'solid waves' - housing development scheme in astana, kazahkistan by stefano boeri architects
all images courtesy stefano boeri


italian stefano boeri architects has won a prize for a housing development scheme in astana,
kazahkistan. the international competition organized by the astana department of architecture
and urban planning called for the design of a contemporary residential neighborhood
with affordable housing and services to restructure a run down area next to the city center.



'solid waves' front view


designed as a contemporary living landmark, solid waves is a system that combines residence,
green public spaces with commercial and public infrastructure. its unique and strong presence
is a declaration for the sustainable future of the contemporary city; a place that promotes social
gathering and endorses the need for collective green space.



'solid waves'


solid waves generates a residential urban park; living, green and service spaces combined into
a single neighborhood where programs and nature live off each to create a new model for
a symbiotic urban organism. the project also operates on a multiplicity of scales. while the towers
are visible from a distance and take advantage, in terms of the views, of the position of the complex
within the city, a system of courts provides protected spaces that shelter inhabitants from the harsh
weather elements while maintaining a close relation to the open.



in the courtyard


formally, 'solid waves' is dense project articulated as a continuous excavated horizontal
platform that rises towards the sky; a movement of the ground that results in an emergence
within the territory. under its green covering, programs are placed in accordance to their degree
of public or private character. towards the exterior of the site, and particularly towards the north
and south, commercial programs take advantage of the larger, more public nature of the streets.
the position of the towers towards the north of the site permits optimum lighting for the tower
units and avoids casting a shadow onto the low rise residences.



'solid waves' from a distance



elevations of solid waves



elevations of solid waves


project info:
international urban planning competition for the concept master plan of a mixed-use
housing development project in astana, kazahkistan
organization: astana department of architecture and urban planning
year: 2010
urban and architectural design
stefano boeri architetti
team:
stefano boeri
francisca insulza
stefano baseggio
pietro pezzani
daniele iodice