Architect Nurlan Kamitov has become the first Kazakhstani to be awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

RIBA is the professional organization for British architects. Its current membership numbers 44,000. RIBA membership is a mark of quality, a guarantee of security, and a tool for the development of contemporary British architectural thought, which has a significant influence on global architecture.

Nurlan Kamitov is the founder of INK Architects, established in 2004. The firm employs over 70 people in two offices: Almaty and Astana. The firm boasts BREEAM and LEED-certified architects. Over the course of its history, INK Architects has designed over 5 million square meters of residential and commercial construction, as well as public interiors. The firm's portfolio includes the interior design project for the five-star Hilton Astana hotel. In Astana, the company also designed the Expo Boulevard residential complex, the Aura business center, the Ray Residence residential complex, the Arnau Premium residential complex, the Sensata business center, the Crocus City residential complex, the Dream City residential complex, the BI City Seoul and Tokyo residential complexes, and Central Park, and in Almaty – Central Avenue, Art Residence, and Gagarin Park.

"RIBA membership offers significant opportunities and benefits. It's not only a guarantee of the quality of Nurlan Kamitov's work, but also the opportunity to work internationally—in the UK, the EU, and other countries—and participate in international competitions and projects that are only open to a select group of architects. Admission to RIBA membership is a significant recognition of one's work and proof of the level of Kazakhstani design, which is on par with recognized global standards," notes a statement released by INK Architects.

RIBA organizes various competitions and awards the most outstanding international projects. Its most renowned awards include the British Stirling Prize for excellence in architecture and the Royal Gold Medal, the highest architectural honor. This premier British award is presented to an architect or group of architects for outstanding achievement and significant influence on the development of architecture. It has been awarded by RIBA for a century and a half, and is a coveted prize for many professionals.

Source: Vlast