The Capital

06.2016

In 1997 the capital of Kazakhstan was moved from the historic city of Almaty, which had served as the seat of government throughout the years as a republic within the Soviet Union. Previously called Akmoly (along with various versions of that name) and Tselinograd, the new capital was renamed Astana, meaning “the Capital.” Based on a masterplan by Kisho Kurokawa, the small city was largely reoriented to focus towards the new grand governmental axis on the West bank of the Ishim River. With the completion of next year’s Expo 2017, the city will densify further to the Southwest, placing the monumental axis closer to the center of the urbanization.

Astana is the only city in this study which is still overwhelmingly a work in progress.