GRAND MOSQUE

In the development project around the Grand Mosque, our goal was to create a district that would embody the modern, dynamic character of a metropolis while harmoniously blending with the traditional architecture of the mosque. In this project, modern architecture serves as the backdrop, while the urban plan strategically reveals views of the mosque.

Greening is the outstanding feature of the district, capitalizing on the existing Astana green belt that extensively vegetates the site. We meticulously preserved existing trees while introducing a diverse selection of plant species. Greening provides the project with two key competitive advantages: attractive views from the windows and densely landscaped parks.

We designed two full-fledged independent parks on the territory of the site: a city and a district one.

The city park is a center of attraction for residents of the whole city, a place for walking and contemplation, quiet family recreation, and city events. From Nura-Ishim, we designed a network of artificial channels into the park, which would reflect the mosque surrounded by the park. Walking paths pass through key attraction places: an indoor amphitheater, an exhibition complex, observation decks, and cafes; and lead to lawns for family picnics or various gardens and direct to an open-air ethnographic complex.

The district park is a place for residents of the designed area to relax, and is more local. It includes a variety of sports areas: a football field, basketball, volleyball, and hockey courts; tennis courts and a minigolf field, and playhubs for teenagers. Cycle and pedestrian paths lead the visitor to the park along all the key points, and in the most spectacular places, they reveal views of the Grand Mosque.

From a bird’s-eye perspective, the district’s territory resembles a canvas with quarter patterns and public spaces strung together on green and blue threads. The centerpiece of the composition is the Grand Mosque, surrounded by rays of green corridors, hinting at the image of the sun as the spiritual heart of the district and city.

From eye level, one can observe modern architecture commensurating to the person, which does not contradict the mosque but complements it. Thanks to the various vantage points, the main landmark can be seen from anywhere within the area, against the backdrop of the park.

Our team designed the district architecture in a way that mirrors the curves of the mountains, which are a symbol of Kazakhstan. The image usage of the lakes Kaindy and Kolsay in the landscaping plastic creates a sense of continuity between the architecture and nature.

The silhouette of the building is centered around the Grand Mosque, a prominent object in the city’s composition and the heart of the designed development area.

The first line of development is based on a modern interpretation of Oriental culture and includes the architecture of the Oriental Gallery and the Islamic Center. Functionally, these pavilion-type public buildings with large-span structures of 1-2 floors are a buffer between the Mosque and residential buildings.

The faсades of the second line are made in the form of a perimeter sectional development with a height of 4-6 floors and face the Mosque. Here, we used the materials that refer to the Kazakh construction tradition — ceramics, natural stone, brick.

The architecture of a mixed typology is designed in the third line. There are sites of schools, kindergartens, multi-section houses, and urban villas with a height of 6-9 floors, which will serve as architectural accents inside the development and become an attractive investment object.

The facades of the fourth development line form the architectural identity of the area at the city entrance from the airport. It is situated along the perimeter with 9-12 story tower sections offering favorable views of the Grand Mosque and urban villas, boulevards, squares, and green corridors.

Kazakhstan has a climate with large seasonal temperature differences, and we wanted to understand how our architecture might look in different seasons. We were curious to know how our facilities would appear when it is hot and sunny in the summer or when it is cold and harsh in the winter.

To achieve this, we designed a lot of canopies, which would protect one from the sun’s harmful rays and provide a comfortable environment. The light façade  finishing materials will harmoniously integrate with nature throughout the seasons. This architectural design will interact with the environment and reflect its unique characteristics, showcasing the beauty of nature.

In Kazakh culture, the symbolism of home as a gathering point for the whole extended family is significant. This concept is reflected in the landscape design, where guests and family members can reunite and spend time together. The second association relates to the Oriental Gallery, a modern interpretation of traditional oriental bazaars in the form of a complex public space.

Its architecture visually connects us to the landscape features of the country, thanks to its smoothly curved shapes and repeated round volumes.

The ornament plays a significant role in Kazakh cultural identity. The interpretation of ornamentation and traditional Kazakh textiles was incorporated into the façade design of the Eastern Gallery as well as the landscaping design for public spaces.

The composition techniques used in the landscaping of the Eastern Square and the design of the gallery combine modern technologies with the use of chiaroscuro, a characteristic of Central Asian architecture.

During the development of this project, we were given a unique opportunity to detail a large-scale project, from the urban plan, architecture, and landscaping to the finishing materials and decorations on the façades. We considered the district layout as a cohesive whole, with the Grand Mosque serving as the central focus, as well as an independent development consisting of 4 quarters, including a city and district park, playgrounds, pocket parks, and a community center.

The project takes a detailed look not only at the typology and category of housing but also at the social infrastructure of each district and area as a whole, including schools, clinics, kindergartens, police stations, and other facilities. It is worth noting that all the elements in the GRAND MOSQUE project are steeped in Kazakhstani traditions, culture, and natural beauty, which impressed us greatly.