Masterplanning, Landscape Architecture
Mixed-use
550 ha
The Chirchiq River is a glacial water body that has an endangered riverbed and special ecological system. The river divides the old and new city of Tashkent in Uzbekistan, and is a key local asset: a core natural amenity and source of recreation, ecology and biodiversity. We were tasked with creating a river masterplan that would support liveable city spaces and communities that are socially dynamic, but also resilient to flooding. Our solution also had to take account of the Chirchiq’s unique ecological conditions and the biological habitats within the gravel riverbed and floodplains.
Our concept masterplan prioritises the preservation of core ecological elements, while also being intrinsically responsive to flood risk. The design integrates green buffers and new green infrastructure, observing an 80-metre offset for all urban development to protect against storm events. It also integrates greenspaces within the city streetscapes, with new mixed-use communities that support local culture and environmental sustainability.
Tashkent now has a strong vision and blueprint for the creation of a unique destination that embraces nature, culture and wellbeing. The plan will help to regenerate wild meadows and integrate nature into the urban landscape. It will also support the preservation of local wetlands and enable the plantation of new aquatic species along the river floodplains, ensuring the city remains a place of ecological richness, as well as social dynamism, for years to come.
