The life cycle of the northern settlement on the example of working settlements

Rostovskaia Anna Andreevna Postgraduate student of the Department of Urban Planning of the Moscow Architectural Institute 107031, Russia, Moscow, Rozhdestvenka str., 11/4, building 1, building 4 annetrostovskaya@gmail.com Other publications by this author

Introduction. The issue of the development of the northern territories does not lose its relevance. Especially promising in the context of modern challenges are the issues of the introduction of innovative technologies in the North, as well as the role of the northern city in the settlement system as a whole ^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]}. Within the framework of this study, I would like to highlight the topic of the life cycle of a settlement in the North, as a defining idea of the urbanization process of the northern territories. The question of the life cycle of the northern settlement has already been raised by the author earlier. This article is a logical continuation of previous studies ^[11].

The purpose of the study described in this article is to analyze the life cycle of the northern settlement using the example of real settlements that existed earlier, but are currently abandoned. This will allow the analysis to be carried out under "ideal conditions", that is, without applying assumptions.

Tasks set to achieve the goal:

- identify the elements of the life cycle of the northern settlement;

- analyze several settlements, the stages they went through in the process of their formation, and determine the role of the identified elements in the life cycle of each of the studied settlements;

- to determine the prospects of the ongoing research, its practical significance.

Research methods. The research uses the descriptive method, the method of analysis and subsequent synthesis, the method of induction and categorization.

A review of the literature on the research topic. I would like to focus on the topic of the life cycle of the northern settlement. However, the little-studied nature of this phenomenon requires highlighting the studies that preceded the presented one and laid the foundation for the studied direction.

The concept of the life cycle was previously considered by researchers such as Jay Forrester, who studied the concept of the life cycle of an urban system. He identified three groups of factors: population, housing stock and entrepreneurial activity ^[12].

P.A. Orekhovsky distinguished the phases of the city's life cycle: development (intensive development), growth (slowing development), stagnation and decline, speaking about the regular sequence of these phases ^[13].

I.D. Turgel considered four possible trajectories of the city's life cycle, typical for Russian settlements. The first trajectory is when a period of intensive development is replaced by a period of slowing development and, due to external constraints, lasts for a very long time. The second trajectory is repeated cycles of development and growth without a phase of stagnation and decline due to the timely transition to a new stage of development. The third trajectory is repeated cycles of development, growth and stagnation caused by external, most often economic factors, while there is no change in specialization. The fourth trajectory is characterized by a single pronounced passage through successive phases of development, growth, stagnation and decline ^[14].

E.G. Animitsa, A.P. Dubnov, L.V. Koval studied the life cycle of settlements using the example of BUT, identifying the features of this type of settlements ^{[15, 16]}.

K.A. Proshunina and T.V. Khomenko identified the components of the life cycle of the urban planning system, including the urban population, consumer urban resources, functional processes, rationing and accounting ^[17].

M.R. Topalyan considered the directions of research on the life cycle of an urbanized system and identified three vectors for analyzing the functioning of the economic system of the territory: horizontal, vertical and diagonal ^[18].

R.R. Mavlyutov, as part of the study of the spatial development of large cities, also raised the issue of the city's life cycle, analyzing and summarizing materials on the topic ^[19].

At the moment, researchers note the importance of using the concept of the life cycle of a city and studying its elements, despite the fact that not all cities go through all stages. This is important in the context of forming a theoretical basis for various models of urban systems to identify patterns, define rules and the most productive solutions ^[20].

Elements of the life cycle of the northern settlement. To begin with, we note that the features of the existing situation, in particular the natural and climatic conditions, are proposed to be considered as the "source code" of the territory. They determine the possibilities of human activity, dictate the conditions of existence, the formation of a lifestyle, the nature and appearance of settlements, therefore they are, as it were, a pre-programmed condition that practically does not change. This is especially evident in the extreme conditions of the environment of the North.

The elements of the life cycle of the northern settlement are proposed to be considered:

- place of employment (MPT);

- population;

- infrastructure.

The place of employment in an extreme climate is more important than anywhere else. Without a strong vector of development of the territory, which at the same time is a source of income for the population, the life of the settlement instantly subsides. Thus, MPT is practically the only vector of development and retention of the population.

The population is what determines the presence or absence of life in the northern settlement. If there is a large and promising place of employment, there is always a population ready to work and live in a settlement and in need of appropriate infrastructure.

Infrastructure is understood as an anthropogenic environment, the components of which are necessary for a comfortable human life in a settlement. Thus, infrastructure as an element of the life cycle is residential buildings, cultural, social and consumer services facilities, engineering and transport infrastructure facilities.

