Almaty, October 26, 2025. The 2nd Central Asian Forum of Architects and Designers (CAFAD 2025) was held at the InterContinental Almaty Hotel from October 23 to October 25, 2025. The forum, which was first held in Bishkek in 2023, was also aimed at removing barriers and accelerating the development of the architectural and construction industry in the region, exchanging experiences and establishing business contacts between participants. The event aroused the interest of the design and development communities, relevant authorities, investors and representatives of the construction business of the countries of the region.
Organizers and objectives of the forum
The organizers of CAFAD 2025 were The National Association of Designers of the Republic of Kazakhstan (e.g. RK), the international company Berall and the Association of Designers of the Moscow region (APMO). The Forum was held with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan and The Union of Architects of Kazakhstan, which gave a high status and emphasized the importance of CAFAD for the industry.
The main purpose of the forum is to create a platform for communication between all actors of urban development, increase the level of competence of specialists involved in the development of cities and territories, and develop recommendations that can influence the development of the construction industry in Kazakhstan and Central Asia as a whole.
The Russian side was represented at the forum by First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Architecture and Urban Planning – the chief architect Alexandra Kuzmina of the Moscow Region, the Association of Designers of the Moscow Region represented by Ilya Mashkov, Chairman of the Board, who acted as one of the co-organizers, and the heads of its member organizations: Totan Kuzembaev (TOTAN Architectural Bureau), Stanislav Kulish (LABVA PRO), Dmitry Gridnev (CJSC NII IGSP), Anton Nadtochim and Vera Butko (ATRIUM Architectural Bureau), Almaz Shakirov (ATP TLP architects and Engineers), as well as industry partners: Facade Union, School of Developer.
Commenting on the forum and its prospects, Ilya Mashkov, Chairman of the APMO Management Board, notes: “The Forum has already established itself among industry professionals in the Central Asian region, as well as Russia, China and a number of other countries. The results of the forum were presented at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation dedicated to the development of the construction industry, and it was also announced that the 3rd forum would be held in Uzbekistan and the possibility of organizing the 4th in Azerbaijan.”
Business program and key sessions
The CAFAD 2025 business program included more than 11 sessions divided into two parallel tracks. Track 1 consisted of strategic panel discussions, track 2 was of an applied, practical nature – workshops and master classes based on real-world cases, and theoretical – thanks to lectures by architects engaged in research at universities. The forum was attended by over 200 delegates and 50 distinguished speakers from different countries.
Technological innovations and research
Digitalization of the industry has become the most important topic of CAFAD 2025. Many presentations were devoted to Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies, artificial intelligence and the accompanying digital ecosystem. According to representatives of SD Soft, the advantages of BIM for construction are obvious, and the transition to information modeling in Kazakhstan is already inevitable. Within the framework of the forum, the results of a national study on the level of BIM implementation among design organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan (conducted by, for example, Kazakhstan in 2024): The survey showed a steady increase in the use of BIM, although organizational and personnel barriers to the digital transformation of the industry still remain. Autodesk presented the latest solutions for integrating AI and BIM platforms, as well as the Design & Make 2025 analytical report, according to which more than 50% of the return on investment of most companies is achieved precisely through digitalization. This confirms that relying on BIM technologies and related tools brings real returns and increases the effectiveness of projects.
Sessions on the use of artificial intelligence aroused no less interest. Practical cases demonstrated the work of neural networks in generating architectural concepts, facade design, and optimizing planning solutions. It is noted that powerful generative models are able to create a huge number of architectural solutions in a short time, but at the same time require professional control: only a human architect is able to make sense and take into account the context, since “AI can generate, but cannot understand” the ideas and values underlying the project. The forum participants discussed issues of copyright, ethics, and “digital hygiene” when using AI in design, as well as the prospects for using chatbots and neural network assistants to speed up routine tasks for designers.
