Every weekend, architect Temirtas Iskakov conducts walking tours for guests and residents of the Kazakh capital, so that people would get to know the city better. The tours gained popularity quickly. People are becoming increasingly interested in the content of such tours.
“When people walk around and see buildings that are more than 160-years-old, they are surprised. The route “Not a glass capital” shows objects, the exterior cladding of which is made not only from glass and concrete, but they are built from brick, wood. There are adobe buildings, as well,” said Temirtas Iskakov, a founder of the Urban Research Platform.
Participants of the excursion meet in the square near the Central City Stadium.
“Many people do not know, but the stadium, the starting point, is also a historical site. It was built on the site of the Akmola fortress in the 30s of the last century. Its main gate was exactly, where the famous tower locates. It was captured in few old photographs,” said Mark Bryushko, a correspondent.
For the next two to three hours, the tour participants will get to know a very different side of the city - the merchant and railway Akmola city, neoclassical and contemporary Tselinograd, the first monuments of the new capital of Kazakhstan.
“Well, as you see, these houses are examples of the Soviet neoclassicism. We will still see examples of such architecture, it is very restrained, there is practically no decor, these are just the signs of pre-war and wartime,” said a guide.
Judging by the guests' reviews, they will remember the route that passes through 15 historical locations for a long time.
“Speaking generally about Nur-Sultan, previously, Tselinograd, Astana, the city is always regarded as a new city, which was built 24 years ago. Most of the visitors do not know the old part of the city. People mostly walk on the left bank in a fashionable part, they are not familiar with the old one. And we decided to get acquinted,” opined Marat Khamidullin, a tourist from Russia.
Now, those who have been on such a tour can say exactly where, for example, in the 19th century the main city square was? What is so special about the project according to which the famous Tselinnikov Palace was built? And what structure of the Akmola fortress has been preserved to this day.
