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Architects: Tabanlioglu Architects
- Area: 83280 m²
- Year: 2012
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Photographs:Thomas Mayer
Text description provided by the architects. AMC (Kazmedia Ortalygy) is planned to be a distinctive media figure, housing Kazakhstan national radio and TV stations’ studios together with concert halls and office functions related to the media production. The Center occupies a prominent site in the capital’s administrative centre, on the axial ceremonial route from the Presidential Palace, situated between the significant administrative buildings, Railways HQ and the Ministry of Transportation.
The 22-story media complex is now one of the most striking buildings in Astana, a city that has been hailed worldwide for its innovative and experimental architecture. The new facility aims to enhance the professionalism of TV journalism, television and filmmaking in Kazakhstan. This stunning tower now serves as home for all of Kazakhstan’s national media operators, along with the international broadcasters in Kazakhstan. It has become the country’s chief technological broadcasting platform and meets all international-level requirements for creating high-quality films, TV and radio programs, as well as organizing concerts, press conferences and symposiums.
The building includes large public-use spaces on the main floors. The huge complex takes up 75,500 square meters (812,675 square feet), with 7,000 square meters of studios and over 21,000 square meters of offices, and has 14 major television studio units and four large audio recording sections. In addition, the (1000 sqm) concert hall sophisticates the public use.
Synergy born out of collective spaces reflects on the broadcasting understanding. As a symbolic language, the use of media façade creates a visually legible dynamic ambiance with reference to the ongoing events in the building. Four large display screens adorning its façade continuously run news and other programs for city residents. Often, broadcasts on the screens will correspond to events going on inside. The structure’s sleek, elaborate and modern facade hints at the active part it aims to play in the daily life of the city. Open and welcoming, the building is modeled after certain experimental designs in the Middle East and Europe.
Kazakhstan has been upgrading its national digital broadcasting system and encouraging high-tech homegrown productions. To achieve this, Kazmedia Ortalygy has a filmmaking section with two large 900-square-meter studios equipped with the latest high-definition technology for creating TV series. It also has eight well-equipped units suitable for shooting complex programs. Two studios on the building’s top floor include panoramic filming equipment that can incorporate a bird’s-eye view of Astana into programming. The News Production section has four 250-square-meter units capable of producing round-the-clock broadcasts. Kazakhstan expects its news programming and press conferences to quickly reach the highest global production standards.
The media center also has a Radio and Audio Production Complex with everything the country needs to achieve its goal of enhancing its radio broadcasting and audio production. This section includes a large, modern concert auditorium suitable for symphony orchestras and other gala performances as well as two smaller recording studios and a voiceover recording unit. Finally, the facility is complete with a state-of-the-art Concert Center and Conference Complex, offering an excellent venue for all types of congresses, public events and entertainment activities.
Today’s colorful, fast moving and assertive image of the media is physically embodied by the architectural language. The building is unique, with a contemporary transparent design. Despite its size and complexity, it is designed and built in a year.
Media Center is not only a significant building structure but also a synergetic operation model blended the in the daily life of Astana, linking Kazakhstan efficiently to the rest of the world. Strongly perceived from afar and in diverse prospects, the building materializes as an eye-catching “sign”; AMC is the contemporary extension of Astana, being one of the unique media complexes in the world.
