In Almaty, and perhaps more so than anywhere else in the Central Asian steppes, the layers of the past are reflected in the diverse architectural facades. The relocation of the capital to Astana in 1997 saved many Soviet buildings from mass destruction, including the most iconic structures designed by Dinmukhamed Kunayev (1912-1993). These modernist buildings are now the focus of citizen initiatives aimed at protecting a heritage threatened by the privatisation of the building stock. A green city renowned for integrating vegetation into its urban planning, Almaty is now seeing its streets filled with new buildings with mirrored glass façades. These constructions are intended to be emblematic of a globalised futuristic architecture, similar to that of Astana. However, this style has received a mixed reception, as evidenced by the reactions to the renovation of the Palace of the Republic.

Credits : Simone Bergonzi (Italy, @simobergz))

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