Photo: Nigel Young_Foster + Partners

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

The Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center was officially opened last night in the presence of President Nazarbayev and heads of state in a grand ceremony, with a performance by the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, timed to coincide with the President’s birthday and Astana Day. The Center represents a major new civic, cultural and social venue for the people of Astana, bringing together a wide range of activities within a sheltered climatic envelope that provides a comfortable environment all year round.

Photo: Nigel Young_Foster + Partners

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

The tent-like, cable-net structure is located at the northern end of the new city axis and soars 150 metres from an elliptical base to form the highest peak on the Astana skyline. The building encloses an area in excess of 100,000 square metres within an ETFE dome, with dramatic views over the city and the Steppes beyond. Contained within it is an urban-scaled park, along with a wide variety of entertainment and leisure facilities, including retail, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, and flexible spaces that can accommodate a varied programme of events and exhibitions. The different levels form undulating terraces, the uppermost terrace forming a water park.

Photo: Nigel Young_Foster + Partners

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

Temperatures in Astana can drop to -35 degrees Celsius in winter and climb as high as +35 degrees in summer. The three-layer ETFE envelope is designed to shelter the enclosed accommodation from weather extremes and to allow daylight to wash the interiors. In winter, a key challenge is to prevent the formation of ice on the inside of the envelope. This is achieved by a combination of temperature control and directing warm air currents up the inner surface of the fabric, a strategy that also prevents downdraughts. In summer, fritting on the outermost foil layer provides solar shading. Inside, low-level jets direct cool air across the space, while opening vents at the apex induce stack-effect ventilation.

Photo: Nigel Young_Foster + Partners

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

CREDITS

Photo: Nigel Young_Foster + Partners

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

Foster + Partners Team

Norman Foster
David Nelson
Nigel Dancey
David Summerfield
Filo Russo
Peter Ridley
Pablo Cabrera
Claudia Chiappini
Dennis Hawner
Joost Heremans
Tomonobu Hirayu
Kevin Joutel
Gulsah Komurcuoglu
Nina Linde
Wei Luo
Vasileios Mavropoulos
Barcin Oguz
Emre Ozberk
Nicholas Papas
Brady Peters
Juraj Pollak
Leyla Rahnavard
Guvenc Topcuoglu
Ayca Vural

Photo: Nigel Young_Foster + Partners

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

Client: Sembol Construction
Collaborating Architect: Tusavul Architecture
Structural & Service Engineers: Buro Happold
Local Structural Engineers: OZUN PROJE Ltd + Arce
Local Services Engineers: Mechanical -Vemeks Engineering Ltd, Electrical – HB Teknik
Lighting Consultant: Claude Engle
Retail Consultant: ALKAS Consulting
Fire Consultant: Istanbul Technical University
Steelwork: SAMKO Engineering Contracting Co. Inc.
Cables: Montage Services
ETFE:Vector-Foiltec

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.

© Foster + Partners . Published on July 06, 2010.