The principle of analysis. The proposed model of the life cycle of the northern city has two ways of graphical representation that complement each other. Thus, the display on the graphs allows you to assess the development of the urban planning system over time and in quantitative terms of each of the elements (population, place of employment and infrastructure). Mapping through planning development schemes allows you to visually assess the territorial development and patterns of formation of functional zones.

The graph shows the development and extinction of three components (curves) corresponding to the listed elements: the population, the place of employment and the environment (including buildings, infrastructure, and their condition). There is a timeline horizontally, and a scale of development intensity vertically. The population is taken as a basis, the measurement of the other two components (MPT and infrastructure) are estimated according to the principle of "sufficiency" for the population at the same time.

Let's consider the proposed concept of the life cycle of a northern settlement using the example of several objects. To simplify the perception, small settlements were taken, whose life cycle has already been completed. Four settlements were selected as examples: Kadykchan, Halmer-Yu, Ynykchan, and Iultin. A schedule was built for each object and a planning scheme was formed.

Kadykchan (Magadan region, Susuman district). In the 1930s and 40s, geological prospecting was actively carried out in the territories in the upper reaches of the Kolyma. With the discovery of deposits of precious metals, mines appeared, as well as settlements serving the gold mining industry and the population. In particular, in 1943 Kadykchan was founded, a settlement in the Susuman district of the Magadan region. It has also become a coal mining site. Since its foundation, due to the presence of a place of employment (primarily a coal mine and gold mines), the territory has become promising for the formation of a settlement with a permanent population. The first residents were prisoners who built a work settlement, and then they were replaced by freelance workers from mines and mines. It is difficult to overestimate the role of Kadykchan at that time: about two thirds of the Magadan region was "heated and illuminated" with coal extracted from its mines.

The active development of the village in the first decades since its foundation was traced at least on the basis of population growth. The appearance of a promising place of employment made the settlement interesting for the population. Along with the appearance of new residents with families, the housing stock, engineering, transport, and social infrastructure were gradually formed. With the closure of the camps, jobs were not idle: people came to the Magadan region and, in particular, Kadykchan to work, in peak years the population reached 12 thousand people. It is important to note that the village is located in an area with extreme climatic conditions, which did not make it favorable for living. Nevertheless, due to political decisions, employees relied on northern allowances, which fulfilled their role and attracted the population to an actively developing territory.

With the changes in the country in the 1990s, the changes also affected the territory under consideration. With a lack of financing, the turnover in production and production decreased. The accident with the collapse in the mine and the death of the miners only accelerated the process that had already started. Further, the chain reaction disrupted the operation of transport, food shortages formed, places of employment were vacated, people moved to other regions more favorable for life, where there were jobs. The village is currently uninhabited.

An analysis of the life cycle of the Kadykchan settlement by three components is presented in the graphs (Figure 1). Thus, we can analyze that the "place of employment" curve grows first, then the "population" curve, then the "infrastructure" catches up with them. At the same time, they decline in approximately the same order: first, production disappears, which was a city-forming factor, then there is an outflow of population and, approximately in parallel with it, the decline of infrastructure.

Figure 1. Life cycle graph of Kadykchan settlement

The place of employment is the main factor for the working population, but their families also move with the workers. Harsh environmental conditions "wear out" infrastructure faster, and the conditions of both the natural and anthropogenic environment do not allow the remaining population to continue their lives in the same place. Using the example of Kadykchan, we see that the settlement became uninhabited in the 2000s, the active phase of its life cycle lasted for 50 years.

Analyzing the planning scheme (Figure 2), it can be seen that due to the small size of the settlement, the functional zones are located quite close to each other. Nevertheless, the residential area and the production area have been separately identified. The stage-by-stage formation of the settlement determined its functional and planning structure. First the Old Kadykchan appeared one after another, then the New Kadykchan, the last was the Newest Kadykchan. The settlement is located next to the river of the same name, not far from the federal highway Kolyma (R-504).

Figure 2. Scheme of functional zoning of Kadykchan

Halmer-Yu (Komi Republic). In 1942, a coal deposit was discovered in the Komi Republic, northeast of Vorkuta. Then a work settlement was founded there, where the first permanent population stayed for the winter in 1943-1944. In the 1950s, a major coal mine was built and put into operation. In the best years, the population reached 7 thousand people, and the social infrastructure was represented by objects of preschool, secondary and additional education, health care and culture. There was also a meteorological observation facility. The settlement was connected to Vorkuta by a narrow-gauge railway. The coal deposits were depleted by 1993, when the mine was closed due to unprofitability, and later the village itself was liquidated. At the moment, the place is abandoned, there is no permanent population.

