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International Spatial Design Competition for the Mobility Centre Project in Ferizaj/Urosevac
Terms of Reference
Introduction
The city of Ferizaj/Uroševac is located about 40 km south of the capital city of Kosovo-UNMIK, Pristina. One of the main characteristics of the city is its location; the city is strategically placed along a significant corridor from Pristina to Skopje and the city’s railway station is within the city centre making it very accessible. The city’s railway station has greatly influenced the city as depicted on the municipal logo. However currently citizens seem not to appreciate the advantages of the railway and consider the railway as an unacceptable obstacle that is extremely noisy and causes serious accidents.
Practically, the railway station within the city centre provides the opportunity of linking the city directly to the national/international rail network conveniently and providing a fast and safe public transport system that is well connected to the main cities, bringing a number of business opportunities.
Today in Ferizaj/Uroševac Municipality, there is an urgent need for stimulating economic development and attracting investors/businesses, commercial and industrial activities generating opportunities for employment and above all re-exploiting the railway as a catalyst for economic growth. Additionally, there is a bus terminal near the railway station and it is functioning well as a national/international hub for passengers but sadly it is not well connected to the railway station. The Municipality and UN-HABITAT has initiated a taskforce group for public transport to discuss these issues with the cooperation the Ministry of Transport and Post-Telecommunication, Kosovo Railways, Regional Kosovo Police and Private Transport Association “Ferizaji”.
During the discussions within the taskforce group, the concept of a “Mobility Centre Project” to integrate the railway station and inter-city/international bus terminal was raised and discussed with a view to creating a main transport hub. This project could also be linked with a regeneration of the city centre providing businesses with attractive premises. This idea was also put forward by citizens during the visioning exercise, which is a key step in the process of drafting a Municipal and Urban Development Plan (MDP/UDP) that shows an interest in improving the railway and the city centre. In addition, the business community is also interested in investing in the Mobility Centre Project in conjunction with the public sector (Public Private Partnership). However, the private sector has expressed some concerns. Currently, the concept for the Mobility Centre Project has been endorsed by the Mayor and the Municipal Assembly.
Ferizaj/Uroševac Municipality has decided to promote the improvement of the city centre and an “Urban Charter for Ferizaj/Uroševac City Centre” is being drafted to obtain a broad understanding of the important steps for change i.e. economic, social and environmental issues in a sustainable manner. For this to become reality, it requires the set up of tangible principles for specific factors which constitute the future structure of the city e.g. roads, traffic, the mobility centre, land use, public space and greenery.
The “Urban Charter for Ferizaj/Uroševac City Centre” should be drafted in collaboration with UN-HABITAT, Kosovo Railways, Ministry of Transport and Post-Telecommunication, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and Private Transport Association “Ferizaji” as main stakeholders for the implementation of its projects.
In brief
The Municipality of Ferizaj/Uroševac is proposing a “Spatial Design Competition” as a means to achieving the Mobility Centre Project. UN-HABITAT Kosovo is co-funding the project and will support the competition throughout the process.
The competition is organised with a view to exploring pragmatic and sustainable improvement measures to be reflected in the “Urban Charter of Ferizaj/Uroševac City Centre”. The Municipality has identified action and core areas for drafting the proposal of the spatial design in relation to the Mobility Centre Project.
The objective of this competition is to obtain a vision of the future of Ferizaj/Uroševac city centre. It is crucial to change the economic climate of the city by utilising the railway station and the bus terminal as a regional hub for public transport. Also required is a detail plan/proposal (e.g. in form of building drawings) for the “Mobility Centre” within the core area. The plans should also propose pragmatic and sustainable solutions
The project area
The project area is defined as an “action area” and a “core area”, however not strictly limited to the area. A degree of flexibility is allowed provided it is backed up with adequate justification.
The action area (download file)
New! Action area vectorised (download file)
This area shows the entire city centre of Ferizaj/Uroševac. It will need spatial re-designing, particularly for infrastructure with regards to the following,
- Streets and side walks
- Open space
- Grade crossings and intersections
- Public parking
- Public transport facilities
- Townscape
The core area (download file)
This area shows the site for the Mobility Centre Development (see core area map). Detail drawings showing the design/schematic of its facilities will be required. Regarding the railway station, in relation to freight transports (loading and off-loading) don’t have to be included. For the bus terminal and taxi parking, it is possible to consider a terminal outside the centre, provided adequate justification is given. The following functions should be included in the presentation.
