Projects

The Stepnoy Zay River Valley in Almetyevsk is a unique natural area that can be successfully integrated into the urban environment and become a real symbol of the city and its “image” component. In addition, the development of this picturesque area with its nature and ecology will attract not only citizens, but also tourists.

Competition subject

The land in the north of the city of Almetyevsk, covering an area of more than 1700 hectares, including about 270 hectares - sections of the forest area outside the city limits, adjacent to the Almetyevsk reservoir on the Stepnoy Zay river in the city of Almetyevsk, Republic of Tatarstan. 

Objective

To prepare a master plan that ensures the revitalization of the land area adjacent to the Almetyevsk reservoir on the Stepnoy Zay river in the city of Almetyevsk, and its transformation into a landmark public space for the city’s residents, broadcasting the mission and image of Almetyevsk as a city with a high standard of living, recognized as such from outside the city.

Photo provided PJSC TATNEFT 

Format

International, two-stage, open.

Participants

Russian and foreign organizations in the field of integrated development of territories and urban planning, architecture, design, and elaboration of concepts for the development of public spaces and capable of attracting specialists in the field of economics, finances, and content programming to the team.

Jury

Representatives of state authorities of the Republic of Tatarstan and the municipal body Almetyevsk city, experts in integrated land development, ecology and specially protected natural areas, economics and spatial planning, marketing and communications, technologies and innovations, as well as representatives of the initiator of the competition.

Finalists

According to results of the selection stage, three finalists will be selected on the basis of a relevant portfolio and essays, and will be engaged in the development of proposals.

Prize fund

The three finalists who develop the final bids will be paid a fee totaling 2,500,000 rubles, including all taxes and fees. Following a meeting of the jury, the finalists, will receive an additional payment in accordance with prize distribution, including all taxes and fees, in the following amounts: 

Winner – 4,000,000 rubles. 

Second place – 2,000,000 rubles. 

Third place – 1,000,000 rubles. 

The total Prize Fund, including all taxes and fees, will be 14,500,000 rubles.

RESULTS

1 PLACE

Consortium led by OBERMAYER Consult (Moscow, Russia).

 Member: OBERMEYER Planen und Beraten (Munich, Germany), Kushman & Wakefield (Moscow, Russia).

The key idea of our project is ecologization and intellectualization in the context of the development of the competition territory, as a new format of attitude to the environment. The competitive features of the project are the result of a synthesis of ideas from the consortium's multidisciplinary team, social Analytics, the tasks of the competition organizer, and the opinions of world rating agencies. All decisions of our master plan are based on economic, social, environmental, and educational factors. Thanks to a comprehensive approach, all elements of the project are United by a common idea. The complexity of design solutions justifies the viability of the project in the future with future changes, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

Economically profitable greening of the environment of the competition area is directly related to the intellectualization of society, which begins with the educational programs of Almetyevsk schoolchildren and develops in parallel with the life cycle of the Park and the territory. Popularization of ideas of ecological thinking starts for schoolchildren in the Museum of the Future in lectures and projects on monitoring changes in the environment and life of animals, the flora of the Park in Online mode. Further, the principles of environmental education will naturally continue in the Almetyevsk state oil Institute in secondary special and higher education.

We want the youth of Almetyevsk to respect and love the city and its historical mission. In the new paradigm of eco - thinking, the requirements for environmental quality will be different, so environmental management in oil production is also a necessary pattern in the education system and programs of the oil Institute. Operating oil production rigs, ecorehabilitation programs and the surrounding environment with the sturgeon reserve are a natural testing ground for future specialists to research and study the interaction between the industry and the environment.

The master plan and concept suggest a variety of year-round scenarios and routes around the territory for all ages. There will be a new festival site, an updated Maidan, a well-maintained beach and seaplane piers in the coastal zone. The Park has land and air paths for walking and Cycling routes. The infrastructure of the Campus area includes an art quarter and a box Park, where creative small businesses will find their place in co-working spaces, mini workshops, cafes, restaurants and shops. This area is naturally connected to the city and is the Central entrance area to the Park, so the format of the art quarter and box Park will give an impetus to the development of small businesses, attract creative youth and students of the campus of the Almetyevsk State oil Institute.

Sports, recreation, entertainment, education and Commerce, ecology-are United in our project and exist inextricably, developing together with the environment.

2 PLACE

Consortium led by IND Architects (Moscow, Russia).

Members: Bureau B+B (Amsterdam, Netherlands), JTP Studios (London, UK), ARCHdesant (Kazan, Russia), Knight Frank (Moscow, Russia).

The masterplan of revitalization of the territory adjacent to Almetyevsk reservoir on the river Stepnoy Zay is created according to the concept of sustainability – the development of the territory goes in different directions that will improve the ecology and economy of the territory as well as make it accessible and attractive for people.

We offer a comprehensive solution for the landscape revitalization and preventing floods. Hiking and cycling routes will consolidate the territory and the city, as well as a new network of roads and public transport will do. The master plan integrates the existing infrastructure and also offers new points of attraction. We introduce new functions and meanings into the territory which will enhance the living standards of people, motivate young people stay in Almetyevsk, improve the health and mindfulness of the citizens, make the city more attractive for living. A health center, an energy-efficient hotel, a youth camp PROFCamp, a new educational campus, the Almetyevsk Hall event space, reconstruction of Maydan, a ski jumping center, an equestrian sports complex and hippodrome, an urban eco-farm, a pontoon pool, a landscape park and, certainly, the construction of the new residential areas of different typology and number of floors — all these objects are described in the masterplan.

We calculated economic models that will help the city to find new financial resources and diversify the economy and profitability also as a result of integration of some projects into the federal and governmental programs for the development of territories and objects. We carefully elaborated the functional program of the territory and its seasonal events schedule.

We follow a co-participation approach. Thus, before starting our work, we got in touch with citizens to know better their needs, desires and dreams. They are reflected in the masterplan as well as the methods and instruments which will improve the way citizens can participate in management of the territory.

The album describes the three-levels strategy of decision-making “Good-Better-Best”. There is a road map that overviews the three phases of the masterplan realization during

2020-2030.

The masterplan represents an integral picture for the territory development in order to meet the goals and objectives of the city, but yet the republic and country. We create an environment for the full-fledged development in the field of education, entrepreneurship, experience and knowledge exchange. We turn on the territory, turn on the life — ALMETYEVSK ON!

3 PLACE

Consortium led by IQ Studio LLC (Moscow, Russia).

Members: GMA (Edinburgh, United Kingdom), ASWStudio (Moscow, Russia; London, United Kingdom), AECOM (Edinburgh, United Kingdom), Alphabet City (Moscow, Russia).

An Urban Archipelago

Our proposal for a new Urban Archipelago within the territory of the Stepnoy Zay River Valley presents an innovative model for the sustainable development of the already prosperous city of Almetyevsk.

For the strategic plan for 2020-2030 to be successful it must be more than a spatial plan for the extension of the city. It must present strategies which can offer a new way of life for the existing inhabitants, create an environment to support investment and new businesses and present a unique image to attract visitors and expand the tourist economy. Our proposal offers a vision which is at once distinct and unique to Almetyevsk, yet also economically viable and flexible in its delivery.

A flexible city extension to the north of Almetyevsk is complimented by new clusters of development on the shore of the city reservoir and in the river valley. These ‘islands’ help define a new image for the city – one which draws architecture, landscape and waterscape together into a holistic impression of a clean and connected future. It has the potential to transform the territory from one which is peripheral to the civic life of the city to one which defines the city’s image to both citizens and the wider world.

Most importantly, it is a vision of a place for people – living, working and enjoying the proximity of city and nature.