Palace of Peace and Reconciliation

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The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (also known as the Pyramid of Peace and Accord) is a 77m m high building in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The pyramid portion of the building is 62m high which sits on a 15m 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- however these are not in fact basements.

It was designed by the British architects Foster and Partners (lead design) with Turkish architects, Tabanlioglu Architecture (construction information) and engineers Buro Happold. 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 is a design of stained glass by Brian Clarke, incorporating doves. 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.

The Pyramid was specially constructed to host the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

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 30cm.

The building opened in late 2006. Its cost was £37m.