Shortlist announced for New Holland Island competition

Four architectural practices have been shortlisted in an invitation-only competition organised by the AF for the Iris Foundation which is acting as the creative operator on behalf of New Holland Development ("NHD", a Millhouse group company).

The practices shortlisted to act as a masterplanning consultant for the future development of New Holland Island in St Petersburg are David Chipperfield Architects (UK/Germany), MVRDV (Netherlands), Studio 44 (Russia) and WORKac (USA).

The candidates were chosen from architectural practices from Russia, Western Europe and the US, with input from an expert advisory panel.

In June, an exhibition of competition designs will go on show in St Petersburg at the new Naval Museum, directly opposite the Island site. The competition winner will be announced at the close of the exhibit, after a period of public consultation.

New Holland is an 8-hectare island bordered by two canals and a river in the heart of St Petersburg within 20-minutes walk of the Hermitage and the city's other major cultural sites. The island was conceived by Peter the Great in 1719 and became Russia's first military port in 1721. It has belonged to the military since its foundation and has thus been closed to general public use for its nearly 300-year history.

In November 2010, New Holland Development (NHD, a Millhouse group company) won an investment tender held by the city of St Petersburg to redevelop New Holland. NHD has committed to invest at least 12 billion rubles in the project over a construction period of 7 years.