Memorial compex

The ground floor is given over to a museum and memorial gallery designed to be a part of the Pantheon to honour the lives of distinguished people of Kazakhstan.  Upon entering the Pantheon visitors are able to walk around the upper ring of the ground floor and reflect upon lives of the distinguished people of Kazakhstan by viewing selected objects and statues that populate the circular memorial space.  A strong relationship between the mourned people and their beloved country is generated by placing these objects against uninterrupted views of the country – through the spiralling windows that populate the ground floor and form a direct engagement between the deceased and the stunning scenery of the surrounding area.

The journey through the building does not seek to enforce a predetermined route that people have to follow, the circular nature allows for people to make their own way through the space and explore all of the building in their own time.  Creating an informality to the space and a sense of comfort.

The museum and memorial gallery encircles the central commemorative courtyard, a quiet garden for reflection and contemplation, the enclosure of the space and the constant engagement of the courtyard from within the museum reinforces the underlying relationship between man and nature – something echoed within the spiralling form of the space.

 Visitors to the building descend from the ground floor space into the lower level burial areas via one of the four staircases that follow the curved form of the building, the number of staircases allows for the flexible use and circulation through the space.  Upon entering the lower level of the Pantheon, the immediate change in the nature of the space is apparent.  Moving from the well-lit and panoramic views of the gallery into the burial areas below, the monolithic and removal of strong decorative forms reflect the burial believes of Islamic culture.

The main focus to the lower level is the central burial area set within a perimeter ring of columns, this creates a shared resting place, the orientation of sarcophaguses can to positioned to suit which ever religion is relevant.  Given the majority of the population is Muslim, we would expect the most to be orientated towards Mecca, other religions, with other burial rites are all able to be accommodated within the communial area.   The symbology of this unified central burial chamber is reflective of the united national identity of the country, individual religions are respected and placed together in a humble resting place.

Around the perimeter of the lower level there are a series of private burial chambers that offer an alternative location to the central burial chamber.  Here the most distinguished families may chose to honour and lay to rest their deceased.  Each of the private chambers is connected to the main circular path via a small area that allows for candles and flowers to be laid to commemorate and pay respect to those that have past. The private burial chambers are located on the north side of the lower level of the Pantheon and as such are set into the ground.

Also in the lower level are located two areas able to hold religious ceremonies associated with the burial of people, one dedicated is Muslim’s – this prayer room is orientated south west towards Mecca, the other prayer room is a multi-faith facility and capable of hosting any other religions ceremonies.

In preparation for burial, there are also facilities will wash and shroud the body. Bathing the dead body is an essential ritual of the Islamic burial ritual and therefore an important part of The National Pantheon of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

As the Pantheon reveals itself to the south the landscape is scoped out to form a large ellipse that connects the ground floor level with the lower level.  This formalised piece of external landscape creates a cemetery for the building and in doing so provides yet further alternative burial options for the distinguished people of Kazakhstan.