatial changes in the inner cities were viewed unilaterally regarding the gentrification aspects. In addition the investigations failed to integrate their results in the respective urban regional context. Moreover, international comparative studies are missing. Based on primary data in five CEE urban regions, the paper aims to analyse the socio-spatial developments of inner cities in a more multifaceted way by comparing them intraand inter-regionally. On the one hand, it will be discussed, if there is a general trend of socio-structural and socio-cultural upgrading in CEE inner cities. On the other hand, the diversity and simultaneity of socio-spatial processes in CEE inner cities will be scrutinised. The current sociospatial development trends of the investigated CEE cities will be discussed in reference to the discourse about the socialist development phase and the concept of re-urbanisation, known from Western European cities. English Title: New socio-spatial developments of inner cities in Central and Eastern Europe?

Springer eBooks, 2006

Temporary, mobile, low cost, small-scale commercial spaces have an important role to play in St. ... more Temporary, mobile, low cost, small-scale commercial spaces have an important role to play in St. Petersburg's transition from a socialist economy to free enterprise. They serve as indicators of socio-spatial structural change in the city. The urban area is a place where self-interested political and entrepreneurial individuals and interest groups engage constructively or come into conflict to construct viable markets – some formal and others informal. This empirical study explores St. Petersburg's commercial kiosk phenomenon as a reflection of sociospatial reordering following the introduction of market forces and the city’s new status in the world economy. Focus is placed on the agencies responsible for this kind of commercial renewal, the form and spatial structure of kiosk trade and its spatial linkages to the capitalist world. This study is based on the following questions: How is commercial development initiated in a city or a country where real estate markets have been absent for decades and where locational and investment decisions have been based on highly ideological socialist principles of planning? How does the structure of urban trade adapt to critical shortage of capital, inadequate formal regulatory trading structures and virtual lack of links to long-standing producer markets?

Regional Science Policy and Practice, Jul 27, 2020

Urban redevelopment in the Russian largest cities during last 30 years was driven by universal mo... more Urban redevelopment in the Russian largest cities during last 30 years was driven by universal modernization trends as well as by specific "path-dependent" changes. This study discusses the role of commercial, and specifically retail trade and services redevelopment as the major indicator of recent redevelopment trends in the periphery of Russian cities under effects of different above mentioned factors. Two most specific inner-city post-socialist zonessocialist time industrial and socialist time residential belts were in the focus of the GIS based research. The source of data of a number, type and location of objects of retail and services were а large-scale field survey conducted in 1994, 1998 and 2016 and the "Yellow Pages" and "Business Navigator" reference databases. Using the example of St. Petersburg, it is shown that under the effect of tertiary sector both of them have changed in a completely different way: turned from monofunctional to polyfunctional urban zones; lost much of their "post-socialist" specificity and became much closer to other European cities' analogs functionally, still retaining certain morphological peculiarities though; developed different and distinct commercial specialization which did not exist there before; have changed their spatial structures. The research results were used to estimate the relative significance of the major global and "path-dependent" factors for commercial redevelopment in the studied peripheral zones.

Moravian Geographical Reports, 2018

Since the beginning of the 1990s, Soviet urban residential communities have experienced rapid inf... more Since the beginning of the 1990s, Soviet urban residential communities have experienced rapid inflows of new urban functions. In this research project, two post-Soviet urban areas - Vilnius and St. Petersburg - are examined to indicate contrasting development paths over the last 30 years. The term “retail sprawl” describes correctly one of the important processes which have reshaped the former socialist microdistricts. We used data from the years 1987-1989, the last years of the socialist economy, and 2016 for 36 comparable research areas. By 2016 the structure of these formerly monofunctional areas made them functionally very similar to that of the urban core, including them in the intra-urban circulation of goods and capital, redirecting flows and making the city centre’s service burden much lighter. The results of the study provide a controversial contribution to the virtual discussion on universalism vs. uniqueness in post-socialist urban development. On the one hand, irrespecti...

Geographica Helvetica, Dec 17, 2012

Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Earth Sciences

The authors of the article aim to identify the principles and patterns of mutual influence of soc... more The authors of the article aim to identify the principles and patterns of mutual influence of socially significant projects of transformation of the urban environment and urban regimes in the Russian Federation. Clarence Stone's concept of urban regimes is used as a theoretical framework. Based on the author's system of criteria of social significance, 6 projects of urban environment transformation in 4 cities were selected and analyzed: Okhta Center and Tuchkov Buyan in St. Petersburg, Zaryadye Park and the development of fields of the Timiryazev Academy in Moscow, St. Catherine's Church in Yekaterinburg and concreting of the embankments of the river Vologda in Vologda. If the initial phase of all projects took place in the realities of local urban growth regimes, with the predominance of the interests of the established coalitions of business and government, then the subsequent increase in the role of public activism in all projects and the change of goal-setting under...

