Arbat Töbeler Park occupies 4.89 hectares in the Al-Farabi district of central Shymkent, between Respublika Avenue and Askarov Street, next to the city’s pedestrian Arbat. The project reconstructs an existing park surrounded by housing, schools and sports grounds, and turns it into an everyday public space for the neighbouring blocks and the city centre. The park opened in June 2026.

 The park is treated as part of the city’s pedestrian network rather than an isolated recreation area. Eight entrances make it possible to walk through the site on everyday routes, and the main entrance was moved to the corner of Respublika Avenue and Beibitshilik Street, next to the nearest public transport stop.

 A landscape and water axis. Instead of a rigid central axis, the plan is organised along a sequence of water features that guide visitors through the park. An acoustic alley with a murmuring waterfall leads into the site; an interactive water square lets people step right up to the water; a circular pergola releases thin jets that form a translucent “rain curtain” around a quiet seating area. The sequence ends at a 2,900 m² pond with a timber pier and planted, natural-looking banks.

 Quiet and active zones. A large quiet zone combines lounge areas with hammocks and loungers, chess tables and an arboretum with swings, while a 590-metre running track passes under the shade of mature trees. Active uses are grouped elsewhere: a green labyrinth, an all-season ice rink, a children’s playground organised by age group with sculpted hills and a water play area, and a space for teenagers and adults to meet. An open amphitheatre for 175 people hosts concerts, lectures, film screenings and talks; on ordinary days its steps work as seating, shaded by trees planted between the rows.

 Landscape. Sculpted landforms create soft zoning, viewpoints and new routes across an otherwise flat site. 378 trees, 7,578 shrubs and 6,570 m² of perennials and grasses were planted, including small-leaved lime, pleached oriental plane and pine, bringing the green area of the park to 24,100 m².

 PrivateHouse Architectural Bureau developed the master plan and landscape architecture of the park.

Project page: https://privatehouse.kz/ph-project/project-park-arbat-tobeler/