Special attention was paid to innovations in the field of facade solutions. Experts from international companies, including NorthGlass, Kuraray, Alutech, Russian Baustructure presented modern developments in the field of facade glazing, high-strength structures, including 3D, energy-efficient window systems. Specialists from VEKA Rus and Deko Tech companies shared their experience in implementing projects in Kazakhstan, focusing on the need to update the regulatory framework. In particular, the contradictions in the current standards for windows and facades and related technical problems are indicated, which the industry will have to jointly find a solution to. The presentations of the technology partners demonstrated that the synergy of high-quality materials and proper design makes it possible to create safe, energy-efficient and aesthetic facades that meet the climatic conditions of the region.
International and regional experts
Experts from Kazakhstan, Central Asian countries, as well as from Russia, China, Germany, Japan, Italy, the USA and other countries spoke at the CAFAD 2025 forum. The speakers brought together representatives of government, business, leading architectural firms and the scientific community. International expertise was brought in, in particular, by Evgenia Pozigun, senior associate partner of the famous bureau. Zaha Hadid Architects (Shanghai), renowned Russian architect Totan Kuzembayev, founders of the PINAR consulting company Alfiya Gibadulina and Natalia Balukhina (Italy–UAE), Professor Yang Jian (Shanghai Jiaotong University) and other world-class specialists. Authorities and regulators Kazakhstan was represented by Kuandyk Kazhkenov, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Turylbek Musabayev, Head of the State Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of Almaty and relevant ministries of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstani experts, led by the Executive Director, for example RK Kadisha Bekkuliyeva, Chief Specialist of the KAZGOR Design Academy Almat Zhamankulov, as well as the heads of large design organizations, presented local experience and priorities for the development of the industry. This combination of geography and professional profiles of the speakers ensured a comprehensive exchange of knowledge, from the world’s leading architectural trends to the specifics of regional practices.
Partners and sponsors of the forum
The CAFAD Almaty 2025 Forum was organized with the active support of industrial partners and sponsors. The general partners were companies providing advanced technologies and materials for construction, including: Kuraray (Trosifol), VEKA Rus, NorthGlass, Alutech, Deko Tech and KnaufCeilings. The industry partners of the forum were QAZPRPERTY, Facade Union, PINAR consulting, School of Developer, Basiredesign.
Contribution of the event to the development of the industry
The second Central Asian Forum of Architects and Designers in Almaty has become a significant step in consolidating the professional community of the region. During the three days of the event, participants had a unique opportunity to directly exchange experiences with colleagues from different countries, learn about best practices and technologies, and establish new business contacts for future projects. Representatives of development companies, in particular BI Development and Kusto Group, participated in the forum. (Kazakhstan), Murad Buildings (Uzbekistan), Elit House (Kyrgyzstan) It was noted that the plenary discussions, which touched upon issues of modern urban planning and urban studies, master classes and lectures within the framework of the Developer’s Day CAFAD 2025 will help to orient new projects towards the principles of sustainability and innovation, accelerate the implementation of BIM technologies, and improve the quality of design. The Forum laid the foundation for further dialogue between professionals, business and government, which will contribute to the improvement of the regulatory framework and the development of the architectural and construction industry in Central Asia at a higher quality level.
Conclusion and acknowledgements
The organizers of CAFAD Almaty 2025 would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the speakers and delegates of the forum for their active participation and valuable contribution to the discussions. Special thanks are addressed to the partners and sponsors of the event — their support and innovative solutions have become a key factor in the success of the forum. Thanks to the joint efforts of all participants, CAFAD 2025 has achieved its goal, becoming an effective platform for the exchange of experience and knowledge. The results of the forum will contribute to the further development of the professional community of architects and designers and the introduction of the best international practices in the construction industry of Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region as a whole. The organizers intend to continue this tradition and invite all interested specialists to participate in CAFAD 2026, which will be held in Tashkent.
Follow the announcements on the forum’s website. maqf-dpa.com
Photo by Altai Oskonov
