A Balance of Nature and Density:
“The Organic City” Urban Development Concept Receives the ArchNovation Award

The urban development concept of the akvk+partners team, “The Organic City,” was awarded a bronze diploma in the ArchNovation-2023 Competition. Our project took one of the prize places in the “Urban Planning, 2020-2023” section. The award ceremony was held at the Arsenal Center for Contemporary Art in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin.

“The Organic City” is a manifesto for a human-scale environment. The concept is based on a delicate integration into the landscape, preserving the coniferous forest and implementing the “no cars in the yard” principle

• Visual transparency: Urban blocks of detached houses offer scenic views of the forest and courtyards located on the natural terrain.
• Architectural diversity: The development includes three series of houses that share common materials (brick and stucco), but differ in silhouettes and façade designs. Pitched roofs and the interplay of volumes create the atmosphere of a cozy European city.
• Contextuality: The natural palette (white, beige, terracotta) and the attention to detail, from the brickwork patterns to the functional recreation areas, create a harmonious living and working space.

Learn more about the project