Tag: Architecture
Ashgabat, the white city
Rising above the white mass of buildings, a statue of a horse stands over 40 metres tall. It marks the Olympic Stadium built for the 2017 Asian Games. … [...]
Between grandeur and everyday life in Astana
Spectators are waiting for the doors of the Astana Opera House to open. The building’s strict symmetry contrasts with the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Credits… [...]
The Palace of Happiness
The Ashgabat Wedding Palace opened its doors in 2011, to mark the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence, and quickly became one of the city’s most recognisable and iconic… [...]
Twilight over Khan Chatyr
The late afternoon sun passes behind the Khan Chatyr shopping center in Astana, illuminating the framework of this original building. An immense 150-meter-high tent, it… [...]
What a circus !
In front of the Tashkent Circus, a charming equestrian portrait is improvised. Inaugurated in 1976, the building is recognisable by its dome, often compared to a UFO or… [...]
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine
By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We're independent and we need your help to stay that way!
Filling the horizon
‘Tajikistan – it is a land full of treasures, but its main wealth lies in its children, its nobility and its culture.’ Inscribed on one of the impressive decorated… [...]
Threshold of light
Bright sunshine and winter cold: ideal conditions for strolling around Registan Square in Samarkand. The stream of tourists, cameras, and colorful flags of organized tours has dissipated,… [...]
The Koukeldash Madrasa in Tashkent
The inner courtyard of the Kukeldash Madrasah in Tashkent appears in a pointed arch opening. Built around 1570 during the reign of the Shaybanid Khan Dervish Khan,… [...]
Patchworks
Leaning over a pile of embroidered fabrics called suzanis, a man wearing an atlas-patterned waistcoat tidies up his shop in the city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Once an… [...]
A brand-new parliament
The city centre of Dushanbe, the Tajik capital, is notable for its modern skyscrapers, the comings and goings of its yellow and green taxis, and its wide tree-lined… [...]
Blue walls
A woman passes by beautifully-ornated walls inside the Khujand fortress complex. This complex has been rebuilt from scratch using only traditional techniques, like the… [...]