Giant tent to be built in Astana {Kazakhstan} (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Natalia Antelava
BBC News, Astana

Kazakhstan has unveiled a new architectural project for its capital Astana - a giant transparent tent that will contain an indoor city.
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The tent is being made from special material that absorbs sunlight to create the effect of summer inside.
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The idea is to recreate summer, so that when the outside temperature is -30C, the residents of the Kazakh capital can play outdoor tennis, take boat rides or sip coffee on the pavement cafes.
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But the Astana skyline still looks more surreal than real - with its marble palaces, shining skyscrapers, metal structures and abstract statues, all surrounded by vast, snow covered emptiness.

Soon, rising above it all, will be the illuminated glass dome of the Khan Shatyry - an appropriate addition, it seems, to Astana's oil-money fuelled architectural extravaganza.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6165267.stm

Hmmmmm ... tinpot dictator with oil money? I'm just guessing.

[Wonk]

1. Kazakhstan greatest country in the world.

Kazakhstan greatest country in the world.
All other countries are run by little girls.
Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium.
Other countries have inferior potassium.

Kazakhstan home of Tinshein swimming pool.
It’s length thirty meter and width six meter.
Filtration system a marvel to behold.
It remove 80 percent of human solid waste.

Kazakhstan’s prostitutes cleanest in the region.
Except of course Turkmenistan’s.

[CJCRANE]

2. Cool...n/t

[valerief]

3. Gazowie! How very Jetson. nt