Astana: The world's weirdest capital city

Astana: The world's weirdest capital city

6 Sept, 2013 | From Anatoliy Remnev of Kazakhstan

CNN defines Astana as the world's weirdest city. It reported that "Astana became the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997. Much of its modern architecture is striking in its scale and design, especially in contrast to the vast, open steppes that surround it.

The city's futuristic design shows Kazakhstan's ambition and desire to distance itself from the Soviet legacy that has marred many of the surrounding Central Asian nations. As Astana is positioning itself as the center of Eurasia, a place where East meets West, a mixture of styles is quite appropriate, notes Serik Rustambekov - a local architect from Kazakhstan"