Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea (대한건축학회논문집)

Architectural Institute of Korea (대한건축학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Urban Formation and Spatial Structure of City Center of Almaty, Kazakhstan

카자흐스탄 알마티 도시형성 및 구도심 공간구조에 관한 연구

  • Received : 2022.02.19
  • Accepted : 2023.03.31
  • Published : 2023.05.30
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the urban spatial structure of the old city center of Almaty in historical and social contexts, from the Verny period of imperial Russia, through the Alma-Ata period of the Soviet Union, to present-day Almaty. To accomplish this, the characteristics of the urban development process and the urban composition of each period were examined, followed by analyses of the changes in the central axis and public spaces of Almaty's central city area. Almaty developed from a military fortress and settlement to the capital of Kazakhstan from the Soviet era to the post-independence period. In the process of Almaty's growth, the Imperial Russia in the early stage, and after the Russian Revolution, the Soviet Union exerted an absolute political and economic influence. For this reason, the spatial structure of Almaty has a very strong character of egalitarianism and rationalism, which are the characteristics of national socialism and modern urban design. This means that the grid road system, functional urban zones, and residential areas with similar density have continued until the late 20th century. For these reasons, Almaty has a homogeneous spatial structure based on the grid road system, both regionally and locally. After independence, efforts were made to establish a new economic system and enhance the identity of the national identity by changing the urban structure from the socialist system of the Soviet era. To this end, changes were made in the functions and additions of some facilities, such as renaming of streets and changing of symbolic monuments; the urban spatial structure centered on the central axis remained strong. In particular, the ensemble of the central axis space of the downtown area built during the Soviet Republic era, which consists of public buildings and squares, still remains a representative urban landscape of Almaty.

Keywords

References

  1. Alexander, C. (2007). Soviet and post-soviet planning in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Critique of Anthropology, 27(2) SAGE Publications, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 11.
  2. Bater, J. (1980). The Soviet City, London, Edward Arnold
  3. Engel, B. (2022). The concept of the socialist city, plans and patterns of Soviet urbanism, Proceedings of the 19th International Planning History Society Conference, 665-668.
  4. Jaroslav, I., & Jiri, J.(ed.) (2017). Materializing Identities in Socialist and Post Socialist Cities, Karolinum Press, Prague, 19-23, 85-91.
  5. Jung, I. (2021). A Study on the design process and principles of the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea, 37(6), 105, 108.
  6. Kang, K. (1990). The influence of socialist urban planning on the urban form and structure of the Soviet Union, Journal of the Korean Geographical Society 25(1), 99-100, 107.
  7. Kapanov A. K., & Baimagambetov S. K. (1998). Almaty: Architecture and Urban Planning, 85 (Капанов А. К., & Баймагамбетов С. К., (1998). Алматы: архите ктура и градостроительство, 85.)
  8. Klets V.A. (2016). The concept of the spatial organization of the "Soviet capital": everything originates from Moscow, International Research Journal, 4(46) Part 7, 13, 15. (Клец В.А. (2016). Концепция пространс твенной организации "советской столицы": вс е берет начало из Москвы, Международный на учно-исследовательский журнал, 4(46) Часть 7, 13, 15.)
  9. Sit, V. (1996). Soviet influence on urban planning in Beijing, 1949-1991, The Town Planning Review, 67(4), Liverpool University Press, 464, 478-483. https://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.67.4.y02r48x8r267t7g3
  10. Zhanylsyn, T. (2002). Kazakhstan Almaty City Development Process and Urban Spatial Structure, Thesis, Chonnam National University, 17.