In one of the blocks of flats from the late 1950s in Almaty, Kazakhstan, typical of the architecture of that era, there is a flat that combines the discipline of modernist order with the sensitivity of an art collector. The design is the work of the GC Group studio led by Zarina Sultanova. In 53.5 square metres, they have managed to create a space in which works of art are an essential element.
The architects assumed that the flat should serve as a backdrop — not a neutral one, but a balanced one, based on subtle references to the architecture of the building. The walls were left almost completely free of decoration, allowing the paintings and objects brought from Europe, Canada, the United States and Central Asia to resonate in full scale. The only ornamental accent is a moulded strip running along the entire length of the flat. Its cross-section refers to the cornices of the 1950s, thanks to which the interior enters into a subtle dialogue with the original architecture.
Light has become one of the key tools for creating atmosphere. Chandeliers and wall lamps from the 1950s and 1960s, found at a flea market in Almaty, bring authenticity to the flat. Their presence is not a decorative measure, but a conscious choice that reinforces the narrative of the entire place. A similar role is played by the glass blocks framing the passage between the kitchen and the bathroom — a detail characteristic of the period in which the building was constructed.
The interior was not built exclusively from new elements. Some of the furniture inherited from the previous owner has been carefully renovated, allowing it to fit naturally into the new arrangement. Preserving the old elements is also a symbol of continuity. This approach to the project guided the architects from the very beginning. Nothing here is accidental, and every element has its justification.
The owner of the flat, a lawyer with international experience and a graduate of the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, brought a clear set of values to the project. Her sensitivity to proportions and details is combined with a need for order and conscious collecting. It is this balance — between an emotional relationship with art and an intellectual approach to space — that defines the character of the flat. It is restrained but not cold; orderly but not sterile; personal, yet devoid of literalism.
The result is a space that does not try to impress with its form. Its strength lies in its consistency and its ability to extract meaning from details.
design: sultanova_zarina_designer
photos: MilaLototskaya
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