Mar 05, 2026
The
Alatau Iconic Complex and Gateway District is designed to support long-term
growth and opportunity in the Almaty region through a resilient, site-specific,
and transit-oriented approach.
Positioned
within the new city of Alatau—a flagship project for Kazakhstan set to become a
Central Asian international hub—the SOM-designed Iconic Complex and Gateway
District will serve as the city’s economic and administrative nucleus.
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. Strategically positioned to enhance regional connectivity, economic
development, and innovation, the new city will link Almaty with Central Asia
and beyond.
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. Integrating office,
residential, hospitality, retail, and cultural programmes, the development
establishes a dense, mixed-use urban core for the emerging city. 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. Both
buildings feature high-performance façades and integrated shading strategies to
reduce solar gain, while central atria draw natural light deep into the
floorplates and frame panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
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.
Read more: https://www.som.com/news/alatau-city/