Igral-Baikal

Playground and Public Space

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Location: Ulan-Ude, Russian Fediration

Client:

PIK Group⁠

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Partners/Team:

AFA Group⁠

Richter Spielgeräte⁠

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Typology: Brownfield regeneration, Urban park

Project scope: Design, Construction

Project area: 4,000 m2

Year: 2019-2020

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Discription

The project aimed to transform a neglected public park in Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia (5,500 km from our HQ), into a key community attraction. The challenge was to deliver a premium, nature-inspired playground under extreme climatic conditions while setting a new standard for public spaces in the region.

My role centred on managing the commercial, procurement, and operational aspects, ensuring the award-winning design was realised on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

Key Contributions Aligned with Business Development & Bid Management:

Client & Stakeholder Management: Acted as the primary liaison between the client, the design team, and specialised contractors, ensuring alignment of vision, requirements, and expectations throughout the project lifecycle.

Strategic Procurement & Vendor Negotiation: Led the end-to-end procurement strategy, culminating in the successful negotiation and management of a direct contract with the premium German manufacturer Richter Spielgeräte. This involved coordinating technical specifications, logistics, and compliance.

Financial & Contractual Oversight: Managed the project budget, controlled costs, and reviewed all change orders with detailed financial impact analysis. Ensured all contractual and financial activities adhered to company policies and client agreements.

Cross-Functional Coordination: Orchestrated the workflow between architects, landscape designers, engineers, and installation teams. Verified technical documentation to preempt conflicts and ensure seamless integration of design intent, safety standards (EN 1176 / GOST), and constructability.

Quality Assurance & Project Closure: Supervised on-site execution and conducted final quality inspections to guarantee compliance with specifications. Delivered a complete operational handover package (O&M manuals, warranties) to ensure client satisfaction and asset longevity.

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Outcome

The project was delivered on time and within budget, becoming a vibrant community hub that exceeded client expectations. It has been recognised internationally as a landmark project in public space design:

https://landezine-award.com/igral-baikal⁠

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