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Architect’s Sketchbook, Almaty (2026)

21/02/2023

Elvira Bakubayeva & Aisulu Uali, partners, friends and co-founders of NAAW, invite you to catch a glimpse into their daily studio routine.

Photographer:

02/02/2023

📌VOTE LINK in bio!

Dear friends,

We have great news. NAAW bureau's project Julius Cafe has been nominated for the annual award of the most influential architectural platform in the world ArchDaily Building of the Year Awards 2023 in the Hospitality category.

The Julius Cafe project is the only project from Kazakhstan to be nominated this year. This is an important precedent for the international exposure of Kazakhstani design and architecture.

Please support the NAAW office by voting at the link below. A quick registration will be required before voting.

Thank you so much for your time!

07/01/2023

.naaw:
“Last year we were approached by with the task of doing a conceptual project for second vintage clothing store.

We must say that we love what this team is doing. Not only are they running a responsible, eco-friendly and sustainable business, but they do it incredibly beautifully.
Of course, we were excited to take the job.

The ideas behind the project are very easy to read for those who are familiar with the aesthetics of Asay Jurek - we tried to transfer it to the space, making the most of its pleasant features, such as high ceilings and large windows. To enhance the effect of such a space, the main entrance is deliberately turned into a tunnel, and the ceiling is imitated with skylights inspired by iconic modernist buildings.

The team of practically did the construction themselves, sticking to the concept as closely as possible, but still the project from paper to reality has undergone some changes - such as the reception desk and some pieces of furniture.

We suggest you take a look at the visualization and then visit the new bright and spacious Asay Jurek ❤️🔥.

-
Year: 2022
Use: vintage store
Status: built project
Our work: conceptual design
Architects: , , “

07/01/2023

Last year we were approached by with the task of doing a conceptual project for second vintage clothing store.

We really love what these team is doing. Not only are they running a responsible, eco-friendly and sustainable business, but they do it incredibly beautifully.

Of course, we were excited to take the job.

The ideas behind the project are very easy to read for those who are familiar with the aesthetics of - we tried to transfer it to the space, making the most of its pleasant features, such as high ceilings and large windows. To enhance the effect of such a space, the main entrance is deliberately turned into a tunnel, and the ceiling is imitated with skylights inspired by iconic modernist buildings.

The team practically did the construction themselves, sticking to the concept as closely as possible, but still the project from paper to reality has undergone some changes - such as the reception desk and some pieces of furniture.

We suggest you take a look at the visualization and then visit the new bright and spacious Asay Jurek ❤️🔥.

-
Year: 2022
Use: retail
Our work: concept
Status: built project
Architects: , ,

17/10/2022

3/3: details

Apartment house in Almaty

Year: 2022
Stage: working project in process
Client:
Architects: ,
Landscape architect:

Few months ago we developed a conceptual design for an apartment building in Almaty.
Located in a residential neighborhood, it envisions a quiet, secluded lifestyle for families.

The various constraints of the site inspired an S-shaped building with two half courtyards and stepped facades, which allowed the rather large mass of the building to be less monolithic and commensurate with the human scale.
The first floor is finished in clinker brick, which at the entrances to the entrances passes into a masonry backsplash. The second and third floors are finished with stucco to match the brick. The fourth attic floor is finished in galvanized steel to visually lighten the upper part of the building.The windows are marked with wooden jambs, the open balconies are fenced with metal mesh.

To balance with the straight, airtight outlines of the building, the landscaping concept is built on organic lines and forms. The courtyards feature canopies and rusted metal flowerbeds to play up the
brick color. The canopies are a small tribute to the iconic Serpentine Gallery Pavilion by SANAA.

The project is in the richness stage of the working paperwork.

17/10/2022

2/3: facades

Apartment house in Almaty

Year: 2022
Stage: working project in process
Client:
Architects: ,
Landscape architect:

Few months ago we developed a conceptual design for an apartment building in Almaty.
Located in a residential neighborhood, it envisions a quiet, secluded lifestyle for families.

The various constraints of the site inspired an S-shaped building with two half courtyards and stepped facades, which allowed the rather large mass of the building to be less monolithic and commensurate with the human scale.
The first floor is finished in clinker brick, which at the entrances to the entrances passes into a masonry backsplash. The second and third floors are finished with stucco to match the brick. The fourth attic floor is finished in galvanized steel to visually lighten the upper part of the building.The windows are marked with wooden jambs, the open balconies are fenced with metal mesh.

To balance with the straight, airtight outlines of the building, the landscaping concept is built on organic lines and forms. The courtyards feature canopies and rusted metal flowerbeds to play up the
brick color. The canopies are a small tribute to the iconic Serpentine Gallery Pavilion by SANAA.

The project is in the richness stage of the working paperwork.

12/10/2022

Publication of Views 3/3

Project: NOTES
Use: HoReCa
Location: Almaty
Year: 2021
Stage: Concept

…
We worked on this project last November, when Aisulu and I spent three weeks on author's supervision in a cozy Normandy town with occasional trips to Deauville for oysters and to Paris for museums and bookstores. Vika was in touch with us remotely and by tradition, not without a number of sleepless nights on the Zoom calls.

According to the brief, the restaurant consists of two parts, which can be divided along many lines - front and deep; loud and quiet; family and business; coffee and wine. Physically, the space is divided by a spacious kitchen, which from the second room is viewable through tinted glass.
The challenge for us was the narrow, long hallway that formed between the areas, with access to the kitchen and bathrooms. We decided that if the problem couldn't be solved, we needed to head it off. And, inspired by a trip to the Tokyo Palais, we turned the corridor practically into an art object - a portal enticing the visitor with a mirrored arcade gallery and vaults.

