It is with great pleasure that we champion ASTOC Architects and Planners as the winner of the WAN Future Projects Urban Design Award 2016 for their Masterplan IFC Moscow - Congratulations!
The winner was selected from six shortlisted projects which were chosen by our esteemed jury panel: Neil Lewin, Deputy Regional Director at IBI Group, Bryan Avery MBE, Principal at Avery Associates Architects, Stephen Luoni, Director at The University of Arkansas Community Design Center.
The judges felt that the shortlisted projects highlighted the range of possibilities within the Future Projects Urban Design category, showcasing some fantastic examples of what’s possible in this sector. They were all in agreement that there was one clear winner on the day.
In September 2014 ASTOC Architects and Planners, HPP Architects and LAND Srl were announced as winners for the IFC Moscow Masterplan with their ´Balanced City´ concept. In October of the same year further planning stages and the preparation of the urban planning framework and design codes had been started with the objective to begin construction of the first phase in 2017.
The 460 hectare site with its 4.1 million sq m gross floor area of mixed-use development will capitalise on the Moscow River’s greenbelt by extending the river landscape throughout the IFC to achieve a balance between nature and city.
Bryan praised many aspects of the design, saying: “What I love about this project, is although it’s commercial it seems very realistic. Look at the generous frontage it offers to the river front, very rarely do you see that in this day and age. These lovely roots being placed in a paved square is also a real positive. There’s a real poetry to this project. I think this is delightful, really lovely, it is really tempting for developers to build right to the water’s edge, but to leave the generous spaces in front is beautiful.”
The Balanced City will be a special kind of city. It will be a place where a balance of city and landscape, culture and business and ultimately work and life are expressed in the structural layout of the city and where these values can actually be enjoyed in everyday life.
Neil shared his thoughts, commenting: “This project feels like it has real durability, a real flexibility, which is key with these plans. Quite simply, you have a great example here of how to create a high density City.”
We’d like to take the opportunity to thank not only the jury, but all those who entered their projects into this years’ WAN Future Projects Urban Design Award 2016.
Nick Myall
News Editor
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