130th quarter Irkutsk is a specially created zone of historical development in Irkutsk

Strange, some kind of "technical" name "130th quarter" is known to everyone in Irkutsk. And this is not a secret industrial zone, but a historic wooden quarter updated for the 350th anniversary of the city. Its other name “Irkutsk Sloboda” somehow did not stick, but the “130th” quarter was already a long time ago, and remained so. Now this is its official name, as if written in pencil in the fresh plan of the city.

This place began to build up in the XVII century, then it was outside the city. The building, as you might guess, was wooden - the very houses with which Irkutsk is so famous. Beautiful, carved. For a couple of centuries, they have decayed, half went into the ground.

By the time the project of reconstruction of the area was adopted, the 130th quarter already belongs to the historical center of Irkutsk, but it looked like a dilapidated private sector. Most of the houses evoked thoughts not about architectural monuments, but about a threat to the lives of passersby. The restoration project included not just repairs, but a complete renovation of the quarter. He was supposed to attract investors, and then numerous tourists heading for Irkutsk to Lake Baikal.

According to the renovation plan, dilapidated houses were to be demolished, their inhabitants moved to other areas. In the new settlement there were no private houses at all - only commercial buildings: cafes, restaurants, shops, souvenir shops. A large-scale repair began in 2008, when wooden buildings along the perimeter of the block were restored and those that were of particular value - only 32 buildings. The rest were demolished, and in their place they built new ones according to the old models. Several more old buildings were moved to the 130th quarter from other districts of Irkutsk. There are only seven authentic buildings recognized as architectural monuments.

Investors were attracted by the municipal-private partnership program, that is, provided them with land for construction. First of all, houses were bought on the perimeter. At first, the new owners did not understand the attractiveness of the pedestrian zone, but it “shot” as no one could have imagined. The updated quarter was opened in 2011, and literally over a year the project paid off, even went into profit.

Today, the 130th quarter is the epicenter of Irkutsk tourist (and not only tourist) life. As they say about some trendy club, "everyone is there." In fact, this is one long two-level pedestrian street with wooden houses on the sides. In some places for these houses you can go, and the space expands. There are many restaurants and cafes, exhibition and museum halls, but it is the central well-developed pedestrian zone - the main axis of attraction.

At the beginning of the quarter stands the famous sculpture of Babr, a Siberian heraldic tiger, more like a mix between a panther and a marten. Babr is depicted on the coat of arms of Irkutsk. In the end, there is an observation deck and the large shopping center “Fashion quarter”. This modern building is well combined with the old wooden architecture, and next to it is the stone building of the Irkutsk planetarium "Noosphere". Planetarium is the only capital stone building in the 130th quarter.

In the immediate vicinity of the quarter there are two more notable modern buildings - the new House of Music by Denis Matsuev, a native of Irkutsk, and the Irkutsk Musical Theater named after Zagursky. Also nearby is the magnificent Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross, a sample of Siberian baroque. It stands on the Cross Mountain, on the slope of which Irkutsk settlement is located.

The success of the 130th quarter turned out to be so loud that in Irkutsk they set about trying to update several more urban areas. The Irkutsk Quarters project implies the integrated development of 11 districts of the city with a total area of 73 hectares. Just as in the 130th, historic wooden houses will be renovated, restored and recreated, 20% of the renovated buildings will be given to private housing. Inside quarter streets will become completely pedestrian. Each quarter will have its own logic, concept, and even a name. According to the plan, the update will be completed by about 2022.

LOCAL FEATURES

In the 130th quarter there are several museums: Experimental - an entertaining science museum, Siberian Railway Museum, Emergency Situations Museum, Museum of Weapons, Museum of the city administration, Museum of Handicraft Weapons, etc. Several souvenir outlets and shops with non-standard clothes are opened in unexpectedly pleasant prices. There are several places that serve delicious poses - big Buryat dumplings. This is a restaurant-club "Mamai", an institution with a rather loud music, respectively, the name, and a restaurant of the Buryat and Mongolian cuisine "Ulus Etno". In the Kruzhal bar, a specialty of the house is not poses, but traditional dumplings with various fillings. Dumplings with salmon are in special demand.

One of the first in the quarter is the café-pie “Rumyanovo” (July 3 st, 5). At 9 in the morning there it is already possible to have breakfast with fresh buns.

The restaurant "Rassolnik" will appeal to those who miss the times of the USSR. The interior of the institution reproduces the atmosphere of the Soviet apartment. Russian cuisine, serving dishes - an unusual, and the average check without alcohol - about 1200 rubles.

Life in the 130th quarter is especially busy in the summer, when all the restaurants and cafes put tables on the street. The district is literally changing: the design of the verandas is different everywhere, guests are offered cozy armchairs and blankets, music is heard everywhere - in general, a holiday.

The townspeople are very fond of the 130th quarter, so from Friday to Sunday all the cafes and bars are full, the table must be booked in advance. On weekdays, with this much easier, places are half empty, so that the place, most likely, there is.

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