The second team is led by Karres at Brands, and composed by Mandaworks design studio, and Kosmos architects, and will participate in the development of the former Saratov Tsentralny (Saratov-Central) and Glebuchev Ovrag (Glebuchev Ravine) airports.
Contest description by Strelka KB
Results of the Open International Competition for the Best Architectural and Urban Planning Concepts for the Integrated Development of Saratov's City Centre were announced at a press conference on Friday. Both finalist teams will be able to take part in the implementation of their concepts.
The Russian Citymakers-led team comprising Arteza landscape designers, Megabudka studio, the Biology department of Saratov State University, and the Transportation Design Studio, will be engaged in the development of Ostrov Zeleny (Green Island), Pokrovskie Peski (Pokrovsky Sands) Island, and the Park Pobedy (Victory Park) memorial complex on Sokolovaya mountain.
The architects tried to highlight the uniqueness of the territories while providing the impulse for development. The Park Pobedy (Victory Park) will become the urban city park embracing the history of the Volga region.
Ostrov Zeleny (Green Island) will provide visitors with the wide range of activities such as enjoying picturesque views, water sports, local seafood and camping.
Pokrovskie Peski (Pokrovsky Sands) island will become a place for creative activities with panoramic route across sand dunes and ponds, observation decks and thematic zones.
The second winning team led by Karres en Brands (the Netherlands), bringing together Mandaworks design studio (Sweden) and Kosmos architects (Russia), will be involved in the development of the former Saratov Tsentralny (Saratov-Central) airport and Glebuchev Ovrag (Glebuchev Ravine).
The project integrates several key elements such as sustainability, development of recreational and cultural potential of the areas.
The former airport will be transformed into new urban centre — the territory which connects landscape and cultural heritage. Airstrips will be turned into walk-in boulevards while nearby green areas would be merged together forming a park circle.
Glebuchev Ovrag (Glebuchev Ravine) will become a place offering plenty of options for the leisure time. Pedestrian bridges will become the major points of the area connecting public zones and services. Each of them will account for various functions such as vertical garden or observation deck and will have its own specific architectural form.
A trilateral contribution agreement between the Saratov city government, the DOM.RF Foundation, and the Sozidanie civic initiatives foundation was signed to develop the designs for these sites in line with the winning concepts.
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. It was held in three rounds. At first the expert jury reviewed all the submissions and selected five teams to proceed to the next stage and propose a framework of planning, programming, landscaping and transport solutions for projects across Saratov city centre on the basis of the competition brief. Then two finalists were selected. Their proposals were displayed on the competition website and a popular poll was launched. Over 10 000 residents of Saratov city and Saratov region cast their votes.
The jury consisted 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.
