Palace of Peace and Reconciliation

The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (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 £35 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) 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 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 30cm.

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

* [http://www.religionscongress.org Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions]
* [http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1322/Default.aspx Foster + Partners Palace of Peace and Reconciliation Astana, Kazakhstan, 2004-2006]
* [http://www.burohappold.com Buro Happold official site]
* [http://www.ampcstudio.com Anne Minors Performance Consultants - project theatre consultant]
* [http://www.soundspacedesign.co.uk Sound Space Design, project acoustics consultant]
* [http://www.hughpearman.com/articles5/pyramid.html Hugh Pearman, "Gabion: The pyramid of peace: Norman Foster assumes the monumental mantle of Boullée. In Kazakhstan", expanded version of original story in "The Sunday Times" (London), February 20 2005, on hughperman.com]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2101-2334833.html Hugh Pearman, "Architecture: One steppe beyond", "The Times" (London), September 3, 2006]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2406757.html "Pyramid puts President on map", "The Times" (London), October 17, 2006]
* [http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=493 "Foster completes in Kazakhstan", "World Architecture News", September 4, 2006]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/palaceofpeace/ Flickr: Palace of Peace]