A new green district for Kazan blending sustainability and wellbeing

Located on the bank of the River Volga, the masterplan aims to transform a 760 hectare site into a sustainable urban expansion of Kazan, the regional capital of Tatarstan in south-west Russia. Much of the project’s design was inspired by the existing beautiful woodland setting, the proximity to the River Volga and the importance of healthy living and strong community values in Tatarstan.

Three villages feature leisure facilities, schools, kindergardens, equestrian centre and recreational spaces to promote health and wellbeing. Designs include a collection of housing typologies from higher density apartments to medium density town houses and lower density individual homes.

Green fingers of forest bring the surrounding landscape into the neighbourhood with homes nestled into the environment. The neighbourhood also benefits from a variety of public spaces and amenities including a park, playground, forest trails and meeting areas designed to be open with much less density.

A sustainable strategy will deliver transport links and a green “halo” of walking and cycling routes, connecting all neighbourhood centres.

The project was guided by “ecopolis” – a concept that marries sustainability and urban wellbeing and was developed through collaborative processes including workshops and site visits in Kazan. The aim is to create clusters of lower-density homes, public spaces with playgrounds and meeting areas, as well as higher density villages situated on the main routes to the site.

With its proposed walking and cycling routes, which will connect each and every neighbourhood in the district, ecopolis is about community and the environment. The inclusion of open green spaces that are easily accessible will encompass every part of the settlement to enable people to lead healthier, outdoor lives.