| Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Location | Astana, Kazakhstan |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | June 2004 |
| Opening | Dec 2009 |
| Cost | € 120.000.000,00 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 55,000 m2 (590,000 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | Mabetex |
| Architect | Manfredi Nicoletti |
The Central Concert Hall (Kazakh: «Қазақстан» Орталық концерт залы) is located next to the Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. It has been inaugurated by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on the Independence Day of Kazakhstan, 15 December 2009.
The building’s shape reminds the dynamism of the petals of a flower as a metaphor of the dynamism of music itself. The building external structure is made by a series of curved inclined walls made of concrete with a blue back painted glass panels cladding. Those structures protect the building's interior functions from Astana’s harsh weather conditions.
Over a total of 55.000sqm the building hosts three music halls for 3.500, 400 and 200 seats each, restaurants, shops, bars and a 30m high foyer which extends over 3.000sqm. One of the main concepts of the design, made by Italian architect Manfredi Nicoletti, was in fact to create a urban scale internal public square that could welcome the citizens of Astana throughout the entire year.
The main Concert hall for 3.500 seats is one of the biggest of its kind and is capable of hosting a multitude of different events, from classical to pop music, ballet and conferences thanks to its acoustic flexibility. This flexibility is produced by a system of acoustic curtains and a special false ceiling design called a black-hole, which absorbs most of the acoustic reflections of the hall.
Also the two small halls have been designed to be flexible enough to host chamber music as well as cinema and conferences.