In 2017, The Expo Fair will be held in Astana. The Energy Center that contains energy production, infrastructure control and administrative offices will run as Expo’s head office in a sense. The building already has an outer shell design while the spatial organization, roof connections, façade coordination and interior design are undertaken by MDArch Architecture. The building covers a closed area of 27.000 square meters and MDArch Architecture planned around 16.000 square meters of common space which include entrance lobbies, office spaces, guest halls, conference venue and energy production control sections. The aim is to emphasize the central building and make its relation with the energy perceivable via the interior design. Digitally transformable screens communicating energy issues are located on surfaces that are fixed with a minimum connection to the existing structure and the shell. The minimum engagement of the new surfaces with the existing structure is a frequently used connection method that MDArch Architecture prefers also in other projects. To provide a sense of belonging with the space, natural wooden surfaces are used with bright and smooth wide plates that are perforated with natural textures in the building that will serve 750 working people. A gallery, consisting of a wide winter garden that is surrounded by office spaces is welcoming people, while the natural light leaking from the top provides a relation between the outer weather conditions. The section that consists of VIP spaces is designed as a cantilever structure over the power distribution unit that distributes the electricity derived from the photovoltaic panels, all over the EXPO site. The building has all the precautions related with alternative energy production and sustainability, in accordance with its main function.
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