New Tashkent, or 'Yangi Toshkent', is set to become the largest capital city in Central Asia, expanding eastwards between the Chirchiq and Karasu rivers. This ambitious project aims to accommodate an additional 2.5 million residents, nearly doubling the current population of three million.
Cross Works has been appointed as the lead consultant after an international competition, tasked with creating a masterplan that will support the city's rapid growth for decades. The firm is collaborating with a consortium of over a dozen international firms, including engineers and landscape architects, to oversee the development.
One of the innovative aspects of this project is the creation of a digital twin of the new city, allowing for real-time updates and interactive design guidelines. This digital model provides stakeholders, investors, and future residents with unprecedented access to the masterplan.
The Tashkent Code, a set of urban design guidelines, is also being developed to modernize Soviet-era planning regulations. The guidelines are designed to foster a unique national identity while encouraging creativity in architectural design.
As Cross Works finalizes architectural guidelines for District 1 of New Tashkent, they are also collaborating with renowned firms such as Zaha Hadid Architects, which has proposed a cultural center featuring a distinctive weaving brick facade. These designs will be revealed in the coming months.
The masterplan and other initiatives will be showcased at various conferences, including MIPIM in Cannes in March 2025, highlighting a collaborative future for the design and construction of this new city.