Europe Euphoria

World-renowned architect Lord Norman Foster has recently completed his geometric and eye-catching Palace of Peace and Reconciliation – a giant glass pyramid opera house in Astana, Kazakhstan. Foster’s new project, Khan Shatyry Entertainment Center for Astana is set to be completed this year. The new structure will sit at the northern end of the new city axis and stand as the highest peak on the skyline at a majestic 200 meters tall. It will house 100,000 square feet of public park, retail, and entertainment space. The entertainment center with a floor-space of 80,000 sq m will be built on a site of 7 hectares. There will be an interior park, undulating terraces, a river, wave pool, and waterfall – all lit by a high-tech roof lighting system seamlessly integrated into the structure. Other public spaces include a hypermarket, multi-hall cinema, restaurants, bars, a fitness center with a swimming pool and a bowling area. The pinnacle of the building, literally and metaphorically, will no doubt be its viewing deck terrace, offering dramatic views of the park and city. It stretches to three times its normal length without losing its elasticity, has controllable shading and noise insulation properties and never gets dirty due to the non-stick properties it shares with its cousin Teflon. Developed as a response to harsh weather conditions in both winter and summer, Khan Shatyry is held up by a central mast and clad in ETFE, which allows for a wash of light for interior spaces while sheltering inhabitants from the heat or cold. The Khan Shatyry Entertainment Centre will become a dramatic civic focal point for the capital of Kazakhstan.