For Kazakhstan to compete in the global architectural market, the country needs to modernize its existing regulations and adopt international best practices. Nurlan Kamitov, a prominent Kazakh architect, shared this view at Design Summit 2026, currently taking place in Almaty.
“The key question is whether our regulatory framework and construction standards are prepared for the future. Today, we live in a completely different world — with new realities and new needs,” Nurlan Kamitov said during the panel discussion “Projects Shaping the City.”
The discussion also brought together Kazakh investors and business leaders Kairat Boranbayev, Murat Utemisov, Anatoly Pobiyakho, Gozza Oligova, as well as the session moderator, prominent media executive Armanzhan Baitassov.
Kamitov noted that businesses are constantly monitoring global trends, studying international best practices and looking for ways to implement them locally. The question, however, is whether cities themselves are ready to respond to these ambitions.
“A significant part of this work needs to happen within the cities themselves and at the national level — by creating a framework and rules that reflect the needs of modern cities and the most advanced technologies,” the architect emphasized.
According to Kamitov, this remains a major challenge today. Modern cities cannot be developed and investments cannot be made effectively while relying on outdated regulations. The industry needs to move forward and operate according to new standards.
“As a rule, business moves and thinks much faster than regulatory frameworks and construction standards. Finding the right balance between the interests of both sides is one of the key challenges facing us as architects. Today, for example, we are paying significant attention to incorporating climate change considerations into development regulations. We are actively working with the Ministry to modernize the rules and bring them in line with international standards. Foreign architects coming to Kazakhstan sometimes find our regulations difficult to understand because they are very different from what they are accustomed to,” Nurlan Kamitov said.
The architect also emphasized that, in everyday discussions with investors, it is essential to strike a balance between financial viability, architectural identity and the comfort of city residents. At the same time, the quality of the built environment should always remain a priority.
Design Summit 2026 brought together leading Kazakh professionals in design, architecture and real estate to discuss current market trends and the future development of the industry.
Nurlan Kamitov is the Founder and Chief Architect of INK Architects, one of Kazakhstan’s leading full-cycle architectural and design practices. He is also an Honorary Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), as well as an Academician and Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Architecture.
Source: Standard.kz
