This year marks the 20th anniversary of the new capital of Kazakhstan, during this short historical period, the dull Soviet town has turned into a modern futuristic metropolis. The architectural structures of Astana are a magnificent combination of the most modern European and Eastern urban planning ideas. In the capital there are many beautiful and unusual buildings created according to the projects of the most famous architects of the world. Introducing the best of them.
Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport
The capital's airport is always a kind of business card, according to which an opinion about the country begins to take shape in many respects. The world famous Japanese architect Kise Kurokawa developed a completely futuristic design for the passenger terminal of the Astana airport, combining eastern and western traditions.
The central volume of the building is built in the form of a huge dome, glowing in the dark, with a cut off front part. Its diameter is 45 meters, and the height reaches 36 meters. The internal space is made in the style of a traditional Kazakh yurt; on the outside it is decorated with material of the color of the national flag. The interior of the building is decorated with colorful mosaics that fold into traditional Kazakh ornaments.
During the design, an important task was solved to develop a comfortable and functional space that should work and ensure safety in the extreme climate of Priishimye. The airport building was made a little lower to reduce heat loss and at the same time emphasize the horizontal deployment of space, characteristic of the local steppe tradition.
Ak Horde
Some experts believe that the complex of the head of state is among the 10 best presidential palaces in the world. Ak Horde is translated from Kazakh as "white rate", the name of the state (the western part of the Golden Horde), which once existed on the territory of Kazakhstan. The building continues the traditions of Astana architecture, combining national and international features.
The total area of the presidential residence is 37, 000 square meters. m, the height along with the spire reaches 86 m. The main building has five above ground and two underground floors, in addition to this, the complex includes a square, a fountain, alleys with flower beds, access roads and a parking lot.
Baiterek
One of the first symbols of the new capital of the country was built in 2002 according to the sketches of British architect Norman Foster. This amazing structure made of glass and concrete, crowned with a huge glass ball, ascended to a height of 97 meters in honor of 1997, when Akmola became Astana - the capital of modern independent Kazakhstan.
From the Kazakh language, "Baiterek" means "poplar", according to Kazakh legend, on top of a sacred tree that grows on the shores of the oceans and connects the past, the present, the magic bird Samruk makes a nest. Every day she lays an egg - the sun, which every night is abducted by a dragon living at the roots of poplar. However, the bird again brings it to people. The futuristic tower symbolizes the world tree from the ancient legends of nomads and is a symbol of Astana architecture.
The design concept of the tower is fully consistent with the legend, in the underground part of the building there is a large aquarium with a spacious hall (tree roots washed by the waters). The middle part of the building is like a trunk, where two high-speed elevators carry visitors to the top of the tree in a golden ball. Openwork metalwork holds him like an egg (a symbol of the sun) in a nest. Here is a spacious bright three-level panoramic hall, from where you can admire the views of the wonderful architecture of Astana.
Kazakhstan pyramid
The Palace of Peace and Accord in Astana is specially built for the "Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions." The area of the complex is 28, 000 square meters. m. It houses modern exhibition areas and conference rooms, art galleries and much more. An opera hall for 1302 spectators with 20 dressing rooms was opened with a concert of Moncerat Caballe.
The palace is also Norman Foster's contribution to the architecture of Astana. The pyramid, as it were, symbolizes the interaction of various world religions, cultures and ethnic groups. The construction of the building in the form of a huge pyramid was completed in 2006.
