ASTANA – “Let’s meet near the Egg!” or “I’m in the Lighter!” or “I need a ride to Chupa Chups!”
If you ever hear those phrases, don’t worry, you’re not hallucinating; they’re just a few of the names that have stuck to numerous buildings in Kazakhstan’s dazzling capital city.
Probably a lot of people have noticed the interesting building not far from Baiterek, located right near Keruen shopping mall and the National Library. Known as the Egg (pronounced as “yaitso” in Russian) in reference to its shape, it is actually Kazakhstan’s National Archive.
Kazakhstan’s National Archive also known as the Egg. Photo: apozh.kz
Cabbage is the word some use for the Kazakhstan concert hall, located near the House of Ministries on the left bank of the city. The name is not as popular, but you can still hear it and understandably so. It is a giant green building designed by none other than Manfredo Nicoletti with many layers, not unlike Sydney’s famous opera house.
If you go from the left bank to the new Khazret Sultan Mosque via the bridge that continues from Syganak Street, you can see a big blue building on the right. It is part of the main office of Tsesna Bank and some people call it Sail (Parus) or PC’s System Unit (Blok PK).
Tsesna Bank’s main office also known as Sail or PC’s System Unit. Photo: expertonline.kz
Continue on the same road and the building of the Nazarbayev Centre can also be seen on the right side. Many call this unique Lord Norman Foster-designed building Magnifier (Lupa) because of the big round top that looks like it is made of glass. Others have named it Spotlight (Prozhektor) or Lamp (Fonar).
Nazarbayev Centre also known as Magnifier or Spotlight or Lamp. Photo: sputnik.az
Two tall gold buildings with a taper form are stand in the middle of the House of Ministries. Due to their shape, they have received a collective nickname Buckets (Vyodra).
Buildings known as Buckets
The Kazakh Ministry of Finance building is called the Dollar because it is curved and looks like a giant bank note. Located on the right bank along Podedy Avenue, it was one of the first buildings constructed soon after the capital was transferred from Almaty in 1997. Opposite the building is a fountain known as Chupa Chups.
Kazakh Ministry of Finance, or the Dollar. Photo: 365info.kz
Fountain known as Chupa Chups. Photo: popgun.ru
Another governmental building has a well-known nickname. Located on the left bank on Kunayev Street, it is called the Lighter (Zazhigalka). The structure is close to Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre and can be seen throughout Nurly Zhol Boulevard.
The Lighter. Photo: aboutkazakhstan.com
Once known as Green Water Boulevard, Nurly Zhol is also home to a big white and blue striped building that some people have named the Mattress (Matras).
The Mattress
The circus building on Kabanbai Batyr Avenue is called Flying Saucer (Letayuschaya tarelka). No need to ask why.
Astana Circus or Flying Saucer
The trend did not stop with administrative buildings. The whole city is covered with houses that can be found just by their names – actual addresses are not necessary. Construction companies that often name their houses use those monikers in advertisements and they stick afterwards. Sometimes people give names to houses as well.
Well-known residential complexes on the left bank include Azure Quarter (Lazurny Kvartal), Infiniti, New World (Novy Mir), Nomad, Northern Lights (Severnoe Siyanie), Nursaya, Seven Barrels (Sem’ Bochek) and Triumph of Astana. Some of the famous residential complexes on the right bank are known as Astana Nury, Grand Alatau, Samal, Seventh Continent (Sed’moi Kontinent) and Titanic, the last one in reference to its similarity with the infamous ship.
Almost all new business centres in the capital have their own names. Identifying buildings is definitely convenient for a lot of people and gives the city its own unique twist.
