While it remains to be seen what impact Covid-19 will have on travel plans later this year, last week I accepted an invitation from Moscow's Center Agency to serve on another international planning competition jury. This one is for a new city in Russia's Sakhalin region, which includes a large island. Yes, an island. It's located in the 'Far East' close to Japan, although my initial travel investigations seem to indicate I might still have to fly through Moscow. Hopefully, I can get there through Tokyo.
While planning competitions are quite rare these days in Canada, in Russia and European countries they are quite common. Not just for major public undertakings, like a new city, but also for new private residential and commercial developments. In the past, I have participated in various competitions including a new international financial centre in Moscow, and a major new development in Kazan. Here is a link to the latter. https://www.centeragency.org/en/projects/45
Below is an excerpt from the latest invitation. (Watch this space for further details!)
We are pleased to announce the start of the Open International Competition for Architectural and Urban Development Concept of a New City in Sakhalin Region, Russia, which will take place on May 12th, 2021.
The competition is initiated by the Sakhalin Region Development Corporation and held under the auspices of the Government of Sakhalin Region.
Agency for Strategic Development "CENTER" is acting as the Organizing Committee of the Competition.
The purpose of the competition is selection of the most favourable architectural and urban development concept of a new city in Sakhalin Region that will fulfill the scenario for territorial development based on the potential and strategic opportunities of the area.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee it is our distinct pleasure to invite you to join the Competition as Member of the Expert Council.
The core responsibility of the International Member of the Expert Council is to introduce the best international practices to the members of the Council and to supervise the finalists at the second stage of the Competition. Taking into account your experience and expertise we'd be delighted if you could accept our invitation.
The two-stage competition will take place from May 12th, 2021, to October 26th, 2021:
- Stage 1 — application submission, evaluation of submitted portfolios and essays, shortlisting top five finalists.
- Stage 2 — design concept development by the finalists, evaluation of submitted design concepts, selection of top three concepts, announcing the winner.
Two Expert Council Meetings are scheduled within the timeline:
- June 23th, 2021.
- October 26th, 2021.
The Expert Council is expected to perform the following duties:
- Assessment and evaluation of participants' application submissions, finalists selection and announcement.
- Assessment and evaluation of finalists' project submissions.
- Submissions ranking, winner selection and announcement.
- Participants and finalists disqualification.
Among the participants of the competition are companies engaged in urban development and planning, public space development, architecture and design, which have been operating in the Russian Federation and capable of bringing to their team professionals in economics, finances and content programming.
The Expert council will include the top management of the Sakhalin Region Development Corporation, Sakhalin Region's state officials, Russian and international experts on architecture and urban planning and members of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP).
While it remains to be seen what impact Covid-19 will have on travel plans later this year, last week I accepted an invitation from Moscow's Center Agency to serve on another international planning competition jury. This one is for a new city in Russia's Sakhalin region, which includes a large island. Yes, an island. It's located in the 'Far East' close to Japan, although my initial travel investigations seem to indicate I might still have to fly through Moscow. Hopefully, I can get there through Tokyo. 
While planning competitions are quite rare these days in Canada, in Russia and European countries they are quite common. Not just for major public undertakings, like a new city, but also for new private residential and commercial developments. In the past, I have participated in various competitions including a new international financial centre in Moscow, and a major new development in Kazan. Here is a link to the latter. https://www.centeragency.org/en/projects/45
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