The Schoolchildren’s Palace in Turkestan is based on the traditional spatial structure of the madrasa, reinterpreted in a contemporary form. Traditionally, most Kazakh children had the opportunity to study only in village madrasas. A madrasa is an educational institution that combines the functions of a secondary general school and a Muslim theological seminary. Its building typically had a characteristic planning structure: an internal courtyard at the centre, with residential and educational spaces arranged around its perimeter. In this project, a multi-level atrium becomes the central space linking all parts of the Schoolchildren’s Palace. It is a multi-layered, light-filled and visually interconnected environment that encourages children to communicate and explore.

The prototype for the volumetric and planning structure was the unique nature of southern Kazakhstan. In plan, it takes the form of a cellular structure inspired by the Turkestan melon and cotton. Such an organisation makes it possible to give each room in the palace a unique character, allowing maximum flexibility in its use and helping to open up children’s consciousness. The figurative prototype for the Schoolchildren’s Palace was the distinctive landscape of Charyn Canyon — one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan. Vertical volumes of varying heights create a unique silhouette for the building and allow the classrooms to receive both top light and additional side light.