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| SOM reveals 272m-tall tower in Kazakhstan  The Alatau Iconic Complex and Gateway District is designed to support long-term growth and opportunity in the Almaty region. Located along the Almaty-Qonaev highway, a key section of the Western Europe-Western China transport corridor, Alatau is planned to span 88,000 hectares across four districts.At the centre of this vision, SOM’s Iconic Complex forms a 276,800-square-meter vertical district defined by a pair of gateway towers. Inspired by the surrounding Trans-Ili Alatau—a 350-kilometre range of valleys, glaciers, and stratified terrain—the design translates these local natural formations into architecture, creating a unique identity rooted in the Kazakh landscape. Rising 272 meters, the primary tower will accommodate office space and premium residences, becoming the tallest structure in the Almaty region and southern Kazakhstan upon completion. An adjacent 80-metre tower with a luxury hotel and branded residences reinforces the district’s mixed-use intensity. At the base, a three-level podium of 58,000 square meters anchors the complex. Echoing the local foothills of the Alatau, it terraces toward the public realm, accommodating retail, cultural venues, and event spaces while fostering active pedestrian engagement. The region’s high seismic conditions drive the project’s integrated architectural and structural design. Structural resilience is embedded in the architecture, with seismically resilient framing and damping systems—proven in high-seismic regions such as Japan and Taiwan—that dissipate earthquake energy and ensure long-term safety and post-disaster functionality. The surrounding Gateway District leverages SOM’s international planning expertise, prioritizing walkability, density, and multimodal transportation. Planned express rail and Light Rail Transit (LRT) corridors position the district as a regional transit hub, while green boulevards, shaded streets, and public plazas foster a human-scaled urban experience. The project also integrates advanced micromobility infrastructure, including provisions for Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, alongside pedestrian and transit networks, to ensure the city is connected at every scale. write your comments about the article :: © 2026 Construction News :: home page |