A new cultural hub for Bishkek: Abdraev Concert Hall and Music School
In 2025, EAA’s latest project Abdraev Concert Hall and Music School was officially announced by the Aga Khan Development Network and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture as a collective initiative. Planned to be built in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, the project is set to become a significant cultural hub for the city. The center will house a 700-seat Main Concert Hall, a 200-seat Auditorium, additional performance spaces, foyers, exhibition halls, various communal areas, and educational facilities, making it a key gathering point.
Located within the Abdraev Music School campus, the new building is designed with a massing approach that harmonizes the urban alignment of the existing architectural fabric in this part of the city with the spatial traces of the older structures on the campus. The exterior shell, conceived as a secondary façade-envelope, is made of perforated metal, emphasizing the building’s mass during the day. While at night, it dissolves as the interior lights illuminate, transforming the structure into a glowing lantern when viewed from the outside.
Designed to act as a cultural generator for Bishkek, the building is also expected to leave a lasting mark on the city’s architectural identity.
