Shatyr

Shatyr Entertainment Center, commonly known as Shatyr, is a large tent-shaped shopping and entertainment complex in Astana, Kazakhstan. The name Shatyr comes from the Kazakh word for tent. Designed by Foster + Partners led by architect Norman Foster, the project was completed in 2010 and has become a prominent landmark within the city’s evolving skyline.

The structure features a circular base with a steel frame supporting a transparent ETFE membrane roof that forms a tent-like envelope rising to roughly 90 to 100 meters in height. The membrane and the surrounding enclosure are engineered to admit daylight while providing climate control, enabling a comfortable indoor environment throughout the year.

Inside, Shatyr houses a shopping mall, restaurants, cinemas, and entertainment facilities, including an indoor park and other leisure venues. The complex is part of Astana’s broader urban development strategy to create high-profile public spaces and showcase contemporary Kazakh architecture and engineering.

Shatyr has drawn attention for its engineering ingenuity and distinctive silhouette, illustrating the use of lightweight membrane technology in a major urban context. It remains a notable example of contemporary architectural ambition in Kazakhstan and a focal point of the capital’s public life.