Planning Structure Transformation Strategies for Satellite Cities of the Minsk Agglomeration

Determination of   strategies for the formation of satellite cities of Minsk is the basis for the development of a polycentric model of the metropolitan agglomeration. On the basis of the comparative analysis of design solutions for master plans, a concept for improving the planning structure and functional organization of satellite cities has been proposed in the paper. The concept is to adapt their planning structure to one of the promising economic profiles (industrial, scientific and industrial, agrarian and industrial, tourism and recreation). In accordance with the concept, there are four main types of the planning structure of satellite cities that correlate with their city-forming specifics: an urbanized planning structure (type У) – an industrial city, an urbanized-natural structure (type УП) – a scientific-industrial city, a natural-urbanized structure (type ПУ) – agricultural  and  industrial  city and a natural  structure (type П) – tourist and recreational  city.  The selected period (20–30 years). While developing master plans, it is necessary to distinguish two main directions of transformation: transformation and development. The implementation of the first direction is provided by two strategies – fragmentation and defragmentation as well as four varieties of each strategy. Spatial development strategies are consolidation, vector growth, sector growth, radial growth. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of possible options for the placement of functional zones, depending on the distance of the city from the core city. Taking into account the identified strategies for spatial development and analysis of the location of satellite cities in the Minsk agglomeration, twelve planning models have been developed that can be used to create urban planning projects to improve the functional planning organization of settlements in the Minsk agglomeration.