Malaysian designed project in Russia wins award

MOSCOW: The Malaysian-designed 598ha Kazan Smart City in Kazan, Russia, received the Russian 2013 Fiabci Prix d'Excellence award for the Master Plan category, recently.

Designed by AJM Planning and Urban Design Group Sdn Bhd and Straits Consulting Engineers Sdn Bhd, Kazan Smart City is developed by Tatarstan Development Corp (TDC) and aims to attract international investors to Russia. Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, which has emerged as one of the most attractive regions in Russia, for foreign investments.

According to a statement, the Malaysian team was appointed by TDC in October 2012, with the goal of emulating the success of Malaysia's best development projects. In January this year, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, visited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as well as Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, Medini Iskandar, Kuala Lumpur city centre, and KL Sentral.

Kazan Smart City is one of the first of its kind to be developed in the Russian federation. The development offers investment opportunities in three major precincts — Central Business Precinct, Knowledge and Education Precinct, and Special Economic Zone Precincts. The city has so far attracted committed investors from Dubai, China and Singapore, for its first-phase launch.

The project was designed with high priority in sustainability and modern urban infrastructure solutions, 88ha of parks and waterways, water reuse and integrated infrastructure systems, which are all incorporated to support the needs of a 21st century workplace. Upon completion, the project is seeking a gold certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, for neighbourhood development.

The project kicked off with a five-day open workshop in Kazan, to obtain input and feedback from clients, agencies, stakeholders, technical groups and local citizens. The Malaysian team coordinates with local design firms on the local criteria and procedures, providing a platform for the design to be tested. It also ensures the product continues to be economically feasible, socially vibrant and environmentally responsible.

The Kazan Smart City project is scheduled for a groundbreaking ceremony by Minnikhanov, on Oct 1 in Kazan, during the Kazan Summit 2013.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on September 13, 2013.