Located in the heart of Almaty, Kazakhstan, the Esentai Apartments are part of a distinguished residential development designed by the globally renowned architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Characterized by its High-Tech architectural style—marked by sleek glass façades and modern structural elements—the building sets a high benchmark for contemporary luxury living in Central Asia.
This particular apartment, spanning 300 square meters on a high floor, was redesigned for a family of four. Though the clients have opted to remain private, their personal needs, lifestyle, and preferences were at the core of the project’s evolution. Initially, the brief was modest: refresh some of the interiors and upgrade the cooling system. But as conversations progressed, the scope expanded into a full-scale reconstruction, resulting in a complete spatial and aesthetic transformation.
The apartment features a one-level open plan layout with three bedrooms, four bathrooms (including a powder room and a spacious master bath), and an expansive living area connected to a sleek kitchen. To support both daily routines and social occasions, we added a reading zone overlooking the city and incorporated a generously sized laundry room—functional additions that blend seamlessly into the elegant setting. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the mountains on one side and the city on the other, reinforcing the importance of natural light in our design.
Material selection played a vital role in the project. In a glass-walled environment, many tones appeared altered under shifting daylight, which made selecting stable, timeless finishes essential. For instance, we tested over 15 wall color samples before settling on a tone that remained soft, warm, and luminous throughout the day. For the flooring, we sought a natural, neutral wood tone without red or grey undertones—eventually custom-developing a finish called Titanium Bluff, which resembled sand gently kissed by the sun.
Once the client shared their passion for natural stone, it became a defining feature of the project. After four months of sourcing, we curated a selection of eight different stones imported from Italy. Despite the challenges of international logistics, especially during a period of global disruption, the result was a richly layered palette that added tactile depth and elegance to the interiors.
The interplay of beige hues with timber accents became the project's visual foundation, softening the clean lines of the architecture while adding warmth and sophistication. The subtle use of color—including accents of golden yellow, a favorite of the client—further enlivened the space and brought a sense of personality.
Ultimately, the transformation of this Esentai apartment was not just about architectural precision or material richness—it was about creating a space that feels meaningful, personal, and timeless. A place where the family can live beautifully and comfortably, surrounded by an atmosphere that supports both everyday life and extraordinary moments.
Team:
Interior Designers: AKKA Interiors
Photographer: Mart Goossens
Materials Used:
Flooring: Titanium Buff, Coswick
Doors: Made to order carpentry, Valesko
Interior lighting: Lasvit, Cattelani and Smith, &Tradition, Sini & Nils, Italamp, Panzeri Murano
Interior furniture: Molteni & C, Classicon, Lema Furniture, Pianca, Porro, Cattelan, Domkapa, Caracole
