028. VIP Country Hotel
Project Team

Project Director: Alexey Oleshchenko

Concept Development: Client

Design Team Lead: Alexey Oleshchenko

Architects: Alexey Oleshchenko, Ekaterina Tsvetkova, Elizaveta Portnova

Structural Engineers: Maksim Royapu, Alexander Marinin


Tilda Publishing
VIP Country Hotel
Zhan-Sary Nature Reserve, Karaganda Region, Republic of Kazakhstan
Year: 2019
Context
The project is a remote country hotel designed to accommodate heads of state and high-ranking official delegations.
Located within the protected territory of the Zhan-Sary Nature Reserve, the complex was conceived as a secure, self-contained hospitality environment integrated into a sensitive natural landscape. The site’s remoteness, climatic conditions, and security requirements defined both architectural and logistical strategies.
The hotel operates within a closed territory and was designed to function entirely as a single consolidated architectural entity, without additional detached technical buildings on the site.


Design Approach
The architectural concept is based on an экологически ориентированная timber structural system using glued laminated construction timber arranged in a spatial frame configuration.
Key principles included:
  • Maximum environmental responsibility

  • Use of natural finishing materials

  • High structural expressiveness

  • Integration of all functions within a unified building volume

  • Advanced prefabrication and long-distance logistics

The primary load-bearing structure consists of a spatial glued laminated timber frame. Public interiors are defined by large-span timber trusses with a span of 28 meters, forming expansive column-free halls.
Thermal insulation was achieved using wood fiber insulation systems, supporting both energy efficiency and material sustainability.
A bespoke glazing system was individually developed for the project, ensuring high performance while preserving architectural transparency and structural clarity.


Spatial Organization
The complex has a total area of approximately 9,000 square meters and consolidates all hospitality and technical functions within a single architectural structure.
Main Building
  • Lobby and entrance group

  • Restaurant

  • Cinema hall

  • Smoking lounge

  • Several private meeting rooms

Residential Wing
  • 12 high-comfort guest suites

  • Integrated spa complex

All internal partitions were designed with enhanced acoustic performance to meet the privacy and security requirements of VIP-level hospitality.


Structural System
  • Primary structure: spatial glued laminated timber frame

  • Large-span timber trusses (28-meter span) over main public spaces

  • Wood fiber insulation

  • Lightweight acoustically enhanced internal partitions

All structural and architectural components were digitally fabricated using CNC machinery.
Timber elements were:
  • Precisely milled

  • Factory-finished and painted

  • Carefully packaged

  • Transported over 1,500 kilometers to the construction site

  • Assembled on site in near-finished condition

This prefabrication strategy significantly reduced on-site construction time while ensuring high precision and quality control.


Façades and Envelope
  • Glued laminated timber structural system

  • Custom-designed glazing assemblies

  • Natural material finishes

  • High-performance insulated envelope

The façade design balances structural rhythm with transparency, responding to both environmental conditions and the representational character of the complex.