Kazakhstan’s Iconic Yurt Goes Global with 2025 Architecture Award Win

A contemporary architectural project inspired by the traditional Kazakh yurt and developed in Almaty has won top honors in the Architectural Design category at the prestigious Design Educates Awards 2025.

The annual international competition recognizes architectural and design projects that combine visual excellence with educational and cultural value, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The Almaty-based project was singled out for its innovative approach to reimagining the Kazakh yurt through modern materials and sustainable design, while preserving the structure’s symbolic and practical roots.

“The yurt’s layout strategically distributes sleeping and working areas around a 25-square-meter perimeter, with a centralized zone for the kitchen and bathroom,” the jury noted on the award’s official website.

The design employs environmentally conscious materials, including laminated plywood with a basalt fiber insulation layer for the wall segments, contributing to both energy efficiency and structural integrity.