- Railway station
- Bus terminal
- Taxi parking
- Open space
- Business and commercial space
- Pedestrian passages
Criteria
To have the best chance of success, it is necessary to make sure the proposal meets all these criteria:
Economic
- The project must be able to grow with the city's development
- The project must include property development that can finance the public investment
- The technologies chosen must be cost efficient
- The railway, coaches and all other services must have excellent operating conditions
Social
- The project must effectively link both sides of the city
- The project must create a variety of public spaces for all
- The project's private development must be socially diverse
Environmental
- The design must be energy efficient (e.g. natural lighting and temperature management)
- The design must be water efficient (e.g. use rainwater for irrigation of green spaces,)
- The design must enable biodiversity: create biotopes for different local species of flora and fauna
- The design must limit emissions: low noise, low air pollution, low water pollution, etc.
Precondition
Fundamental principles for the improvement of the city centre are described in the “Urban Charter of Ferizaj/Uroševac City Centre” which has been discussed in the Municipality. Any proposal should fulfill the fundamental principles as expressed in this document, however not strictly limited to the conditions of the competition. A degree of flexibility/ initiative is allowed, provided it is backed up by a satisfactory justification.
“Urban Charter of Ferizaj/Uroševac City Centre” (download file)
Duration
Competition period 17 November 2007 - 17 March 2008
Prizes
The final result will be decided by a Selection Committee, advised by a Technical Jury. The Municipality maintains the right to change the proposal in consultation with the winning teams and to develop the ideas integrally or in parts into a concrete project.
1st prize (1 proposal) 7,000 Euros
2nd prize (1 proposal) 3,000 Euros
3rd prize (1 proposal) 2,000 Euros
Selection Committee
To steer the competition and further implementation of the project, “Selection Committee” has been set up in cooperation with the main stakeholders. This group will decide the final result of the competition with the advice of the Technical Jury.
Technical Jury
The members of jury are highly skilled persons who have expertise of public space and architectural design. The Technical Jury has the responsibility to give technical advice to the Selection Committee through the process.
Proposals
Submitted proposals should be in “A1 size” for presentation. The following is at minimum required for the proposals.
Action area
- Comprehensive design of the area
- Image of the main street
- Traffic control
- Public transport management
- Phases of implementation
Core area
- Comprehensive urban design of the area
- Mobility Centre facilities (Building plan/ bus terminal /taxi parking /railway station / cross section / design image / human mobility)
- Public transport management
- Phases of implementation
Submission of proposals
No indication for the submitting party (names or logos of companies) is to be contained in any of the proposal documents, neither in hard- nor in softcopies. The Application Form has to be duly completed with all contact details of the sender and attached to the proposal.
Following proposals will not be considered:
- Proposals sent without the completed and signed Application Form.
- Proposals with names or logos in the proposal documents.
- Proposals received at UN-HABITAT Kosovo office later than COB 17th March 2008.
Proposals should be submitted by registered mail to the UN-Habitat Office in Kosovo:
UN-HABITAT Kosovo
Nazim Gafurri Street 33, Top Floor
10000 Prishtina, Kosovo/UNMIK
either in
- hard copy, in sealed rolls, or
- soft copy with handouts and digital data on CD, in an sealed envelope. Digital data will be accepted only in the following formats: PDF, TIFF, BMP or JPG.
In both cases the envelopes should be clearly marked with
“DON’T OPEN - International Spatial Design Competition for the Mobility Center in Ferizaj/Urosevac”
Note that the submitted proposals will not be returned to the applicants. The sender shall keep an additional copy for his personal records and for future reference.
Reference information
Application Form (download file)
Terms of reference for Spatial Design Competition (download file)
Urban Charter of Ferizaj/Uroševac City Centre (download file)
Kosovo Spatial Plan (download file)
Municipal Development Plan (on the process of drafting)
Urban Development Plan (on the process of drafting)
Location of the Municipality (download file)
Structure of the road network (download file)
Aerial Photo
Core area (4-1) (4-2) (4-3) (4-4) (4-5) (4-6) (4-7)
Movement of vehicles and pedestrians in the action area (download file)
“Operation of the train” (download file)
“Operation of the bus” (download file)
“Operation of the taxi” (download file)
Photos of the site and its surroundings
New! Orientation map (download file)
New! Archive with photos (download file)
Orientation_map.jpg
Contact information
UN HABITAT Kosovo Prishtina Office:
Nazim Gafurri Street 33,
10000 Prishtina Kosovo
Tel +381 38 517 835 (Ext 100)