The analysis of the life cycle of the Halmer-Yu settlement by three components is presented in the graphs (Figure 3). Analyzing the life cycle of a settlement using the example of Halmer, we can note that the primary place of employment was the main place of labor (coal mining), then a permanent population was formed, and then the infrastructure was organized. Simultaneously with the liquidation of the mine, there began to be an outflow of population and a gradual decline in infrastructure. The life cycle of the settlement was completed in half a century. It is worth noting that currently the ruins of the village are used as a military training ground, but they are not an inhabited urban development facility.

Figure 3. Life cycle graph of the Halmer-Yu settlement

Analyzing the planning scheme of the Halmer-Yu settlement (Figure 4), it can be seen that the communal production zones are somewhat away from the residential zone. The proximity of the river and railway transport partly determined the location of functional areas in the settlement. Part of the residential area was located next to the railway, part of the village was near the mine. Thus, both the territory of the coal mine and the railway were located in close proximity to residential areas.

Figure 4. Scheme of functional zoning of the Halmer-Yu settlement

Ynykchan (Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)). In 1937, a gold deposit was discovered in Ust-Maysky ulus on the territory of Yakutia (Sakha Republic). In 1940, the settlement on the basis of the deposit received the status of a working settlement. During the Great Patriotic War, as well as in the post-war years, the labor of prisoners was actively used, the number of which is not reflected in statistics. At the same time, according to eyewitnesses, in the early years of the settlement, the infrastructure did not meet the requirements of safe work and comfortable living ^[21]. Further, over time, with the improvement of mining technologies, population growth and improved working conditions, infrastructure also developed: educational, health, cultural, trade and consumer services facilities were formed. With the development of the deposit, an outflow of population began to occur. The settlement was abolished in 2008.

The analysis of the life cycle of the Ynykchan settlement by three elements is presented in the graphs (Figure 5). It can be observed that the primary place of employment was the main place of labor (gold mining), then a permanent population began to appear, and then infrastructure was formed for the needs of the population. At the same time, as soon as the resource of the main place of employment was developed, an outflow of population began to occur. Without maintenance, the infrastructure also began to decline. The life cycle of the settlement was completed in 60-70 years, of which only about 40 years can be considered an active phase. The moment of the foundation of gold mining sites without a formed settlement cannot be considered a full-fledged part of the functioning of the settlement, exactly like the last years of the settlement's existence, when the infrastructure still remained, and the population left the place after the closure of the main mine.

Figure 5. Life cycle graph of the Ynykchan settlement

Analyzing the planning scheme of the Ynykchan settlement (Figure 6), it can be seen that only the residential area is clearly marked. Due to the fact that the settlement is not functioning at the moment, it is difficult to determine the places of application of labor, the role of which was performed by gold mines. Nevertheless, it is known that there were at least five of them, which referred specifically to Ynykchan. Over time, nearby villages that became more successful (for example, Solnechny, located to the west of the territory in question), became the receivers of Ynykchan, taking over the population of the village. At the moment, prospectors' artels are functioning nearby, but the village itself (all that remains of it) is no longer inhabited. Ynykchan was located on the banks of the river of the same name near the Amga highway passing through Solnechny.

Figure 6. Scheme of functional zoning of the settlement of Ynykchan

Iultin (Chukotka Autonomous Okrug). In 1937, a polymetallic deposit was discovered in the Iultinsky district of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug near the future settlement. This was the reason for the formation of the settlement in the future. The isolation of the place from the "mainland", harsh climatic conditions and the war years created difficulties at the initial stage of development. The first settlers stayed for the winter in 1938, but it was only with the construction of the highway that the settlement received an impetus to development. Iultin was officially founded in 1953. Six years after that, the launch of the mining and processing plant (GOK) took place, which became a major place of employment. This village was an example for many: a sought-after place of employment brought high income, and people lived very well by the standards of those times.

With the change in the economic and political structure in the country in the 1990s, the efficiency of city-forming enterprises decreased, but the key moment was the collapse of a wooden bridge over the river, which connected the settlement with the "mainland". Thus, due to the deterioration of the infrastructure, the simultaneous economic downturn, the closure of the mine and the GOK, an active outflow of the population began to occur. By the beginning of the XXI century, Iultin joined the ranks of the "dead" settlements.

