Spatial significance of churches in the development of the street network within Irkutsk

Abstract

The paper presents the findings of studies into the location of Orthodox churches and its impact on the street network in the central historical part of Irkutsk, considering the transition from wooden to stone churches over time. The previous studies concerning the historical development of urban space are reflected in the paper. In addition, the study examines distinctive features of street and intersection reconfiguration associated with close proximity to church buildings that occurred in the second half of the 18^th century. By the time the first city plan was approved in 1792, the building lines of city blocks were supposedly established with a setback from the walls of stone churches toward the roadway, while the majority of streets were aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the adjacent church. Additionally, the study analyzes the spatial transformations of environment around stone churches constructed in the 18^th century, mostly preserved to the present day. The paper reviews the visibility and viewpoints of churches within the diverse urban landscape of Irkutsk, using the Church of St. Haralambos as a case study. It can be concluded that stone Orthodox churches, representing stylistic transition from Ancient Russian to Ustyug and Irkutsk Baroque, create a unique architectural ensemble in the form of a closed ring along the outer contour of the central historical area. The paper introduces a cartographic representation for the route of approximately eight kilometers.