Sberbank has Decided on the Winner of the Contest for the Architectural Concept of the Territory of Sberbank City Business Complex

The winner of the International Contest for the architectural concept of the territory of Sberbank Business Complex and the building of the public recreation center has been picked. Nikken Sekkei, one of the largest Japanese and world architectural and engineering firms has won the contest.

The company was founded in 1900 and since that time it has taken part in more than 25,000 projects in 50 countries of the world. Nikken Sekkei unites more than 2,500 professional architects and engineers. This is the company’s second project in Moscow. In 2016, the company designed a residential complex and a transportation hub Botanichesky Sad (Botanic Garden).

With the total area of approximately 70,000 square meters, the concept of Sberbank City complex outlined by the winner suggests creating a simple space that would yet be rich in public and working areas, so the construction plan features two distinct zones, an employee area and a public space.

The office and public spaces, the cafeteria, the medical and sports centers will have a magnificent view of the Moscow International Business Center. Sberbank’s business complex will feature a size-adjustable general purpose multimedia zone to accommodate international forums and conferences. The future building’s elegant wedge shape comes naturally from the landscape around it, but is also determined by the strict program terms.

The recreation center’s north side will be overlooking the river and Moscow City, while the south side will be gently accessing the land plot naturally creating the signature form of the building and project in general.

Sergey Kuznetsov, Chief Architect of Moscow, Chairman of the Architectural Council of Moscow, 

 “We can congratulate Sberbank on having made such a professional choice. The project, of course, is very interesting, made by a world-famous team and made well. They have already proved themselves in various fields, including offices and public centers design. I believe that this object will really enrich the city. It is important for Moscow that the project involves not only offices, but also public spaces open to all citizens, and not only to customers - this is an important and sound approach to organizing the environment as a whole. Sberbank in general pays great attention to the architecture of its facilities, and this contest is not the first one that they organize at the highest level. We welcome this practice and advise other companies to follow it as well”

Experts and architects are expected to start planning and designing soon. Then the architectural and urban plans should be considered and approved by the Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning of Moscow.

Stanislav Kuznetsov, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank,

“We’re thankful to all contenders and all judges, who did a lot and took part in discussing the shortlist at Sberbank HQ, 19 Vavilova Street. Five hours into the debate, we picked the winner whose project meets all our needs. People who generate new ideas and secure the company’s sustainable and continuous development are the key asset of Sberbank, so we’d like our new HQ to have several functions co-existing with one another in a unique way. Under one roof we’ll have a recreational and educational hub, a health club, and even a medical center”

International contest for the urban planning and architectural concept of PJSC Sberbank’s business complex and the public recreation center was announced in April 2019 and welcomed the best professional architects to design a unique building to become the centerpiece of Sberbank City. RTDA was the contest operator. The list of leading architectural companies from around the globe that took part in the contest beside the winner included:

• - Coop Himmelb(l)au: founded by Wolf D. Prix, Helmut Swiczinsky, and Michael Holzer in Vienna, Austria, in 1968. It is active in architecture, urban planning, design, and art
• - Archea Associati: founded in Florence in 1988 and currently employing over 80 architects, this architectural and design office has six branches in Florence (HQ), Milan, Rome, Beijing, São Paolo and Dubai
• - Zaha Hadid Architects: founded in 1980, a global R&D leader with some 450 employees working on projects in over 25 countries.

During the contest RTDA together with Sberbank carefully analyzed the entries, which were evaluated by independent professionals across five criteria groups: urban planning solutions, architectural and space-planning concepts, constructional and engineering solutions, economic solutions, as well as transportation and pedestrian solutions.