Land

This paper explores the specific “authoritarian” type of adaptive governance of urban regeneratio... more This paper explores the specific “authoritarian” type of adaptive governance of urban regeneration using the example of Guangzhou city as the frontier of China’s reforms. As opposed to the “democratic” type of adaptive governance with its bottom-up policy initiations, community autonomy, polycentric power, participation in decision making, and self-organized policy actors, adaptive governance in Guangzhou is based on top-down decision making and implementation of public authorities’ solutions with the high role of political considerations. By analyzing data collected from policy documents, interviews, secondary data, and participative observations, this paper reveals three phases of urban regeneration in Guangzhou between 2009 and 2019: two of them based on “Three Old Redevelopment” policy implementation and the third one based on the local micro-regeneration initiative. Tradeoffs among urban regeneration, land leasing income and micro-regeneration are the key means of policy adapta...

Baltic Region

This work aims to identify fundamentally new features in the spatial organization of e-grocery an... more This work aims to identify fundamentally new features in the spatial organization of e-grocery and ready-made food trade in a Russian city, distinct from those typical of traditional food retail enterprises. Focusing on St Petersburg, the article describes the emergence of a completely different system of requirements imposed by new forms of online food retail in the space of a large Russian city, compared with traditional industries and retail organization methods. The spatial and temporal parameters of the new shopping model are considered, and a comparative analysis of its spatial competition with already established models is presented. The spatial organization of new online food retail is demonstrated in the context of the placement system of new types of offline objects, the emergence of new flows, their impact on urban development and the effect on the outdoor and transit advertising markets, as well as on the labor market. Based on this analysis, it is concluded that new-typ...

Regional Research of Russia

One of the main driving forces of the postsocialist social transformation is the process of priva... more One of the main driving forces of the postsocialist social transformation is the process of privatization. Over the past twenty years, it has been expressed in the megalopolis in changes in the accessibility of public space. Some types of new urban property owners are interested in providing the maximum access to the territory that they control, whereas others prefer isolation from outsiders. Our field measurements of the results of the struggle between these two forces in St. Petersburg show the unconditional victory of the latter. Our study has revealed significant differences in the rate of denial of access to different types of residential areas of the city and has determined the participants in this process and their motives. There is some evidence that the market appeal of accommodation types is directly correlated with the degree of publicly accessible space shrinkage.

Regional Research of Russia

The relationship of stratification of shopping types, development of certain types of retail faci... more The relationship of stratification of shopping types, development of certain types of retail facilities, and major macro trends in the spatial organization of the tertiary sector of the city economy is described by with a case of St. Petersburg, one of the leaders and innovators in Russian retail. Shopping periodization from 1989 to 2016 is proposed based on the author’s multiyear field surveys and interviews as well as the above criteria. Six periods are distinguished. The features of the latest, modern stage are described in particular detail taking into account consumer stratification by income groups. The data also argue in a more general discussion about the completion or continuation of social transformation in the post-Soviet metropolis. The data on the different stages and regularities in the development of the spatial organization of retail trade for this innovative leader give grounds to make forecasts for other major cities of Russia.

Regional Research of Russia

From surveys conducted in St. Petersburg in 2006-2007, it is possible to conclude that transfor m... more From surveys conducted in St. Petersburg in 2006-2007, it is possible to conclude that transfor mation has led to a distinct division of city space between people of different social status. This refers not so much to residential spatial segregation as it does to activity spaces consisting of personal daily, weekly, yearly, etc., movement routes and entities of visitation. We have fixed and described the differences in types of per sonal activity spaces between different social groups and the similarity of such spaces within these groups. We have studied the spatiotemporal parameters of consumer behavior, work, social contacts, and recreation of representatives from different social groups. This has allowed us to draw a number of conclusions on factors acting on the process of social segregation of personal activity spaces and the spatiotemporal component of the behavior of different groups.

1. Post-Industrial vs. Post-Socialist: Post-Industrial Trends and Points for Investigation in the... more 1. Post-Industrial vs. Post-Socialist: Post-Industrial Trends and Points for Investigation in the Post-Socialist Metropolis 2. Changes in the Functions of St. Petersburg as a Prerequisite for Structural Change in the City 3. Transformation, Tertiary Sector and City Space: Time-Space Approach. 4. Transformation and specific forms of spatial saturation. 5. The spatial transformation of vertical business structures. 6. Territorial complex building 7. Post-transformation urban space: the results of spatial saturation and the spatial organization of new business forms 8. Post-transformation vs. Modernisation: conclusions.

