Squareone Atelier's Tenger City: A Vision for Mongolian Urbanism
Sydney-based firm Squareone Atelier has unveiled its visionary proposal, Tenger City, which secured a prestigious Top 3 spot in the Hunnu City International Urban Planning Competition 2025. This ambitious urban blueprint outlines the creation of a pioneering satellite city, strategically positioned approximately 52 kilometers south of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The project’s phased development is slated to span from 2025 to 2045, aligning seamlessly with Mongolia’s overarching Ulaanbaatar 2040 Masterplan and the nation's Vision 2050 framework, both of which champion decentralization, resilience, and sustainable long-term urban expansion.
A "City Without Walls": Tenger City's Innovative Design Philosophy
Tenger City is more than just a development; it's a paradigm shift in contemporary Mongolian urbanism. Drawing profound inspiration from the vast, expansive landscapes of the steppe and the nation's rich nomadic heritage of movement and adaptation, the masterplan introduces a concept it dubs a "City Without Walls." This design philosophy champions a permeable urban fabric that gives precedence to uninterrupted landscape continuity, robust ecological systems, and panoramic visual connections to the horizon. Instead of imposing rigid boundaries, the city is meticulously crafted as an open, adaptable framework, allowing urban development to evolve harmoniously with natural systems.
The urban structure of Tenger City is ingeniously organized as a network of interconnected districts, each meticulously designed to host distinct civic and economic functions. These include a University Hub, a nucleus for education and pioneering research; a Medical Hub, dedicated to healthcare and groundbreaking innovation; an Economic Free Zone, fostering trade and enterprise; an Administrative District, serving as the governmental core; and a Cultural and Civic Core, envisioned as a vibrant stage for public events and artistic performances. Lush recreational areas, such as the sprawling Naadam Park, form a central and integral component of the urban layout, offering residents green spaces for leisure and community gathering. Complementing these civic areas, essential wholesale markets, industrial zones, and logistics precincts are strategically placed at the city's periphery, ensuring they bolster economic activity without encroaching upon or disrupting the tranquility of residential and civic spheres. The city's environmental performance is largely shaped by its sophisticated landscape infrastructure, which includes constructed wetlands, water retention basins, and natural drainage corridors. These elements are intricately woven into the urban tapestry to facilitate efficient water management, restore ecological equilibrium, and champion biodiversity. The implementation of these systems is designed to be incremental, ensuring that environmental regeneration actively dictates the pace and direction of urban growth.
Incorporating international urban planning models such as superblocks, mixed-use corridors, and transit-oriented development, Tenger City aims to create a "20-minute city" where essential amenities are easily accessible via walking or cycling. The mobility networks prioritize public transportation and pedestrian movement, all while maintaining the breathtaking, unobstructed views of the surrounding natural landscape. This competition, held between July and November 2025, attracted hundreds of architectural and urban planning practices globally, culminating in the selection of five distinguished finalists by an international panel of judges.
Embracing Openness: A Nod to Mongolia's Heritage
The lead architect of Squareone Atelier eloquently articulated the core ethos behind the project: "In Mongolia, the horizon stretches endlessly, without barriers, with only sky and land. That feeling led us to believe that a future city should not begin with enclosure, but with openness." This profound sentiment underscores the design's commitment to honoring Mongolia's unique geographical and cultural identity. The Hunnu City International Urban Planning Competition was a strategic initiative launched by the Government of Mongolia as part of a national development program, aimed at guiding the thoughtful planning of the Khushig Valley area, conveniently located near the Chinggis Khan International Airport.