Comments on: NORMAN FOSTER’s Entertainment Center in Kazakhstan

By: Ratty

Ratty — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:28:28 +0000

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.

By: Rina

Rina — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:12:26 +0000

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

By: Inna

Inna — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:30:23 +0000

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…

By: Marko Djuricic

Marko Djuricic — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:13:03 +0000

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.

By: Bob Holness

Bob Holness — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:13:12 +0000

Oh look, it’s the Barbican Centre.

By: Dalel

Dalel — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 07:50:09 +0000

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

By: shabazz

shabazz — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 10:10:42 +0000

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!

By: Nomad

Nomad — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 05:30:18 +0000

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

By: ajan

ajan — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:08:25 +0000

VERY NICE!!! thank you

By: George

George — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:10:01 +0000

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.

By: kevin pratt

kevin pratt — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:33:29 +0000

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.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:25:29 +0000

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?

By: jamaicabluemountaincoffee.com

jamaicabluemountaincoffee.com — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:44:59 +0000

Simply stunning!

By: sven

sven — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:11:36 +0000

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?

By: Richie

Richie — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:21:01 +0000

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…