Another small feature - we reflected the name “Notes” in the wall, on which each visitor can leave his note, drawing or wish to the restaurant. (We got this idea from Les Franciscaines, the cultural center of Deville ;). And in the children's area above the sofa there are frames for the drawings of young visitors.

Another little nuance is that the long copper divider lamp on the far room co-working table divides into several smaller ones for evening seating, turning the co-working table into a table for celebrations.

The result is a very architectural design where each decision has several justifications. Nevertheless, it seems to us quite sophisticated and cozy minimalist, which has already become our handwriting.

P.S. Unfortunately, the project has been frozen, due to changes in our clients' plans. But we still hope to implement it in the future.

Architects:

12/10/2022

Project: NOTES
Use: HoReCa
Location: Almaty
Year: 2021
Stage: Concept

Publication of Views 2/3
…
We worked on this project last November, when Aisulu and I spent three weeks on author's supervision in a cozy Normandy town with occasional trips to Deauville for oysters and to Paris for museums and bookstores. Vika was in touch with us remotely and by tradition, not without a number of sleepless nights on the Zoom calls.

According to the brief, the restaurant consists of two parts, which can be divided along many lines - front and deep; loud and quiet; family and business; coffee and wine. Physically, the space is divided by a spacious kitchen, which from the second room is viewable through tinted glass.
The challenge for us was the narrow, long hallway that formed between the areas, with access to the kitchen and bathrooms. We decided that if the problem couldn't be solved, we needed to head it off. And, inspired by a trip to the Tokyo Palais, we turned the corridor practically into an art object - a portal enticing the visitor with a mirrored arcade gallery and vaults.

Another small feature - we reflected the name “Notes” in the wall, on which each visitor can leave his note, drawing or wish to the restaurant. (We got this idea from Les Franciscaines, the cultural center of Deville ;). And in the children's area above the sofa there are frames for the drawings of young visitors.

Another little nuance is that the long copper divider lamp on the far room co-working table divides into several smaller ones for evening seating, turning the co-working table into a table for celebrations.

The result is a very architectural design where each decision has several justifications. Nevertheless, it seems to us quite sophisticated and cozy minimalist, which has already become our handwriting.

P.S. Unfortunately, the project has been frozen, due to changes in our clients' plans. But we still hope to implement it in the future.

Architects:

12/10/2022

Publication of Views 1/3

Project: NOTES
Use: HoReCa
Location: Almaty
Year: 2021
Stage: Concept

…
We worked on this project last November, when Aisulu and I spent three weeks on author's supervision in a cozy Normandy town with occasional trips to Deauville for oysters and to Paris for museums and bookstores. Vika was in touch with us remotely and by tradition, not without a number of sleepless nights on the Zoom calls.

According to the brief, the restaurant consists of two parts, which can be divided along many lines - front and deep; loud and quiet; family and business; coffee and wine. Physically, the space is divided by a spacious kitchen, which from the second room is viewable through tinted glass.
The challenge for us was the narrow, long hallway that formed between the areas, with access to the kitchen and bathrooms. We decided that if the problem couldn't be solved, we needed to head it off. And, inspired by a trip to the Tokyo Palais, we turned the corridor practically into an art object - a portal enticing the visitor with a mirrored arcade gallery and vaults.

Another small feature - we reflected the name “Notes” in the wall, on which each visitor can leave his note, drawing or wish to the restaurant. (We got this idea from Les Franciscaines, the cultural center of Deville ;). And in the children's area above the sofa there are frames for the drawings of young visitors.

Another little nuance is that the long copper divider lamp on the far room co-working table divides into several smaller ones for evening seating, turning the co-working table into a table for celebrations.

The result is a very architectural design where each decision has several justifications. Nevertheless, it seems to us quite sophisticated and cozy minimalist, which has already become our handwriting.

P.S. Unfortunately, the project has been frozen, due to changes in our clients' plans. But we still hope to implement it in the future.

Architects:

30/05/2022

Today, as we celebrate birthday of Aisulu Uali, chief architect and cofounder of NAAW, we want to introduce our readers a little closer to her.
In our profession most of the time it is almost impossible to sleep peacefully, except on rare occasions. For example, when you know that Aisulu is in charge of a project. There is no assignment of such complexity that she will not complete on time and with more detail in the drawings than contractors will ever be able to read.
She can always be approached with any difficult question and is likely to know the answer. And if she doesn't, she will, you can be sure she will.
She's not only a talented architect, but also a beautiful, generous, kind and very interesting person whom we happy to consider a friend.
Aisulu is also working as a mother of two daughters, Sarah and Sophia (very architecturally-symmetrical in age). She enjoys surfing, snowboarding, Wes Anderson films and is a devotee of fine gastronomy (and good wine, for sure).

We wish Aisulu a year full of adventure, achievement, love and harmony within. We love you very much!

21/05/2022

Use: retail
Area: ~32 sq.m
Location: Almaty
Year: 2022
Status: built

Today, .kz celebrates the re-opening of their flagship boutique in Almaty with a new interior design created by our team.

Our favorite but also most challenging aspect of this project was the sculptural curvy shaped centerpiece, which is both visually appealing and fully functional for display and storage purposes as well serving as a spot for having a conversation with the shop’s clients. Plus, the centerpiece also helps direct smooth circulation of air along the shelving that envelops the room.

Team:

Architect’s Sketchbook

21/02/2023

02/02/2023

07/01/2023

07/01/2023

17/10/2022

17/10/2022

12/10/2022

12/10/2022

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30/05/2022

21/05/2022

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