Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects

  • Project: Apartment in Astana With a Light Asian Flair
  • Architect: Kvadrat Architects
  • Location: Kazakhstan, Astana
  • Year: 2022
  • Area: 130 m2
  • Photography: Gleb Kramchaninov

In the heart of Astana, nestled in the Highvill Ishim residential complex near the Presidential Park and the Palace of Peace and Accord, Kvadrat Architects has redefined a modest apartment into a refined sanctuary of Asian-inspired minimalism. This 130-square-meter space now offers light, flow, and spiritual balance for a family of four.

🌬️ Turning Constraints into Concepts

The clients had lived in the apartment for two years before approaching Kvadrat Architects. Their main concern: the apartment’s low 2.8-meter ceilings and insufficient storage. What they longed for was airiness, light, and a sense of openness.

Kvadrat Architects responded with a strategy rooted in Asian spatial philosophy—creating calm through form, layering, and material texture.

“We use volume and subtle contrasts, not visual noise,” explain designers Rustam Minnekhanov and Sergey Bekmukhanbetov.

🧱 Central Cube: A Spatial Anchor

At the heart of the open-plan living, kitchen, and dining areas lies a cube-shaped architectural volume. This element unites the zones without dominating them. Its natural wood finish adds warmth and visual softness, grounding the entire composition.

🎨 A Palette of White and Warm Neutrals

The design embraces white walls and ceilings, enhanced by woody tones in furniture and finishes. Upholstered pieces mirror the curtains’ texture and tone, fostering a layered, enveloping atmosphere. Terrazzo-textured porcelain stoneware accents both the niche in the living room and a furniture section in the dining zone, adding quiet decorative rhythm.

🛏️ Expanded Bedroom & Integrated Storage

To meet the clients’ need for order and serenity, Kvadrat Architects reimagined the primary bedroom, integrating a 6-meter walk-in closet and concealed wardrobes. This redesign also freed space to expand the bathroom, which now includes a spacious closet for accessories.

🧘‍♀️ Design That Breathes

Despite the apartment’s original limitations, the finished interior reads as open, fluid, and meditative. It’s a space where textures breathe, light moves effortlessly, and architectural elements invite reflection.

Kvadrat Architects call this more than an interior—it’s a “place of power” that nurtures the spiritual, mental, and physical potential of its inhabitants. Designed to outlast trends, it becomes part of the family’s evolving story and cultural legacy.

Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov
Apartment in Astana with a light Asian flair by Kvadrat Architects
Photography © Gleb Kramchaninov

Posted by Kvadrat Architects

Kvadrat Architects is a renowned interior architecture studio celebrated for designing emotionally resonant, timeless spaces that reflect individual identity and refined living. With over 17 years of experience and more than 200 exclusive projects completed worldwide, the studio seamlessly integrates natural materials, architectural clarity, and sensory aesthetics to shape interiors that transcend trends. Founded and led by Sergey Bekmukhanbetov and Rustam Minnekhanov, the studio embraces a holistic design philosophy—prioritizing emotion, function, and spatial harmony. Their distinctive work has earned them multiple international design awards and has been featured in over 180 global publications, affirming their status as thought leaders in contemporary interior architecture.