For decades this prominent building stood as an unfinished steel frame exposed to the elements. When construction resumed, the architect had to amend the design to meet planning legislation while contractors were on site. It is the most sophisticated multifunctional building in Tashkent with offices, a conference hall, a medical centre, shops, restaurants and a winter garden. The facades are characteristic of Uzbek architecture, with powerful columns and a smooth plinth punctured by narrow windows. The roof is treated as a fifth facade to acknowledge the approach by air. White artificial stone cladding changes in appearance throughout the day, creating a monument to modern Tashkent that is known as the 'Snow Queen'.
Source:
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2011.
