Asif Khan transforms Soviet-era Tselinny Cinema into Kazakhstan's first contemporary culture center in Almaty

Asif Khan, an architect, has reimagined the old Tselinny Cinema in Almaty into Kazakhstan's inaugural contemporary culture center. Originally constructed in 1964, this Soviet-era structure was the largest cinema in the USSR and has undergone an extensive eight-year renovation. The project preserved the auditorium's impressive 18-meter height while incorporating seismic reinforcements with the help of Kazniisa Institute. The innovative design features a seamless ground plane, a cloud-inspired entrance, and a stainless-steel glass ribbon for optimal natural lighting. A previously overlooked 42-meter-wide sgrafitto by Evgeny Sidorkin has been restored. The center houses galleries Orta 1, Orta 2, Orta 3, a café named Jer, and various workshops. The inaugural exhibition, "From Sky to Earth," curated by Markus Lähteenmäki, showcases a time capsule by Alexander Ugai. Future developments include a rooftop restaurant and partnerships with Baitursynov Park. The building retains its original name, Tselinny, honoring Khrushchev's 1954 Virgin Lands initiative.