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| Palace of Peace and Reconciliation opens in Kazakhstan  The completion of Foster and Partners' Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana, Kazakhstan is marked at an impressive ceremony. Opened in time for the triennial Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the project is a 62m high pyramid – designed and realised in less than two years – that will be a global centre for religious understanding, the renunciation of violence and the promotion of faith and human equality. Located on a prominent site in the capital's new administrative centre, the building occupies a significant place on the axial route from the Presidential Palace.As a non-denominational contemporary building form, the pyramid is resonant of both a spiritual history that dates back to ancient Egypt as well as a symbol of amity for the future. It will accommodate a permanent venue for the Congress, and houses a 1,500- seat opera house, a university faculty, meeting spaces and a national spiritual centre. This programmatic diversity is unified within the pure form of a pyramid, 62 metres high with a 62 x 62-metre base. Following an international competition, Foster and Partners was commissioned to design the venue for the Congress in December 2004. This led the design team to develop a structural solution that utilised prefabricated components, which could be manufactured off site during the winter months and erected during the summer. The entire process, from briefing to completion took just twenty-one months. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |