'Golden City' Vasilievsky Island wins International European Property Award 2016-17

Three large urban development projects are changing the silhouette of St. Petersburg at the Gulf of Finland. Golden City by KCAP + Orange Architects is one of them and ‘promises to become not only a beautiful city entrance, but also an attractive and liveable quarter of St. Petersburg for residents and tourists alike’, as author Prof. Barbara Engel states in her article published in Stadtbauwelt 6-2020. That is due to the collaboration of KCAP + Orange Architects as designers together with the developer Glorax who join ambitions and forces to go for maximum quality within the local building culture. Challenging but also rewarding when it comes to the results. Read more about the three projects featured in the article: Baltic Pearl in the south, the Lachta Center with Gazprom Tower in the north and in between the Golden City at the new port for ferries and cruise ships and how the overall sea front development of St. Petersburg is lacking a coherent concept as the author puts it. Click here to read the article (in German) or check out the project website of Golden City.

Yesterday, the ULI Germany Leadership Award 2018 was presented in Offenbach, Germany. Kees Christiaanse received the prestigious award in the category Urban Planning. The prize is awarded annually by the Urban Land Institute Germany to important personalities from the real estate industry and politics who have committed themselves to sustainable urban development and a better quality of life in the urban centres of Germany through their special commitment and courage. Stephanie Baden, Executive Director ULI Germany: ‘The Leadership Award of ULI Germany stands for excellence and best practice in the responsible handling of our urban spaces. Our winners are aware of the lasting impact that their own actions have on our built environment. For this reason, the members of the jury of ULI Germany are honouring Prof. Kees Christiaanse with the Leadership Award 2018. Kees is one of the most outstanding personalities in the field of urban design, and I am extremely pleased that our jury has honoured him for his remarkable achievements this year.’ Laudator and member of the jury Franz-Josef Höing, Chief Building Director of the Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg: ‘In urban planning, similar to an apartment, we need shelves that are beautiful, resilient, expandable, flexible for the uncertain that is yet to come - we call it the future. The most convincing shelves often come from Kees Christiaanse's studio. I don't know anyone else who focuses on the factual with such a clarity, who can describe the mechanisms that affect our built environment - the social, the political and the economic equally - so precisely.’ Since 2005, the ULI Germany Leadership Award is awarded annually in the categories Real Estate Management, Urban Design, Young Leader and Lifetime Achievement and since 2017 also as Innovation Award.

Construction of block 6 of the Golden City in St. Petersburg is rising. Block 6 is one of the first two buildings within the masterplan ‘Golden City’ in St. Petersburg next to the International Sea Terminal designed by KCAP + Orange at Vasilievsky Island that is under construction. Block 7 has just had a sales kick-off of the apartments and design works on block 8 have started.    

Construction of the first two buildings within the masterplan ‘Golden City’ in St. Petersburg next to the International Sea Terminal designed by KCAP + Orange at Vasilievsky Island is progressing. The buildings contain a housing program with a commercial plinth. The following architectural project, designed by the same team, has received building permit and construction will later this month. Golden City is set to become an iconic project for the development coastline of St. Petersburg. The Dutch Stichting Hoogbouw has visited the project on their tour to St. Petersburg last week, June 1st.

On Thursday, November 30th, Kees Christiaanse received the ARC17 Oeuvre Award during the official award ceremony in Amsterdam. The ARC17 Oeuvre Award is annually awarded to a person who makes a lasting and innovative contribution to the improvement of the built environment. Click here for a report of the ceremony (in Dutch).

The construction of the first phase of Vasilievsky Island development in St. Petersburg is started in July 2017, as planned. KCAP+ORANGE, in cooperation with local architects A-Len have designed block 6, consisting of two buildings, based on the winning masterplan scheme for Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg, also known as ‘Golden City’. In late 2015, KCAP and ORANGE Architects won the first prize in the urban and architectural competition for the most western tip of Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg. With the urban plan, the 15 ha site is set to become a new part of the city with a diverse mix of urban functions facilitating and interconnecting the surrounding areas. It will become a new face of St. Petersburg as entrance of the city from the water.

KCAP Zurich ranks as top architecture office in the German speaking region (Germany, Switzerland and Austria). This is the result of a survey of the German magazines FOCUS and Baumeister held among 10.000 architects who were asked to each recommend ten colleagues in eight categories. In total, from over 2600 recommended offices, a selection of 278 architects with the most recommendations has been defined. KCAP Zurich is listed in the category 'urban planning' with the maximum rank of 'very frequently recommended'. The special of FOCUS magazine is available since late October in the stores.

'The Golden City' - the masterplan by KCAP+ORANGE for Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg, has been awarded an International European Property Award 2016-17. Developer Glorax Development has received the 'Highly Commended' honour.

KCAP+ORANGE, in cooperation with local architects A-Len,  from St. Petersburg will also design the first architectural plot within the winning masterplan scheme for Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg. The masterplan, designed by KCAP+ORANGE, is extended with the commission to design two buildings for mainly housing with a GFA of approximately 45.000 m2. Start construction is planned in the middle of 2017. In late 2015, KCAP+ORANGE won the first prize in the urban and architectural competition for the most western tip of Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg. With the urban plan, the 15 ha site is set to become a new part of the city with a diverse mix of urban functions facilitating and interconnecting the surrounding areas. It will become a new face of St. Petersburg as entrance of the city from the water.  

