Cross Works is lead consultant in the design of new city plans for the expansion of Tashkent (the capital of Uzbekistan), eastward over the River Chirchiq. The firm acts as architect, masterplanner, digital twin provider & project coordinator, overseeing a team of international sub-consultants providing their specialist inputs across various disciplines.
The project has received approval from the government and is now proceeding to the next stage of design development and construction.
An exciting time for Uzbekistan, the Directorate of New Tashkent, and for Cross Works and the wider consortium including Buro Happold, KPMG Uzbekistan, BuroAtlas, Hartek, DOME, Gillespies, SKAB, ATCHAIN, SNT Visual, CAMC Engineering, Synthesis, UDEVS & others.
FEATURING : NEW TASHKENT MASTERPLAN
NEW TASHKENT MASTERPLAN
Known locally as 'Yangi Toshkent', Cross Works was lead consultant for a new capital city for Uzbekistan
The overall visioning, design and cross-disciplinary coordination of a masterplan for a new ‘twin city’ located immediately to the east of the existing capital of Uzbekistan. The proposal has an estimated population of 2.5 million people on a site of 25,000 hectares; making it one of the largest new city projects in the world.
Following an international competition process, Cross Works was selected as the winner and developed the masterplan from initial visioning to Concept Masterplan (CMP), and through to Detailed Masterplan (DMP) for District 1.
Cross Works is also responsible and overseeing the development of the ongoing urban design, landscape and architectural design guidelines for the city.
NEW TASHKENT - DISTRICT 1
The first phase of the development, called 'District 1' will mark the beginning of a new era for Tashkent
The 4,500 hectare first phase of the new city has been developed as a 'Detailed Masterplan (DMP)' by Cross Works and the wider design team / consortium. With valued inputs from our engineers (mobility / utilities), landscape & public realm designers, economists, real estate advisors, and more, the first phase has been awarded approval by the governing bodies of Tashkent and the Ministry of Construction.
Following a ceremony in early 2024, the development was given the green light by the head of state, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
District 1 has a number of 'special zones', a few of which are illustrated below, including 'Silk City' and the 'TTCT' zone.
SILK CITY
The retail core of the project, called 'Silk City' will provide locals & visitors an experience that's unique to Central Asia
This area of the masterplan will be home to artisans trading in hand-made textiles, jewellery, luxury items and locally sourced gold, amongst other goods & services.
The streets are narrower than that the rest of the wider 'District 1' development and there is limited access to cars in order to give pedestrians priority in an area that is geared towards an optimised retail experience.
This area has the highest densities, but does not exceed 8 storeys, with an average building height of 5.
Cross Works is currently developing the detailed architectural guidelines for this zone, as shown in the following images.
CENTRAL SQUARE / 'MEYDAN'
Key nodes and anchor spaces have been created across the masterplan to assist in community creation
A driving objective of the masterplan, is to ensure that the new city is made up of a multitude of neighbourhoods (or 'mahalles'), each centred around a core of community, commercial and cultural uses for those inhabitants (and indeed visitors) within a 10 minute walking distance.
The Central Meydan in the Silk City zone is an example of a significant community centre, which has a number of further distinguishing features, including a 'kervansaray' building, stunning landscaping with integrated water features and canals running through the public realm, as well as shared-surface roads that complement a predominantly pedestrian-only environment. The city is aimed at making the neighbourhoods walkable, safe and well-catered for, by public facilities.
PEDESTRIAN-MADE STREETS
Pedestrian-friendly environments for a truly 'walkable' city
At the strategic / city-wide scale, it is essential to provide the necessary infrastructure corridors to ensure that heavy transportation (including freight, cargo, regional public transport and so on) can flow seemlessly in and out of the city, without causing traffic or indeed danger to the public. However, at the local neighbourhood scale, the design has focussed on creating walkable and pedestrian-friendly (and in some cases like the 'Silk City' zone, pedestrian-only) environments, to ensure safety, comfort, easy-access to day-to-day goods and services, and to create uniquely human-centric environments, where there is less of a reliance on the private car, and more consideration given to health and well-being through walking, cycling and similar methods of movement.
TASHKENT TWIN CITY TOWERS
The 575m landmark tower complex at the commercial centre of the new capital city
Tashkent Twin City Towers (TTCT) in District 1 of our New Tashkent Masterplan, Uzbekistan stands as a symbol of Tashkent’s expansion to the east; and the commercial core of the first phase of the development. The tower would be the 5th tallest building in the world (2024), and would act as a counterpoint with the old cente of the existing city centre, linked together along a key east-west primary road connection. The towers also sit at the end of a district park, that is connected to the citywide canal network, also conceived by Cross Works.
One of the masterplan’s priorities has been a seemless integration of the old city with the new city, leading to the notion of a ‘twin city’; as an expansion of the city to the east of the Chirchiq River, and inspiring the name of this commercial district (abbreviated as TTCT).
CENTRAL ISLAND
The centre-piece of District 1 and an entertainment hub for all of Uzbekistan
The masterplan envisioned a central, iconic entertainment zone, floating in the centre-point of District 1, at the confluence of various arms of the wider canal network.
The 10 hectare island is easily accessible from every corner of 'District 1' via pedestrian pathways traversing the canal, and various road connections into basement parking hidden underneath.
The programme on the island include a 'Carsi' (open air food / retail markets), a series of closed exhibition spaces and indoor arenas under a continuous roof canopy; as well as an open air auditorium / event space to host concerts and sporting events.
This vision is now coming to the fore, as other globally renowned architects & engineers are being invited to collaborate to develop Cross Works' vision to create a one-of-a-kind district for all of Central Asia.
GOVERNMENT ZONE
The central core of District 1 will be home to Uzbekistan's executive functions and government buildings
Along the central north-south spine of Disrtrict 1, the masterplan will house the government's ministries, agencies, embassies and other executive and governing functions, both for Tashkent & New Tashkent, and indeed nationwide.
The new government zone will replace the existing more widely distributed and disparate government functions that exist today, and consolidate them all into one sector the city.
At the heart of this government zone will be the 'Infinite Meydan' with it's towering sculpture, marking a new age, and a new civic identity for New Tashkent. The central public space will be a ceremmonial meeting place for all during major national / public events.
