Inhabitat » NORMAN FOSTER’s Entertainment Center in Kazakhstan

March 26, 2007

NORMAN FOSTER’s Entertainment Center in Kazakhstan

by Emily Pilloton

Norman Foster, Norman Foster Astana, Astana Entertainment Center, Sir Norman Foster, Norman Foster Entertainment Center 2

Why stop at one stunning structure in Astana, Kazakhstan, when you can have two on your resume?! Sir Norman Foster is set to construct the new Khan Shatyry Entertainment Centre in Kazakhstan’s capital city after the completion of his geometric and eye-catching Palace of Peace and Reconciliation proved to be such a success in its form AND function. The new structure will sit at the northern end of the new city axis and stand as the highest peak on the skyline at a majestic 200 meters tall. The entertainment centre will house 100,000 square feet of public park, retail, and entertainment space. Foster has a track record of thoughtful, sustainable building, and Khan Shatyry is no exception, providing both aesthetic focal point and environmentally-sensitive spatial solution.

Norman Foster, Norman Foster Astana, Astana Entertainment Center, Sir Norman Foster, Norman Foster Entertainment Center

Developed as a response to harsh weather conditions in both winter and summer, Khan Shatyry is held up by a central mast and clad in ETFE, which allows for a wash of light for interior spaces while sheltering inhabitants from the heat or cold. ETFE is, coincidentally, the material-du-jour we’ve seen being used in everything from PTW’s Beijing Bubble Building to Herzog and DeMeuron’s Olympic Stadium.

The centre will also include an interior park, undulating terraces, a river, wave pool, and waterfall, all lit by a high-tech roof lighting system seamlessly integrated into the structure. Other public spaces include cafes, restaurants, and movie theatres. The pinnacle of the building, literally and metaphorically, will no doubt be its viewing deck terrace, offering dramatic views of the park and city.

+ Norman Foster and Partners

17 Responses to “NORMAN FOSTER’s Entertainment Center in Kazakhstan”

Ryan Says:

March 27th, 2007 at 10:04 am

Ban me from Inhabitat for life if you want, but I happen to think this entertainment center is…

VERY NICE!!!

oliver Says:

March 27th, 2007 at 10:43 am

undulating gardens? I want to know more.

Richie Says:

March 27th, 2007 at 12:21 pm

I think this is a very clever design, as it brings a Russian plains / Mongolian architectural staple, ‘the Yurt’, future forward. Does rainwater rinse ETFE clean and clear again ? What is te protocol for changing the lightbulbs at the tip of the arial mast ? Does ETFE have PVC, or any other problematic ‘chloride’ in it ?

P.S. I think the ‘Palace of Peace and Reconciliation’ is a great design… and a spectacular name. Maybe it’s time for the United Nations headquarters in New York City to add a structure so entitled ? I do wonder about cleaning the glass exterior however. What’s the plan there ? A Modern glass & steel pyramid is cool…

sven Says:

March 27th, 2007 at 2:11 pm

The irony is that Nursultan Nazarbayev, man in charge of Kazakhstan is a pure tyrant who build golden statues of himself.

Norman Foster’s building is just another landmark for Nazarbayev’s “great victories”. What’s your opinion about Albert Speer?

jamaicabluemountaincoffee.com Says:

March 27th, 2007 at 2:44 pm

Simply stunning!

Rob Says:

March 27th, 2007 at 6:25 pm

to Sven:

Sven, you should read more befor you say something stupid. it’s was Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan who has been golden statues of himself, not Nazarbayev.

Have you been in Kazakhstan?

kevin pratt Says:

March 28th, 2007 at 10:33 am

Interestingly enough, this design is very similar to a design for a building at Hooke Park in Dorset by ABK done in the early eighties on collaboration with Frei Otto. Only difference being scale and materials - the ABK design was wood and glass.

George Says:

March 28th, 2007 at 11:10 am

I think you should leave politics out of it and celebrate a stunning design that brings a whole new meaning to green mixed used development. Who wouldn’t enjoy going to such an Entertainment Center that includes parks, water features, retail, and open-air inspiration? Certainly this is an opportunity to be at least half-full, not half-empty/whiny.

ajan Says:

March 31st, 2007 at 9:08 am

VERY NICE!!! thank you

Nomad Says:

April 2nd, 2007 at 1:30 am

An Ancient History of the Turkic People and the Great Steppe - http://www.adji.ru/book11_1.html
****
This books is about social ethnic history of Eurasia. Special attention is given to the Great Steppe and its contribution to European culture. For high readership. Editing of the book has been performed by the autor. Autor’s opinions may be different from the publishing house position - http://www.adji.ru/book10.html

shabazz Says:

August 21st, 2007 at 6:10 am

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!

Dalel Says:

September 8th, 2007 at 3:50 am

The Idea is awesome! Looking forward to see this building in reality!

Bob Holness Says:

December 28th, 2007 at 3:13 am

Oh look, it’s the Barbican Centre.

Marko Djuricic Says:

December 28th, 2007 at 7:13 am

It sure is stunning!
But something tells me that the world governments are slowly preparing us to start living in “green houses”, the whole cities covered in glass, as if they are saying “Well look, despite some groundbreaking technology that has focused on reducing emissions, it’s way too expensive to invest in, so we better put everyone inside the ’safe bubbles’, where we can monitor them and give them a ‘Disney World’ experience on a daily basis.”
Foster’s a brilliant architect, but I’d rather live in my own house, outside the ’safe bubble’, feeling the fresh mountain air, instead of an air conditioned one.

Inna Says:

January 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

The structure is soooo beautiful.
To Marko - this place is not for living, it is an entertainment center. There would be some residential buildings with the passes straight to the Khanshatyr. It is similar to underground concourses in many northern cities of the US and Canada, I managed to get lost in one of them :) The Astana is the second coldest capital in the world with harsh winds, half-a-year long winter with lots of snow, people are freezing to death in that area. I think it is a wise idea to build there such a place even though it would be waaaaay too expensive.
I thinks that we are going to live in the “green houses” if we are planning to save our planet. But in this case it means completely different structure. The main difference from what we live in now is that “green” buildings are built with non-toxic materials and use the power of winds, sun rays, etc. for heating and producing electricity.
As for the politics… I’m originally from Kazakhstan. It was not too bad there. Though Mr. Nazarbaev has a lot of power (do not forget, it is an asian country) and his family members act pretty eccentrically. “What is allowed to Jupiter is not permitted to an ox” works everywhere…

Rina Says:

February 17th, 2008 at 4:12 am

Yeah!!!
Borat f**k off!!!
Kazakhstan Best of the Best!!!

Ratty Says:

February 29th, 2008 at 6:28 am

Maybe I’m missing something here, but what exactly is ‘green’ about this building? In addition, what about the building footprint and sensitivity to the land around it? The images are obviously focused on the building and I’m hoping that this is why there is no landscape around it. In the images, it looks like the land will be sheared off. To me, things “environmental” should celebrate the environment (i.e. the natural world), not replace it.

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