Kizlаw Spring Reconstruction in Yelkhovo
Reconstruction of the Kizlaw Spring in Yelkhovo (Tatarstan) — a part of a comprehensive territorial development project that reveals the village’s cultural and natural identity.
The Kizlaw spring is known for its healing properties and its rich history preserved in local legends and rituals. Residents call it "the heart of the village": newlyweds were welcomed here after weddings, rituals and celebrations were held at the spring, and its water was believed to be sacred and capable of healing illnesses. The main goal of the project is to preserve the spring’s sacred meaning while carefully renewing the surrounding space.
Our approach is based on the principles of co-creation — collaborative work with local residents — and the idea of finding the "voice of the place", which allows the identity of the territory to be expressed through its authentic stories. The methodology includes anthropological research, a study of the area’s biodiversity, the introduction of sustainable and contemporary construction solutions, and the integration of artistic practices aimed at creating new cultural points of attraction.
The Kizlaw spring is known for its healing properties and its rich history preserved in local legends and rituals. Residents call it "the heart of the village": newlyweds were welcomed here after weddings, rituals and celebrations were held at the spring, and its water was believed to be sacred and capable of healing illnesses. The main goal of the project is to preserve the spring’s sacred meaning while carefully renewing the surrounding space.
Our approach is based on the principles of co-creation — collaborative work with local residents — and the idea of finding the "voice of the place", which allows the identity of the territory to be expressed through its authentic stories. The methodology includes anthropological research, a study of the area’s biodiversity, the introduction of sustainable and contemporary construction solutions, and the integration of artistic practices aimed at creating new cultural points of attraction.
Service
— Preliminary site research
— Concept development
— Project implementation
— Public events
— Concept development
— Project implementation
— Public events
Format
Creation of a new public space
Date
2025
Location
Yelkhovo Village, Republic of Tatarstan
Customer
Tatneft PJSC
Reconstruction of the Kizlaw Spring in Yelkhovo (Tatarstan) — a part of a comprehensive territorial development project that reveals the village’s cultural and natural identity.
The Kizlaw spring is known for its healing properties and its rich history preserved in local legends and rituals. Residents call it "the heart of the village": newlyweds were welcomed here after weddings, rituals and celebrations were held at the spring, and its water was believed to be sacred and capable of healing illnesses. The main goal of the project is to preserve the spring’s sacred meaning while carefully renewing the surrounding space.
Our approach is based on the principles of co-creation — collaborative work with local residents — and the idea of finding the "voice of the place", which allows the identity of the territory to be expressed through its authentic stories. The methodology includes anthropological research, a study of the area’s biodiversity, the introduction of sustainable and contemporary construction solutions, and the integration of artistic practices aimed at creating new cultural points of attraction.
The Kizlaw spring is known for its healing properties and its rich history preserved in local legends and rituals. Residents call it "the heart of the village": newlyweds were welcomed here after weddings, rituals and celebrations were held at the spring, and its water was believed to be sacred and capable of healing illnesses. The main goal of the project is to preserve the spring’s sacred meaning while carefully renewing the surrounding space.
Our approach is based on the principles of co-creation — collaborative work with local residents — and the idea of finding the "voice of the place", which allows the identity of the territory to be expressed through its authentic stories. The methodology includes anthropological research, a study of the area’s biodiversity, the introduction of sustainable and contemporary construction solutions, and the integration of artistic practices aimed at creating new cultural points of attraction.
— Preliminary site research
— Concept development
— Project implementation
— Public events
— Concept development
— Project implementation
— Public events
Service
2025
Date
Creation of a new public space
Format
Tatneft PJSC
Customer
Yelkhovo Village, Republic of Tatarstan
Location
Kizlаw Spring Reconstruction in Yelkhovo
For the residents of Yelkhovo, the village is a place "built on underground rivers", the Kizlaw spring is "the heart of the village", and the streams are its "circulatory system".
Yelkhovo is a historic Tatar settlement (founded at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries), whose architectural character preserves features of Tatar identity: polychrome façades, decorative window frames, traditional estate-type layouts, and a regular village planning structure. The Kizlaw spring in Yelkhovo is the center of community life — a place for gatherings and celebrations, a symbol of unity and tradition.
Preliminary Project Research
Kizlaw — the Heart of the Village
Preliminary Project Research
Kizlaw — the Heart of the Village
Yelkhovo is a historic Tatar settlement (founded at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries), whose architectural character preserves features of Tatar identity: polychrome façades, decorative window frames, traditional estate-type layouts, and a regular village planning structure. The Kizlaw spring in Yelkhovo is the center of community life — a place for gatherings and celebrations, a symbol of unity and tradition.
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For the residents of Yelkhovo, the village is a place "built on underground rivers", the Kizlaw spring is "the heart of the village", and the streams are its "circulatory system".
Yelkhovo onions, once famous at the local market
Yelkhovo market
Decorative window frames
Arkady Plastov, "The Spring", 1952, oil on canvas
Customs around the spring: washing geese and scattering feathers
The most important part of the pre-project research is to understand the lived world of the people who inhabit the territory. It is a unique universe of meanings that each community builds around itself, perceiving and interpreting space through its own system of values.
