Julian Bicknell Associates - Architecture of Fine Quality

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DOSTYK AVENUE, ALMATY, KHAZAKSTAN

This is a modest four bedroom family house in Almaty, one of the ancient cities on the Silk Road to China, developed during the 19th C as capital of Russian administered Kazakhstan. The house is in a gated estate in the new suburbs to the South of the city.

In plan and detail the house recalls ancient and neo-classical Greek prototypes. The principal rooms face an open garden on the North Side. The informal family rooms on the south side open onto a cloister-style courtyard enclosed by garages, a bathing suite, and barbeque. The interior accommodation is arranged around a double-height living space and gallery, opening onto a terrace overlooking the garden. The upper floors open onto extensive terraces at first floor.

The house is designed to deal with the extreme climatic conditions of central Asia and the risk of earthquakes, with a robust concrete frame and intensive insulation. The walls are clad in Italian limestone. The executive architects were Autorino Associati, Almaty.

Julian Bicknell & Associates is a London based architectural practice of thirty years standing, specialising in quality buildings, interiors and landscapes - mainly in classical or traditional style. The practice has worked for private clients and developers all over the UK and in Japan, Russia, the USA, Morocco, Germany and Kazakhstan. The work includes spacious country houses, luxury homes on the prestige estates at Wentworth and St. Georges Hill, museums, restaurants, theatres, schools, a golf club and modifications to important historic buildings. The design philosophy combines a deep sympathy for traditional design and building methods, with a full understanding of energy strategies and construction management. The practice works closely with other professionals and experienced craftsmen to achieve low-energy buildings of real quality within predetermined budgets.