Kazakh National Academy of Choreography
The New Academy of Choreography is centrally located in Astana, aligned with the designed green axis and right next to the Botanic Garden. The Expo 2017 site was only a few hundred meters from the academy building, as well as being close to Astana’s distinctive landmark, the Baiterek Tower. The context was an essential driving force for the design concept; the idea of sloping the roof platform towards the administrative and business center was a crucial one, as it offered users a panoramic view over the Botanic Garden and the iconic Baiterek Tower. The higher side of the building faced the Expo 2017 site. The rounded shape of the roof became a strong symbol that encompassed a dynamic range of unique activities.
The various functions of the new Academy of Choreography were conceived as houses and city blocks under the grand roof. The main theatre is the symbolic heart of the house conceived as a giant pearl set between wooden boxes. The interior of the auditorium followed the classic “shoe-box” form, creating a festive social space where everybody could see everybody and offering excellent acoustics and views of the stage. The round shape of the roof created a powerful landmark and at the same time it brought to mind an indirect allusion to the classical tutu: the very short, stiff skirt worn by ballerinas around the world.
The façade, the building’s skin, just like the events within, changed depending on the moment. The flat aluminium panels on the underside reinforce this impression of lightness: they reflect the waves of the nearby lake, which in turn reflects the roof of the academy. This interplay with the idea of reflection was consciously adopted. The materials used for the structure change the view and impression of the building depending on the incidence of the light and the viewing angle. A water basin or pond underlined this idea of reflection. The water surface separates the academy building, containing the main theatre, the ballet unit and the educational unit, from the residential building, which is itself divided into three separate form of accommodation: for younger, middleaged and older students. These three elements were lined up side by side, like the buildings in the surroundings nearby, each with their own formal identity. They were united by the wide expanse of the projecting roof, which covers a considerable part of the water surface below. The backbone of the entire structure is an underground floor, for parking and technical areas; these areas are accessible from each unit in the complex.