For the careful transformation of the spring area, we relied on in-depth analytical work:
Anthropological research
Interviews with local residents and community leaders
Sociological survey
Study of the area’s biodiversity, soil, and water
Analysis of the architectural and landscape environment
Anthropologist
Nikita Petrov
Improving the spring is a process of co-designing the future based on an understanding of how the place lives in the memory, practices, and imagination of the community. The specificity of Yelkhovo is revealed through a particular semiotic configuration of space, where water and springs are the system-forming elements of collective identity. The key semantic insight: for residents today, what matters most is not the utilitarian properties of the water, but the spring as a place of ‘shared purpose,’ ‘connection between past and present,’ and ‘life for future generations’.
For the careful transformation of the spring area, we relied on in-depth analytical work:
- Anthropological research
- Interviews with local residents and community leaders
- Sociological survey
- Study of the area’s biodiversity, soil, and water
- Analysis of the architectural and landscape environment
The most important part of the pre-project research is to understand the lived world of the people who inhabit the territory. It is a unique universe of meanings that each community builds around itself, perceiving and interpreting space through its own system of values.
- Nikita PetrovAnthropologistImproving the spring is a process of co-designing the future based on an understanding of how the place lives in the memory, practices, and imagination of the community. The specificity of Yelkhovo is revealed through a particular semiotic configuration of space, where water and springs are the system-forming elements of collective identity. The key semantic insight: for residents today, what matters most is not the utilitarian properties of the water, but the spring as a place of ‘shared purpose,’ ‘connection between past and present,’ and ‘life for future generations’.
Sociological surveys showed that the spring remains not only the main point for collecting drinking water but also a place for meeting and socializing. Residents dream of having a spot for a samovar and a grill — a place for village-wide gatherings, provided that water protection regulations are strictly observed.
Sociological surveys showed that the spring remains not only the main point for collecting drinking water but also a place for meeting and socializing. Residents dream of having a spot for a samovar and a grill — a place for village-wide gatherings, provided that water protection regulations are strictly observed.
Survey of local residents
Before developing the project, the ecological conditions of the spring were also studied: biodiversity, the state of the vegetation, soil and water quality. Based on this, key measures were identified to preserve the ecosystem of the site, including: regular water quality monitoring, removal of invasive species and restoration of native flora, reducing recreational pressure through walkways and organized routes, and protecting the spring from access by livestock.
Participant in the field data collection
Alsu Amirova
People would forget about their daily tasks and start telling stories about their youth — how they used to spend joyful time near the spring. One woman shared that she wore her most beautiful dress when going to the spring. Another recalled how, before school, she would fetch water from Kizläw for her grandmother. One morning she decided to be lazy and took water from another spring, thinking her grandmother wouldn’t notice. But of course she did. She scolded her granddaughter and said it wasn’t right to deceive her — she needed water specifically from Kizlaw. The sulfurous aftertaste of the water is considered normal here, although not everyone who comes from elsewhere gets used to it quickly.
Survey of local residents
- Alsu AmirovaParticipant in the field data collectionPeople would forget about their daily tasks and start telling stories about their youth — how they used to spend joyful time near the spring. One woman shared that she wore her most beautiful dress when going to the spring. Another recalled how, before school, she would fetch water from Kizläw for her grandmother. One morning she decided to be lazy and took water from another spring, thinking her grandmother wouldn’t notice. But of course she did. She scolded her granddaughter and said it wasn’t right to deceive her — she needed water specifically from Kizlaw. The sulfurous aftertaste of the water is considered normal here, although not everyone who comes from elsewhere gets used to it quickly.
Before developing the project, the ecological conditions of the spring were also studied: biodiversity, the state of the vegetation, soil and water quality. Based on this, key measures were identified to preserve the ecosystem of the site, including: regular water quality monitoring, removal of invasive species and restoration of native flora, reducing recreational pressure through walkways and organized routes, and protecting the spring from access by livestock.
Architectural Concept
Architectural Concept
The spring preserved its natural authenticity but lacked comfortable infrastructure for residents and visitors. The place was not adapted for long stays: there were no areas to rest or spend time together.
Before
The improved area now includes spaces for relaxation and celebrations. Trees and shrubs have been planted, the banks have been reinforced, and environmentally safe infrastructure has been introduced.
After
The architectural concept for the improvement of the Kizläw spring is based on combining local traditions with contemporary construction solutions. The core element is a system of lightweight metal mesh decking: it provides safe access to the water without disturbing the root systems of old trees or the banks of the stream. The same material is used in the design of the spring’s water catchment structure.
The architectural concept for the improvement of the Kizläw spring is based on combining local traditions with contemporary construction solutions. The core element is a system of lightweight metal mesh decking: it provides safe access to the water without disturbing the root systems of old trees or the banks of the stream. The same material is used in the design of the spring’s water catchment structure.
