SKOLKOVO

Skolkovo overall masterplan was developed by AREP. The Urban Concept is a necklace of distinct districts, arranged along a Boulevard, spanning throughout the whole length of the city. This scheme is a base for the further urban planning of the separate districts by the District Curators.

- D1 Residential zone - David Chipperfield Architects, SPEECH

- D2 Technopark - Valode and Pistre architects, Mohsen Mostafavi

- D3 University - Herzog de Meuron

- D4 Residential zone - Stefano Boeri Architetti, MEGANOM

- Z1 Central zone - OMA, SANAA

- Z2 Landscape zone - Michel Desvigne

The Districts are mixed-use developments with a primary program element defining their character. Each planning District within the Skolkovo Innovation Center should have the capacity and ability to operate as an independent community, while at the same time forming an integral and inseparable element within the overall master plan.

The landscape concept for the city, developed by Michel Desvigne (MDP), is for preserving the maximum of the existing topography, water and green and enhancing these fundamental natural features with new landscape elements. The existing and added parts will blend into a new whole, specific and adapted to the urban development yet continuing the existing natural scape. 

LOCATION: Moscow region, Russia

PROGRAM: masterplan, urban development

AREA: 440 ha

CLIENT: "Skolkovo" foundation

STATUS: under construction

STAGES: CD, SD, DD 

RESPONSIBILITY: Preparation of guidelines and design code for the whole masterplan area for developers, contractors and architects of record. Site planning with long-term sustainable development and without an increase in resource consumption, phasing and distribution of mixed-purpose districts with housing, commercial, educational and work zones integrated in landscape design.

Development of the project from concept to detailed design documentation as a general designer. Project management of all districts and design coordination between OMA, Herzog and de Meuron, SANAA, AREP Ville, Michel Desvigne, Stefano Boeri Architetti, Valode and Pistre architects, contractors and the client. Leading design team, coordinating with engineers/consultants, implementing tender procedures, overseeing and reporting on contractor’s performance.

D4 residential zone disctrict view

The strategic goal of Skolkovo masterplan is to concentrate international intellectual capital, thereby stimulating the development of breakthrough projects and technologies. The masterplan is designed to at once reflect and encourage innovation, providing places to refresh and inspire the minds of the people living and working within it.

One of the main goals of the development is a new urban environment of high comfort which will stimulate creativity and direct exchange between education, science and business.

This aim would be met through four main objectives, summarised in the 4E City Concept: Ecology, Energy, Ergonomics and Economic Efficiency.

Ecology objective: the city should have zero impact on the climate.

- Water and air should remain clean;

- Waste should be recycled and converted into resources;

- The green should be cared for and planting increased;

Energy objective: renunciation of the use of energy derived from non-renewable external sources.

- Buildings, utilities and urban systems should be energy efficient;

- Alternative sources of energy should be continually introduced;

Ergonomics objective: the city should be friendly to its inhabitants and guests.

- The city should exist as a strong community and encourage stable social connections;

- Services system and traffic infrastructure should ensure maximum comfort;

- The urban environment should foster an atmosphere of creativity;

Economic efficiency objective: the city economy should have sustainable growth without an increase in resource consumption.

- Environment favourable to investments should be created;

- Efficient use of all the city’s resources, including buildings, services and their capacities.

General masterplan view

Located in a natural area 15km South West of central Moscow, the Skolkovo Innovation Center is an original concept at both Russian and International levels – a scientific and ecological cluster and a centre of excellence driving synergies between the teaching and research communities, their applications and their economic deployment. Skolkovo will feature a university campus, a start-up enterprise zone, and a cluster of research laboratories and businesses. It will also have accommodation and a wealth of social and cultural amenities, providing all the facilities needed for faculty, researchers, scientists, and entrepreneurs t o work and live on-site.

The concept of the Skolkovo urban centre stands out for its overall organization into a cluster of “urban villages” with strong links to each other, and built on a series of natural balconies overlooking the valley of the Setun River. The town will enshrine the qualities of downtown neighborhoods that are dense, lively, and conducive to meeting and exchange. At the same time as it features all the attractions of a countryside setting. All public spaces and built areas will be on a human scale in regards to both work and residential areas; as well as retail, cultural and leisure amenities. It will also benefit from good transportation links with Moscow.

Masterplan development scheme

A sophisticated transport network, including a tramway and bus-only lanes will be built for getting around Skolkovo itself, while the emergence of more innovative transport modes will be encouraged.

As a sustainable urban centre, Skolkovo will also focus on the use of renewable energy sources, co-generation and the conversion of waste into heat in systems designed for extreme climatic conditions.

Boulevard connecting all disctricts

Greenery and density scheme

The plan for the Innovation Centre is a development and rethink of the traditional town planning concepts of a linear city and the new urbanism. Skolkovo is being designed as a chain of compact districts integrated with the landscape, each of which has everything needed for life and work, which are interlinked and at the same time possess their own individuality. The linking transparent and conceptual axis is the Central Boulevard, which passes through all the districts. The city has been planned with a network of parks and other public spaces, which create its cohesiveness and unique look. The internal structure of each district has been designed in such a way as to ensure the optimal distribution of housing and work zones and to offer captivating views of nature and signature architectural features from any point in the city. A central zone is being created around the main square and connected with the main transport terminal, and this will be the site of a congress centre, hotels, cultural establishments and other public facilities that will attract visitors. The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology campus and the Technopark adjoin it from opposite sides. Each of these districts includes office and residential buildings. 

Linear development schemes 

Further down the boulevard are mixed-purpose quarters where apart from offices for large and small technological companies there are also housing, service businesses and places for leisure and meeting, everything necessary for life and work. The low-rise compact development creates a comfortable, well-appointed and attractive urban environment. The approaches to creating civil engineering and transport infrastructure that are embedded in the Skolkovo general plan stem from the requirement to ensure the long-term sustainable development of the site without an increase in resource consumption.

Sections

Residential disctricts development

Images of different districts