The fact that numerous erected buildings in Ashgabat city have become award-winning architectural competitions held at the international level, serves as clear evidence of the huge progress achieved in the development of the Turkmen capital.
From far away you can see a monument in honour of the famous “Yanardag” horse and next to it is a foal depicted on the national emblem of the country, famous for its beauty, speed and our national pride, which means the continuation of the heritage located at the intersection of Kopetdag Avenue and N.Andalyp street.
The height of the “Arkadag“ monument, together with a stone pedestal in the form of a rock on Bagtyyarlyk street in Ashgabat city, is 21 metres, and the height of the statue is 6.20 metres. The monument “Arkadag” symbolizes that Turkmenistan is moving at great speed, as the birthplace of peace and happiness.
The monument represents hope for today and the future, through development with the speed of a fast horse and the love of the people for the hero Arkadag. This is a wonderful building, reviving the spiritual aspirations of the people in the art of sculpture and architecture.
The “Bagt Koshgi”, was designed to unite loving hearts and create new families. It is located in the southwestern part of the Turkmen capital, blending into the architectural ensemble of this part of the city, where comfortable residential buildings, the Constitution Monument, the Congress Palace, and a complex of administrative buildings have risen in recent years. From the hill on which the original building was built, a beautiful panorama opens up on the renewed Turkmen capital and the picturesque foothills of Kopetdag. Architectural image of the Palace is also beautiful. The building consists of eleven floors, and three steps, a total area of 38,000 square metres, each side of which is built in the form of an octagonal star. The cube, visible from the height of its large pillar, forms the upper step, and the 32-metre globe contains the symbol of the globe, where a map of Turkmenistan is drawn. Here, it denotes the unity of trust and the strength of family relationships. The palace is surrounded by fountains and in the evenings they are lit with colorful lights. In the multidisciplinary centre there are six halls intended for the solemn registration of weddings, each of the halls has its own name. In addition, there are 3 wedding halls for 500 and 1000 people. On the ninth floor there is the largest wedding hall – the “Golden” hall.
The most solemn landmark of the capital is the “Garashsyzlyk” (Independence) Monument, reaching a height of 118 metres. The monument is surrounded by sculptures of statesmen, philosophers and poets who lived their lives in the Middle Ages of Turkmenistan. Inside the building is a museum whose exhibits tell the history of Turkmenistan and the origins of independence. Near the building there is a beautiful park, decorated with exotic species of trees and fountains.
The monument of “Bitaraplyk” (Neutrality) – is a modern architectural marvel. This lighthouse, visible day and night, surprises with its unusual appearance and size. The idea of creating this amazing building is associated with a very important event for the country, held on December 12, 1995 in the city of New York. On that day, at a meeting of the UN General Assembly, representatives of 185 states unanimously voted for the adoption of a special resolution on the “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan”.
A monument to the Constitution, erected in honor of the 20th anniversary of the country’s fundamental law, located in the south of the Turkmen capital, is one of the main attractions of the city. Being a major historical museum, the architectural and art complex is considered not only a landmark of Ashgabat, but also a cultural and educational centre. This means the continuous connection of eras and generations, the unfading unity and solidarity of the Turkmen people, the constant pursuit of the great humane values of peace and creativity.
The “Yyldyz” construction is an embodiment of development and prosperity. The hotel was built at the intersection of Oguzhan and Bagtyarlyk streets. The height of the structure is 36 metres. Each of the five columns is decorated with Turkmen eight–pointed stars. The columns representing the crescent moon, join together into one structure. If you look at the monument from the side, you can see a crescent moon, a star above it, and in general, this design is a satellite flying into space.
On June 29, 2008, the grand opening of one of the beautiful buildings included in the Guinness World Records Book took place, located in the center of a major road junction at the entrance to International Airport of Ashgabat. This is a fountain complex with sculptures of “Oguzhan and his sons“. Ashgabat was added to this authoritative list as “Cities with the largest number of fountains pools in a public place”.
Among other accolades, on May 25, 2013, Ashgabat was listed in the Guinness World Records Book as the city with the highest concentration of white marble buildings in the world. The International Airport also received a Guinness Record in 2016. This complex covers an area of almost 1200 hectares and includes more than 100 structures. It has the largest image of a “göl” (the Turkmen national ornament) on the surface of the main passenger terminal.
The Water Sports Centre of the Olympic city of Ashgabat, hosts the image of the Ahalteke horse another Guinness World Record as the world’s largest architectural image of the horse. The sculpture of the “paradise” horse is testimony to the ancient traditions of the Turkmen people.
All in all these architectural marvels, along with many others, always make for an impressive visit and discovery of a city that so few from outside the region have had the chance to visit.
Text and photos byEMBASSY OF TURKMENISTAN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND