In the CityIn the CityPhoto: 颲風, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The sphere is visible from afar and looks nothing like a typical museum — a perfect ball with a diameter of 80 meters, as if it has landed on the EXPO grounds. Inside there are eight floors, and it's worth ascending them from bottom to top: each is dedicated to its own type of energy (sun, wind, cosmos, biomass, water, kinetic energy), and at the very dome, two silent wind generators operate, literally powering the building with electricity.
The sphere was built as the central pavilion of the international exhibition EXPO-2017 "Energy of the Future," which took place in Astana from June 10 to September 10, 2017; it was designed by American architects Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill. The height of the building is 100 meters with a diameter of 80 meters — it is the first building in the world shaped as a complete sphere rather than a faceted dome, and it remains the largest structure of this shape in the world. After EXPO, the pavilion became a permanent museum — it was the most visited object of the exhibition even during its operation.
In the CityA monument and observation tower that is the main symbol of Astana and Kazakhstan.
In the CityA colossal transparent tent-shaped shopping mall standing 150 meters tall, designed by Norman Foster and recognized as the world's largest tensile structure.
In the CityThe largest mosque in Central Asia, accommodating up to 10,000 people during major holidays.
In the CityThe second largest mosque in Kazakhstan, a gift from Qatar to Astana — officially named after Abu Nasr al-Farabi since 2021.
In the CityAn 80-hectare park surrounding Norman Foster's pyramid-shaped building, featuring an opera hall, exhibition spaces, and a panoramic elevator.
In the CityThe largest museum in Kazakhstan and Central Asia showcasing the country's history from ancient times to the present day.