KAZAKHSTAN - Astana

Astana is the new capital city of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The former capital, Almaty, was the capital of the Kazakh state in its various forms from 1929 to 1997, under the influence of the then Soviet Union. Now, it is undergoing a transformation costing billions of dollars, where top international architects assist in trying to make Astana a worthy capital - not only of Kazakhstan but of all Central Asia. Astana is a planned city, like Washington, D.C. in the United States, Brasilia in Brazil and Canberra in Australia. Astana is the site of the Parliament House, the Supreme Court, the Presidential Palace. It is home to many futuristic buildings, hotels and skyscrapers. Thus, Astana presents an interesting and intriguing blend of old Soviet architecture with the modern designs of famous architects.