Saratov sits beside the Volga and was once an important trading port Mae has been longlisted in a masterplanning competition addressing several sites in a historic Russian city. The UK architect, best known for its housing work, is in one of five international teams that are fighting it out in the second round. It is part of a Russian-led team. Other practices in the running include Belgium’s Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen. Each longlisted team was awarded an honorarium of £50,000. The contest is after architectural and urban planning concepts for the development of the centre of Saratov which sits beside the Volga 800km south-east of Moscow. A key trading port in the 18th century, it expanded rapidly in the 19