As we continue to expand our presence across Central Asia, understanding the region’s built environment gives us valuable insight into its evolving cultural identity and urban future.

'From the steppe to the sky: Local expression in concrete power' is a new research publication by Alexander Aliev, Part I Architectural Assistant at Scott Brownrigg. Informed by a month-long journey across the region, the research explores how architecture has captured the ambitions, challenges and creativity of Central Asia’s changing cities.

Through a comparative study of key urban centres, Alex examines the legacy of Central Asian modernism and how Soviet-era architectural ambitions were reinterpreted through local traditions, materials and artistic expression. The result is a distinctive architectural language - one where concrete structures became more than symbols of power, but reflections of place, identity and cultural resilience.

Supported by photography, graphic analysis and collage, the publication explores the relationship between architecture, culture and context. From monumental civic buildings to everyday urban landscapes, it reveals how local influences shaped a modernist language that continues to define the character of the region.

Research is central to how we design. By listening, exploring and understanding the places we work in, we can create architecture that responds meaningfully to its surroundings and the communities it serves.

As Central Asia undergoes rapid transformation, this publication contributes to a deeper understanding of a region where history, culture and future ambitions meet.