Urban Planning Features of Naukogrady (Science Cities) – Centers of Innovative Activity: The Case of Pyatihatky

Abstract The authors of the paper examine the specifics of the design and construction of Soviet centers of innovation in the former Soviet Union “naukogrady” (science cities). Science cities are considered as an industrial and urban phenomenon, characterized by significant internal diversity in the nature and profile of scientific complexes. The geographical, town-planning, and planning features, the specifics of the functional structure of the Ukrainian science cities, which developed in the Soviet times, are studied on the example of the science city of Kharkiv – Pyatihatky. The history of the origin of the Ukrainian Institute of Physics and Technology and the main stages of the creation of the science city at it is covered. It is concluded that science cities are special urban formations, the population of which consisted mainly of people with higher education. They were distinguished by the high quality of infrastructure, social facilities, culture and services, housing, urban planning, and urban development, as well as advanced environmental thinking. The science cities which had two waves of development in the 20th century intended to rise to the crest of the third wave now.