Five international teams have been selected for the first stage of the Best Architectural and Urban Planning Concepts for the Integrated Development of Saratov's City Centre competition, launched in July 2020. 

The list of participants was announced on the 29th of September during the press conference. 

67 applications coming from 24 countries have been submitted for the Open International Competition for the Best Architectural and Urban Planning Concepts for the Integrated Development of Saratov's City Centre.

MANDAWORKS' Hiedanranta Innovation Bay Tampere, Finland. Image courtesy of MANDAWORKS

The competitiors had to provide the short vision statement for the development of the territories and a portfolio with 5 relevant projects. The jury of experts reviewed all the submitted applications and selected five participants for the second stage.

The selected 5 teams composed of:

• KARRES EN BRANDS (The Netherlands) / MANDAWORKS (Sweden) / KOSMOS (Russia) 
• Arteza (Russia) / Megabudka (Russia) / Citymakers (Russia) / The Faculty of Biology of Saratov State University (Russia) / The Transportation Design Studio (Russia)
• l'AUC (France) / Mosbach Paysagistes (France) / OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen (Belgium)
• ADEPT (Denmark) / TOBE Architects (Russia) / Buro Happold (Germany)
• Novaya (Russia) / Wagon Landscaping SAS (France) / Mæ Architects Ltd (UK) / GRACE SRL (Italy) / LABORATORIO PERMANENTE DEGLI ARCHITETTI NICOLA RUSSI E ANGELICA SYLOS LABINI (Italy) / SNoU project Ltd (Russia) / M4 Ltd (Russia) / 8 lines (Russia) / Novoe (Russia) 

ADEPT's Oberbillwerder, Hamburg, Germany. Image courtesy of ADEPT

Buro Happold's Kama Tri-City Integrated Masterplan, Usolye, Russia. Image courtesy of Buro Happold

The Open International Competition for the Best Architectural and Urban Planning Concepts for the Integrated Development of Saratov's City Centre was launched on July 20, 2020.

The participants need to propose a framework of planning, programming, landscaping and transport solutions for the project sites, namely the former Saratov-Tsentralny airport, the memorial Park Pobedy (Victory Park) on Sokolovaya mountain, the Ostrov Zelyonyy (Green Island), Glebuchev Ovrag (Glebuchev Ravine), and Pokrovskie Peski Island.

Megabudka's New Russian City, Russia. Image courtesy of Megabudka

Arteza's Olympic stadium Luzhniki, Moscow, Russia. Image courtesy of Arteza

Now each of the shortlisted teams has to develop a concept proposal for the integrated spatial development of the five territories as specified in the Competition Brief. Based on the outcomes of this stage, the jury will select two finalists.

During the last stage, an exhibition of the finalists' proposals and a public voting will be held. The Government of the Saratov Region will make a final decision on the basis of the vote and the advice of the jury. The winner will be announced in Spring, 2021.

Mosbach Paysagistes' Central Park Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan. Image courtesy of Mosbach Paysagistes

l'AUC, Mosbach Paysagistes, OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen's MSP Officine FFS, Bellinzona, Switzerland, l'AUC, Mosbach Paysagistes, OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen. Image courtesy of l'AUC, Mosbach Paysagistes, OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen

The jury consists of international and Russian experts, including Didier Vancutsem, member of the Board of Directors, ISOCARP Institute; Adriaan Geuze, co-founder of West 8 and founder of SLA (Surrealistic Landscape Architecture) foundation; Ingo Kanehl, managing director, ASTOC GmbH & Co; Nikolay Shumakov, President of the Union of Architects of Russia; Igor Sorokin, local history expert and member of the Russian Association of Art Scholars; and a number of other high-profile experts in architecture and urban planning.

Novaya Zemlya's Master Plan for Derbent Urban District, Derbent, Russia. Image courtesy of Novaya Zemlya

The full list of jury members and more information about the competition is available on the competition website. 

Top image: KOSMOS' Nike Box MSK, Moscow, Russia. Image courtesy of KOSMOS

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