the new national library astana, kazakhstan by BIG architects
all images courtesy BIG architects

BIG architects were awarded first prize in an open international competition to design
kazakhstan’s new national library in astana, named after the firstpresident of the republic
of kazakhstan, nursultan nazarbayev, encompasses an estimated 33.000m2. the winning
proposal was chosen by the prime minister of kazakhstan k. masimov together with
astana’s akim i.tasmagambetov and a council of architects. the circular organisation
of the archive at its inner core combines the clarity of a linear organisation
with the convenience of an infinite loop.

'the design of the national library combines four universal archetypes across space
and time into a new national symbol: the circle, the rotunda, the arch and the yurt are
merged into the form of a moebius strip. the clarity of the circle, the courtyard of
the rotunda, the gateway of the arch and the soft silhouette of the yurt are combined
to create a new national monument appearing local and universal, contemporary and timeless,
unique and archetypal at the same time' - bjarke ingels

the library is conceived as a symbiosis of urbanity and nature. like astana, which
is located in the heart of the kazakh mainland, it will be integrated into the heart of
a re-created kazakh landscape. the park around the library is designed like a living
library of trees, plants, minerals and rocks allowing visitors to experience a cross section
of kazakhstan’s natural landscape.

möbius strip
the 2 interlocking structures: the perfect circle and the public spiral,
create a building that transforms from a horizontal organization where library museum
and support functions are placed next to each other, to a vertical organization where they
are stacked on top of each other through a diagonal organization combining vertical hierarchy,
horizontal connectivity and diagonal view lines. by wrapping the transforming composition
of spaces with a continuous skin we create a möbius strip volume where the facades move
from inside to outside and back again.












astana national library credit list:
architect: BIG
client: kazakhstan presidential office
collaborators: arup agu
size: 33.000 m2
location: astana, kazakhstan
status: 1st prize
partner-in-charge: bjarke ingels
project leader: thomas christoffersen
team: amy campbell, jakob henke, johan cool, jonas barre, daniel sundlin