Benches are designed in the style of traditional village seats placed at the entrances of homes: this way, the architectural language of the space refers to the everyday life of a Tatar village, while the mesh decking becomes a subtle backdrop — an echo of the picket fences typical for Yelkhovo.
The materials used in the improvement — composite plank, wood, and stone — are environmentally friendly, durable, and suited for long-term use.
The materials used in the improvement — composite plank, wood, and stone — are environmentally friendly, durable, and suited for long-term use.
Benches are designed in the style of traditional village seats placed at the entrances of homes: this way, the architectural language of the space refers to the everyday life of a Tatar village, while the mesh decking becomes a subtle backdrop — an echo of the picket fences typical for Yelkhovo.
The materials used in the improvement — composite plank, wood, and stone — are environmentally friendly, durable, and suited for long-term use.
- Maria GusevaProject ArchitectThe uniqueness of the spring lies in the fact that it is the historical heart of the village, deeply connected to the life and rhythm of a Tatar settlement. For us, it was important not only to preserve its sacred meaning, but also to offer a renewed interpretation of the space — pathways, decking, and small pavilions made of contemporary materials that integrate naturally into the landscape. The Kizlaw spring should become a point of growth, reflecting a new stage in Yelkhovo’s life.
An important element of the project is a new art installation created in pixel-tape technique by artist Zulfiya Ilkaeva together with the residents of Yelkhovo. It represents a collective visual chronicle of the village, based on local stories and children’s drawings. The artwork captures episodes from Yelkhovo’s everyday life: the traditional "bride test", when a newlywed had to carry spring water without spilling it; washing clothes by the stream; geese and the Kaz omase holiday; the spring itself; and the famous "Yelkhovo onion" once sold at the local bazaar.
The visual style of the installation is inspired by children’s drawings and the posters of Khaliulla Akhmetshin, founder of the Museum of Yelkhovo History (located in the village of Nizhneye Abdulovo), who spent many years documenting local daily life and culture. A fence transformed into the "Chronicle of Yelkhovo" has become a symbol of unity between past and present.
The visual style of the installation is inspired by children’s drawings and the posters of Khaliulla Akhmetshin, founder of the Museum of Yelkhovo History (located in the village of Nizhneye Abdulovo), who spent many years documenting local daily life and culture. A fence transformed into the "Chronicle of Yelkhovo" has become a symbol of unity between past and present.
Public Events.
The Chronicle of Yelkhovo
Public Events.
The Chronicle of Yelkhovo
An important element of the project is a new art installation created in pixel-tape technique by artist Zulfiya Ilkaeva together with the residents of Yelkhovo. It represents a collective visual chronicle of the village, based on local stories and children’s drawings. The artwork captures episodes from Yelkhovo’s everyday life: the traditional "bride test", when a newlywed had to carry spring water without spilling it; washing clothes by the stream; geese and the Kaz omase holiday; the spring itself; and the famous "Yelkhovo onion" once sold at the local bazaar.
The visual style of the installation is inspired by children’s drawings and the posters of Khaliulla Akhmetshin, founder of the Museum of Yelkhovo History (located in the village of Nizhneye Abdulovo), who spent many years documenting local daily life and culture. A fence transformed into the "Chronicle of Yelkhovo" has become a symbol of unity between past and present.
The visual style of the installation is inspired by children’s drawings and the posters of Khaliulla Akhmetshin, founder of the Museum of Yelkhovo History (located in the village of Nizhneye Abdulovo), who spent many years documenting local daily life and culture. A fence transformed into the "Chronicle of Yelkhovo" has become a symbol of unity between past and present.
- Anastasia StepanovaCurator of the Art ProgramTogether with artist Zulfiya Ilkaeva and the residents of Yelkhovo, we created an art installation inspired by the stories of village elders, archival materials from the Yelkhovo History Museum, and children’s drawings.
The first step was research and getting to know the residents. We collected stories about the Kizläw spring, about the bazaar where people used to say: "If you can’t find it in Yelkhovo, you won’t find it anywhere," and about spring-related traditions. Then we asked the children to recall their own memories and draw them. Based on these drawings, Zulfiya created a visual chronicle of Yelkhovo — an artwork made using the pixel-tape technique.
We worked on the installation together with the children, taught them the method, and prepared materials so they could create their own works and, if needed, restore the installation in the future.
On October 21, 2025, the renovated Kizläw spring was officially opened. The festive program brought together music, refreshments, conversations, and the first introduction to the new public space. The opening featured performances by the ethnomusic ensemble Kadim Almet, national music groups from neighboring villages, and local musicians.
On October 21, 2025, the renovated Kizläw spring was officially opened. The festive program brought together music, refreshments, conversations, and the first introduction to the new public space. The opening featured performances by the ethnomusic ensemble Kadim Almet, national music groups from neighboring villages, and local musicians.
- Polina EjHead of the Nuvo Buro GroupThis is a time of revival for the village. I truly hope that places like Yelkhovo will become more common — that young people will have a reason to stay, that villages will have a future. This spring is a beautiful example of what a world with space for rural life can look like.