Eurasian Geography and Economics, May 6, 2015

GeoJournal, 1997

This study explores the commercial kiosk phenomenon as a reflection of the sociospatial reorderin... more This study explores the commercial kiosk phenomenon as a reflection of the sociospatial reordering of St. Petersburg following the introduction of market forces. In this article we interpret empirical evidence on the restructuring of commercial opportunity in post-Soviet St. Petersburg as a result of the emergence of the kiosk phenomenon. Kiosk trade and processes that contribute to it have emerged as tools for mass socioeconomic and psychological adaptation, following the dismantling of the communist regime. In our opinion, the emergence and continuing mutation of St. Petersburg kiosks constitutes the backbone of a process of middle-class formation. An extensive field research of 1989, 1994 and 1995 made it possible to study the dynamics of spatial structures of kiosk phenomenon. It is our final conclusion that kiosks will remain an important feature of St. Petersburg's commercial geography in the foreseeable future.

One of the main driving forces of the postsocialist social transformation is the process of priva... more One of the main driving forces of the postsocialist social transformation is the process of privati
zation. Over the past twenty years, it has been expressed in the megalopolis in changes in the accessibility of
public space. Some types of new urban property owners are interested in providing the maximum access to
the territory that they control, whereas others prefer isolation from outsiders. Our field measurements of the
results of the struggle between these two forces in St. Petersburg show the unconditional victory of the latter.
Our study has revealed significant differences in the rate of denial of access to different types of residential
areas of the city and has determined the participants in this process and their motives. There is some evidence
that the market appeal of accommodation types is directly correlated with the degree of publicly accessible
space shrinkage.

⎯The relationship of stratification of shopping types, development of certain types of retail fac... more ⎯The relationship of stratification of shopping types, development of certain types of retail facilities, and major macro trends in the spatial organization of the tertiary sector of the city economy is described by with a case of St. Petersburg, one of the leaders and innovators in Russian retail. Shopping periodization from 1989 to 2016 is proposed based on the author's multiyear field surveys and interviews as well as the above criteria. Six periods are distinguished. The features of the latest, modern stage are described in particular detail taking into account consumer stratification by income groups. The data also argue in a more general discussion about the completion or continuation of social transformation in the post-Soviet metropolis. The data on the different stages and regularities in the development of the spatial organization of retail trade for this innovative leader give grounds to make forecasts for other major cities of Russia.

From surveys conducted in St. Petersburg in 2006–2007, it is possible to conclude that transfor ... more From surveys conducted in St. Petersburg in 2006–2007, it is possible to conclude that transfor
mation has led to a distinct division of city space between people of different social status. This refers not so
much to residential spatial segregation as it does to activity spaces consisting of personal daily, weekly, yearly,
etc., movement routes and entities of visitation. We have fixed and described the differences in types of per
sonal activity spaces between different social groups and the similarity of such spaces within these groups.
We have studied the spatiotemporal parameters of consumer behavior, work, social contacts, and recreation
of representatives from different social groups. This has allowed us to draw a number of conclusions on factors
acting on the process of social segregation of personal activity spaces and the spatiotemporal component of
the behavior of different groups.

Geographica helvetica

ABSTRACT

Известия Русского географического общества, 2019

Disp, Dec 1, 2012

Springer eBooks, 2006

Regional Science Policy and Practice, Jul 27, 2020

Moravian Geographical Reports, 2018

Geographica Helvetica, Dec 17, 2012

Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Earth Sciences

Land

Baltic Region

Regional Research of Russia

Eurasian Geography and Economics, May 6, 2015

GeoJournal, 1997

One of the main driving forces of the postsocialist social transformation is the process of priva... more One of the main driving forces of the postsocialist social transformation is the process of privati
zation. Over the past twenty years, it has been expressed in the megalopolis in changes in the accessibility of
public space. Some types of new urban property owners are interested in providing the maximum access to
the territory that they control, whereas others prefer isolation from outsiders. Our field measurements of the
results of the struggle between these two forces in St. Petersburg show the unconditional victory of the latter.
Our study has revealed significant differences in the rate of denial of access to different types of residential
areas of the city and has determined the participants in this process and their motives. There is some evidence
that the market appeal of accommodation types is directly correlated with the degree of publicly accessible
space shrinkage.

Geographica helvetica

ABSTRACT