Abstract:   The goals of this theoretical work is the analysis of the urban consumption practices that are an intrinsic part of the urban style, as well as other phenomena of urbanization associated with the consumption processes. Thus, the subject of the research is the “consumption” content of the urban style. In general, the urban style is understood  as the combination of external manifestations in the livelihood of a city dweller determined by his affiliation to the urban civilization (territorial, value, communicational, cultural) or affiliation to a specific economic structure, organization of daily life, etc. The author applies the principle of spatial-timely structure of the phenomenon, which suggests the analysis of the urban style in unity of the spatial and timely localization with determination of the functionally different urban spaces, as well as capture of the specific “urban time”. The work gives definition to the urban style and the historical insight regarding the autonomization of the urban style, as well as analyzes the “consumer” reasons of the process of urbanization. The following specific characteristics of the urban style associated with the consumption processes are highlighted: emergence of the overconsumption, variety of the forms of urban existences and its polymotivation, separation from the natural cyclicality, increasing and artificially set tempo-rhythm, unification, preciseness, good manners, individuality, distance, emergence of the new urban socialness, strong structuring of time and space, mediation of the work and communications, high social mobility, spatial transformation of the city (shift of the historical center, assimilation of nearby territories), “privatization” of public space, city as the territorial brand, transformation of the psychological type of a city dweller, and shopping as the specific urban genre of recreation.  

Keywords: Territorial brand, Overconsumption, City time, Urban space, Differentiation of styles, Shopping, Consumer society, Consumption, Urbanization, Urban style

Abstract: This work examines the question of where and with whom do the students of N. I. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University reside. The conditions of where and with whom the university students live during the education process in many aspects depend of their financial situation, where they resided before, and a number of other factors. Within the framework of this research, we will underline the gender, geographical, age, and financial aspects. The data acquired during surveying the students of Nizhny Novgorod State University in spring of 2015 (N-688) is implemented in this work. As the result of this research, based on the empirical data, the author determined the main options of the students’ place of residence. The author makes an attempt of interpretation of the acquired results referring to the economic status and gender differences. The examination of the living conditions of the students can give new information for better understanding of this specific socio-demographical group.

Keywords: Family, Place of residence, Living conditions, Higher education, University, Socialization, Dormitory, City, Nizhny Novgorod State University , Studenthood

Abstract: The subject of this research is the ideas about the assimilated territories of Siberia as the result of the forced forms and methods of the urban development reclamation of the territories, relocation and management of the workforce potential. The goal of this article consists in confirmation of the methods of assimilation of Siberia in the first half of the XX century as the continuation of tradition established by the end of the XIX century. The article reviews and describes the methods of relocation of population to Siberia for ensuring the industrial and city-planning development of its territories in the early XX century. The attention is focused on one of the methods formulated in different periods by the renowned researchers of Siberia N. M. Yadrintsev (1842-1894), P. N. Butsinsky (1854-1916), and V. P. Kosovanov (1872-1938) – the method of government forced colonization of Siberian territory. It is demonstrated that the necessity of the territorial exploitation of Siberia in the Soviet period, as one of the geopolitical and economic goals of the Soviet state, predetermined the tasks regarding the various methods of attraction of people to the sparsely populated territories. The history of urban development exploitation of Siberia in the first half of the XX century to a significant extent confirms the established ideas about the forced methods in implementation of the Siberian city planning. The conclusion is made about the succession of methods from the previous centuries pertaining to the government-forced colonization of the Siberian territories in the early XX century. It is noted that the studied methods complement the general picture of multiplicity of the forms of full-scale urban development activity in Siberia in the XX century, which contributed significant innovations into the global theory and practice of exploitation of the remote territories with the extreme nature-climatic conditions. This material represents the researchers’ interest for better understanding of the prerequisites for the modern urban development in Siberia.

Keywords: colonization of Siberia, exploitation of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Gulag in Siberia, special settlers in Siberia, forced resettlement, N. M. Yadrintsev , P. N. Butsinsky , V. P. Kosovanov, urban development of Siberia, city planning of the XX century

Abstract: The public spaces represent an important element of the physical and social territory of any city. Multiple parameters that assist in describing the quality of life of the residents, including their satisfaction with the environment and place of living, depend on the format of organization of the public spaces. Such circumstance defines the necessity to find the ways of efficient management of the aforementioned objects. Thus article focuses attention on the various models of organization of the work of local self-governance aimed at the development of public spaces. The research is based on the general scientific methodology and examination of the normative legal acts that manifest as certain from the contextual perspective limitations upon the development of possible versions. As the scientific results, the author highlights the public, mixed, and private models of management of the public space. It is noted that due to the specificities of the object, the private model that is present in theory cannot be implemented in practice. The public and mixed models have modifications based on the establishment of the centers of responsibility and centralization/decentralization of administration on one hand, and various organizational-legal forms of public-private partnership – on the other. The formulated conclusions can be used by the self-government authorities in establishment and implementation of municipal policy in the area of development of public spaces.

Keywords: public private partnership, management model, municipal policy, development of the territory, urban environment, public spaces, direct control, local governments, concession, autonomous institution

Abstract: Since the ancient times people were trying to adjust the surrounding space for their own comfort and convenience. The initial period of industrialization led to the violation of sanitary norms, overcrowded accommodations, and destruction of the usual environment. The response for this lied in the urban development theories from Ebenezer Howard to Le Corbusier, who attempted to set the city to serve the needs of men. But as a result, of various mistakes, these concepts turned out to be debunked. The future of the cities in many ways is defined by the main trends of development of the entire humanity: strive for comfort and interaction with the nature. The author uses the critical analysis of the existing urban concepts, as well as comparative and situational analysis for demonstrating the evolution in views upon the optimal development of the urban space. In the third millennium the essential task of humanity will consist in creation of the biosphere-compatible space. Under the conditions of megalopolis this task will be extremely difficult to accomplish, thus at the initiate stages the reformations must take place in small cities. The transition to the new energy-saving technologies will improve the urban environment; the sources of pollution will be eliminate, such technologies will be removed underground, and telecommunications will make the transportation of cargo across vast distances unnecessary. The alternative sources of energy will become more popular.

Keywords: Complex planning, Ecology, Biosphere, Energy-saving technologies, Ecopolis, Garden city, Green space, Comfort, Industrialization, Urban research

Abstract: The article provides an overview and analysis of research in the field of energy-efficient translucent walling, which results were published in the Russian literature over the last decade. The authors determine the relevant issues and promising directions of the research in this field. There is a significant amount of publications in the area of heat transfer and energy efficiency of the translucent constructs. This work reviews the articles published not earlier than 2008 and included into the database of the Russian index of scientific citations, as well as list of the journals recommended Higher Attestation Commission. The conducted overview of the literature allowed determining that the most attention is given to the translucent constructs with solar screens, as well as insulated glazing with low-emissivity glass. This direction is the most promising and relevant at the present stage. The analysis of the existing publications demonstrated that the articles do not examine the questions about the longevity of insulated glazing filled with inert gas, as well as there is lack of research in optimization of insulated glazing from the perspective of energy efficiency and economic purposefulness.

Keywords: overview, energy efficiency, double glazing, windows, translucent structures, energy-efficient building envelope, energy efficiency in construction, translucent building envelope, glazing, Siberia