Palace of Peace and Reconciliation

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Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
PyramidPeaceReconciliation.jpg
Main entrance of the Palace
General information
Status Complete
Location Astana, Kazakhstan
Coordinates 51°7′23″N 71°27′49″E / 51.12306°N 71.46361°E / 51.12306; 71.46361Coordinates: 51°7′23″N 71°27′49″E / 51.12306°N 71.46361°E / 51.12306; 71.46361
Completed 2006
Height
Roof 62 m (203 ft)
Technical details
Floor area 28,000 m2 (300,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Owner city of Astana
Architect Foster and Partners
Structural engineer Buro Happold

The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Kazakh: Бейбітшілік пен келісім сарайы), also translated as the Pyramid of Peace and Accord, is a 77 m high building in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The structure was built by Sembol Construction at a cost of 8.74 billion Kazakh tenge (about $58 million) and opened in late 2006.

The pyramid portion of the building is 62 m high which sits on a 15 m high earth covered block. All of this construction is above ground level. Though the landscaping of the park rises up to cover the lower levels, these are not in fact basements.

It was designed by the British architects Foster and Partners (lead design). Turkish architectural firm Tabanlıoğlu Architects undertook construction information packages for the Foster design and engineers Buro Happold undertook lead structural and services design. The Foster team was led by architects Nigel Dancey, Peter Ridley and Lee Hallman. Sembol Construction undertook a Design and Build contract, and were ultimately responsible for the final details and finishes, some of which varied considerably from the Foster and Tabanlıoğlu (Tabanlioglu) intent.

The design is of five "storeys" of triangles, each triangle being 12 m on a side. The lower portions, three "storeys" of triangles, are clad in pale granite. The upper two rows of triangles, 4 triangles per side, form a glazed apex; instead of stone cladding the triangles of the apex feature a design of stained glass by Brian Clarke, incorporating doves.

Construction is of steel frame for the pyramid and concrete for the lower levels. The engineers had to design the building to withstand expansion and contraction due to temperature variations of over 80°C, from -40 to over 40°C - leading to an expansion of the building of up to 30 cm.

The Pyramid was specially constructed to host the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. A 1,500-seat opera house is built into the lower levels, with auditorium and performance equipment design by Anne Minors Performance Consultants and acoustics by Sound Space Design.

External links [edit]

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