The analysis of the life cycle of the Iultin settlement by three components is presented in the graphs (Figure 7). A successful place of employment gave the population a decent standard of living. Residents were provided with the necessary infrastructure. A stable functioning enterprise was a reliable vector of development. However, the simultaneous decline in production, disruptions in the transport infrastructure (the collapse of the bridge) became a catalyst for the outflow of the population and the completion of the life cycle of the settlement.

Figure 7. Graph of the life cycle of the settlement of Iultin

Analyzing the planning structure of the settlement (Figure 8), it can be noted that the main part of the residential development is concentrated within a single residential zone and is oriented in the north-south direction, parallel to the river and the Egvekinot-Cape Schmitt highway. The building is well preserved, represented mainly by low–rise buildings, the tallest are five-storey residential buildings. Opposite the residential area, at a distance of 1-2 km, there was a mining and processing plant. Dilapidated houses of the residential area are also located next to it.

Figure 8. The scheme of functional zoning of the settlement of Iultin

The results of the study. Four working settlements were analyzed, the main place of employment of which was associated with the mining and/or processing industry. A conditional scheme of the functional organization of settlements is presented in the diagram (Figure 9). The primary bundle is a residential area and a place of employment. Further, during the development, a transport connection is laid and/ or another place of employment is founded. The process of formation and complication of the functional structure of a settlement is determined by the peculiarities of the existing situation, as well as, often, factors of an economic and political nature.

It is important to note that according to the materials of I.D. Turgel, the fourth trajectory of the city's life cycle, which is a single pronounced passage through successive phases of development, growth, stagnation and decline, is traditionally considered unfavorable, but it is characteristic of most northern cities. At the same time, such a trajectory is often more rational for them and should be chosen if the continued existence of the settlement is hopeless. It is important to note that the most environmentally friendly end of the life cycle can be a controlled "compression" of a settlement, which was originally incorporated into its life cycle.

Figure 9. Conditional scheme of the functional organization of settlements

Further, the following conclusions are drawn:

1. The primacy of the place of employment has been revealed. When establishing a promising place of employment that guarantees income to the population, or if there is an "idea" for its foundation, it is possible to form a settlement. This is the starting point for the life cycle. However, it is impossible to form a settlement without a population and infrastructure that provides them with a comfortable lifestyle.

2. The dependence of the elements (MPT, population, infrastructure) on each other has been revealed. The harmonious interrelation of the elements determines a successful and long life cycle. The population lives in the settlement for exactly as long as the MPT and infrastructure function. As soon as these two elements begin to decline, an outflow of population immediately occurs.

3. The importance of timely infrastructure formation has been identified. In the conditions of the XX century, the situation was common when the settlement infrastructure was formed after the start-up of the enterprise took place and the permanent population settled. In the context of the values of the XXI century, the population should be provided with a decent level of infrastructure at any stage of the life cycle of the settlement.

4. The existence of a settlement should not be an end in itself. Only if there is a need and the possibility of forming a new or maintaining life in an existing settlement should this vector of development be chosen. Otherwise, it is acceptable and environmentally correct to choose a vector for "compression" of the settlement.

Discussion of the results. This study describes the life cycle of northern settlements using the example of four settlements.We consider it important to emphasize that the use of the analyzed information and the conclusions drawn in practice will optimize a person's stay in the North and the development of the northern territories as a whole. The purity of the experiment requires the formation of an extensive research base on shrinking and dying cities ^{[22, 23]}. To implement these provisions, such a strategic planning document should be considered as a master plan.

For the development of large and large cities as complex systems, it is necessary to take into account not only functional zoning, but also socio-economic and spatial development strategies, which is possible in the master plan. Due to their small size, it is possible to work within the framework of the master plan to form new settlements. However, the peculiarity of accommodation in extreme natural and climatic conditions requires strict adherence to certain development vectors, which take into account not only the urban aspect, but require an integrated approach that would take into account, in addition to spatial development, also the social, economic and political aspects. It is important to emphasize that at the moment the concept of a master plan has not yet been documented, but it should be done in the near future to accelerate the development of northern cities, which is emphasized at the highest level (List of instructions following the meeting on the development of settlements and settlements in the Arctic zone of Russia, approved by the President of the Russian Federation on August 18, 2023).

Conclusion. The presented research is devoted to the topic of the life cycle of the northern settlement. The text emphasizes the identity of the territories located in the extreme climate of the North. The identified elements of the life cycle are analyzed using the example of four working settlements that have passed the entire cycle and completed their existence. The analyzed patterns of formation, development, and extinction of the represented settlements give us the opportunity to judge such characteristics as the duration of the life cycle of the northern city, the interrelation of the listed elements, as well as to make a forecast of the prospects for further development of other settlements with similar characteristics.