A climate-controlled mirage: Foster’s tent that turns winter into a shopping mall with weather privileges.
Building.
Featured in Foster + Partners's definitive monograph, Norman Foster: A Life in Architecture.
Visitor Guide
Go inside, then look back up—your best ‘architecture moment’ is realizing the roof is both sky and machine.
Exterior from the south side plaza at sunset; inside, shoot upward from the central axis mid-day to catch the ETFE glow and cable geometry.
Yes: it’s a mall/entertainment complex. Entry to main areas is generally free; individual attractions (like the indoor beach) may require separate tickets. Typical retail hours are around 10:00–22:00.
The building’s real innovation isn’t the form—it’s the microclimate: ETFE + cable-net engineering making an inhabitable indoor ‘outdoor’ in an extreme continental climate.
1–2 hours
Design & Structure
Form found through structural logic: a tensile cable-net supporting an ETFE skin; environmental simulation to maintain stable interior conditions; geometry rationalized so the mega-tent performs as enclosure, daylight filter, and landmark.
ETFE cushions and steel/cable structure—lightweight, translucent, and thermally strategic for huge spans.
A giant tensile system: cables in tension do what concrete can’t—span big while staying light, with the membrane acting as weatherproof skin.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center?+
Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center was designed by Foster + Partners and completed in 2010. It is located in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Where is Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center located?+
Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center is located in Astana, Kazakhstan. Its coordinates are 51.1322°, 71.4039°.
When was Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center built?+
Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center was completed in 2010. It was designed by Foster + Partners.
Can I visit Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center?+
Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center is a real building in Astana that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.