Rather than imposing itself on this remote terrain, the resort scatters a constellation of compact, sphere-fronted cabins across the landscape, each one placed with surgical intention over patches of degraded sand where vegetation has long struggled to take root. By positioning guest suites directly atop eroding sand depressions, the architects aim to arrest soil loss and give the steppe a chance to regenerate beneath and around the structures.
An artwork is not created when an artist finishes it. It is created when it's visible to an audience and when it becomes discourse. If there's no ecosystem, nothing works. Central Asia is in the midst of an unprecedented investment in such art infrastructure, including new permanent venues, purpose-built museums, and international biennials.
This dual ambition-questioning their own practice while contributing to a broader cultural discourse-frames each project as an evolving process, not a fixed outcome. The term "workshop" embedded in their name, New Almaty Architects Workshop, reflects this spirit of continuous testing and learning. Interiors become platforms for material research, atmospheric exploration, and critical self-evaluation. In a regional context where architectural discourse remains underrepresented internationally, their work emerges as a sustained effort to articulate identity through built experience.
Tenger City is an urban planning proposal by Sydney-based practice Squareone Atelier, awarded as a Top 3 Winner in the Hunnu City International Urban Planning Competition 2025. The project proposes a new satellite city located approximately 52 kilometers south of Ulaanbaatar, , with phased development planned between 2025 and 2045. The proposal forms part of Mongolia's broader Ulaanbaatar 2040 Masterplan and the national Vision 2050 framework, which aim to support decentralization, resilience, and long-term urban growth.
The extent of the violence used by the security forces against demonstrators in Iran has deeply shocked the population. Triggered by an economic crisis, mass protests broke out across the country at the end of December 2025. The authorities responded with temporary internet blackouts and resorted to violence to suppress the protests. According to official figures, 3,117 people were killed, including many security forces.
Perched high atop a dappled-colored horse at Alisal Ranch, I stroked the equine's coarse hair in an effort to bond before sauntering off to an authentic cowboy breakfast. I was with a group of like-minded women in search of a wellness weekend but we chose to trade our spa robes for cowgirl hats and forgo mani-pedis for dusty trail rides. This was not a typical dude ranch experience. It seamlessly blended nurturing self-care, enriching workshops, nourishing meals, and fostering friendships.
Announcing the decision on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamas Al Thani thanked Kazakhstan for its commitment to and development of winter sports. "Almaty is a city with deep connections to winter sports and we have very fond memories of when we last hosted the Asian Winter Games in 2011," he said at a press conference. "We have no doubt we will build on this legacy and deliver an unforgettable Games in 2029," Al Thani added.
Rising from the ground as a cultivated landscape of learning, the Uzbekistan Pavilion "Garden of Knowledge" at Expo 2025 Osaka translates national transformation into a spatial and material narrative.