Кейс Кристиаансе был назначен членом престижной ‘Akademie der Künste‘ - Берлинской Академии Искусств. Берлинская Akademie der Künste, основанная в 1696 году, является одним из старейших культурных институтов в Европе. Это международное сообщество художников, в настоящее время насчитывающее 400 членов в шести секциях (Изобразительное Искусство, Архитектура, Музыка, Литература, Театр, Кино и Медиа-искусство). Членами Akademie der Künste считаются художники, которые внесли особый вклад в современное искусство или в смежные сферы, представленные в академии. Члены академии активно участвуют в формировании института. 

То, что началось в прошлом году как исследование голландской ежедневной газеты NRC расширилось до ежегодных публикаций: : the NRC Cultuur Top 100. Кейс Кристиаансе/KCAP стал одним из семи голландских архитекторов, попавших в список 100 творческих людей 2016-го года с международной сферой влияния. Кто больше всего работал заграницей в 2015? Кто больше всего публиковался в международных СМИ? Кто вдохновил иностранных коллег? И кто больше всего заработал заграницей? Сотрудники культурного отдела редакции NRC собрали данные о сотнях голландских культурных деятелях и попросили экспертное жюри проранжировать культурных деятелей и культурные учреждения согласно их влиянию за рубежом. Ссылка на NRC Cultuur Top 100.        

Starting today, RIBA organises the Royal Gold Medal Week in London. During three days, various 2016 RIBA awards will be officially handed over to the prize winners. Kees Christiaanse is one of them, receiving one of 9 announced 2016 RIBA International Fellowship awards. This prestigious lifetime honour rewards the particular contributions to architecture by non-UK architects. This year's RIBA Gold Medal will be awarded to Zaha Hadid, the first female architect to receive this honour. Click here for more inofrmation about the Gold Medal Week.  

Per January 2016, Irma van Oort has been assigned member of the 'Commissie Welstand en Monumenten' Rotterdam. The main goal of the committee is to guarantee the esthetical quality of the built environment and future developments in Rotterdam. The committee consists of independent professionals who evaluate and advise on behalf of the Municipality of Rotterdam. The members, also assigned by the Municipality, hold their position for a period of 3 years.  

KCAP+ORANGE win the first prize in the urban and architectural competition for the most western tip of Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg. With its important role in the historical outreach of St. Petersburg towards the West, Vasiliesvky Island will become the most prominent manifestation of the city of St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland. With the urban plan, the 15 ha site will become a new part of the city with a diverse mix of urban functions facilitating and interconnecting the surrounding areas. It will become a new face of St. Petersburg as entrance of the city from the water. The design concept of KCAP+ORANGE focuses on enhancing the iconic value of the city of St. Petersburg and on creating an attractive and high-quality environment for living, working and recreation. The peninsula will be enlarged with a park to enjoy the waterfront at the Finnish Bay. Solid blocks and a diversity of enclosed urban courtyards define the urban layout and refer to the historical structure of St. Petersburg. Towers form the layer above the urban blocks. They allow for spectacular panorama views to the sea and the city center. Topped with gold-coloured spires, in the tradition of St. Petersburg’s architecture, a unique landmark silhouette of Vasilievsky Island evolves and creates an expressive, recognizable and iconic image. The international design competition was organized by Glorax Development and the municipality of St. Petersburg. It  started with 12 competitors in the first phase and continued with six in the second round, of which three national and three international teams. Next to KCAP in cooperation with ORANGE also A-Len from St. Petersburg was awarded with the first prize. Both teams will be involved in the further elaboration of the project.    

KCAP is listed as one of 7 architects in the Culture Top 100 of the Dutch daily NRC. Who perfomed the most abroad in 2014? Who was published the most often in foreign newspapers? Who inspired foreign colleagues? And who earned the most abroad? NRC's culture editorial staff collected data on hundreds of Dutch 'culture makers' and asked an expert jury to rank the artists and cultural institutions considering their influence abroad. The result: the first NRC Culture Top 100.  

Kees Christiaanse receives the prestigious lifetime honour ‘RIBA International Fellowship’. Today, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced 9 new 2016 RIBA International Fellowships which reward the particular contributions non-UK architects have made to architecture. ‘It is for his profound thinking and creative, responsible work at the interface of architecture and urbanism, and his understanding of the synergies between design, knowledge, strategy and process management, that the RIBA is awarding Kees Christiaanse the International Fellowship,’ says Louisa Hutton, who nominated Kees Christiaanse. The 2016 RIBA International Fellowships will be presented at a special event at the RIBA in London on the 1st of February 2016. Click here to view the official website of the RIBA International Fellowships.    

Все 8 проектов финалистов вошедших в шорт-лист приза зрительских симпатий компании RTV / Rietveldprijs были представлены компанией RTV в городе Утрехт. Смотреть кинематографические портреты здесь. Нажмите здесь, чтобы отдать свой голос за проект Р+R De Uithof, выполненный KCAP и студией studioSK.

P+R De Uithof by KCAP/StudioSK is shortlisted for the RTV Utrecht Publieksprijs 2015, the audience award of Rietveldprijs! Cast your vote until September 30th!  

P+R De Uithof in Utrecht by KCAP/StudioSK is one of 8 shortlisted projects for the prestigious Rietveldprijs. This biannual award is granted to excellent architecture realised in Utrecht. Up from late June you can cast your vote for the audience award. Click here for more information.  

Премия призвана вручаться за новые выдающиеся примеры архитектурного творчества, созданные за последние два года, подчёркивающие значимость современной архитектуры в социальной и культурной жизни Европейских городов и ее необходимость в повседневной жизни. Победитель будет выбран профессиональным жюри к концу января. Перейти к проекту. Ссылка на информацию.