Astana, Kazakhstan

Astana is the new capitol of Kazakhstan. The old Kazakh town is being replaced by a strange settlement meticulously created by a govenrnment which hopes to find its symbolic counterpart within the fragments of a new city. Although it is not hard to predict the outcome of such an fast-paced evolution which nevertheless complies with classical planning principals, it is not so easy to comprehend the extent of the reality of a lifestyle that will spring from such an evolution. The impossibility of dealing with such a precarious situation, the silence of the “place”, and the vast and smooth site were the most prominent inputs that distinguished the design.

The Complex which consists of a Hotel, Business Center, Residence, Congress Center and Recreational Units is situated on a 100×200 m. rectangle within the city and aims to utilize both its own integrity and the massive tension of the various structures within. The crust which is detached from the ground by detangling and softening the floor of the site, first covers the Congress Center and Recreational Units’ roofs, and then reaches upwards to form the “sun wall” of the southern side of the Hotel. The Hotel Building and the Business Center to its north which are alleviated behind this robust element, are detached from the orthagonal texture of the site by being situated with a slight angle between eachother. Where the tall buildings are situated, the ground splits and the structures rise from a lower level, animating the sunken platform and creating a wind-protected public space. The private and public areas exist without disturbing, but supporting eachother, increasing the possibility of public use of interior and exterior spaces, and preventing the isolation of the area where the tall buildings stand.