Esentai Offices, completed in 2025 inside the Esentai Apartments complex in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is a 984.91-square-meter workplace that rejects the standard corporate office. Line Arc designed the single-level plan under principal designer Ilnara Seitzhanova, making it one of the most distinctive workplaces in Almaty. Hospitality-style interiors, flexible coworking zones and regional craftsmanship shape every room.
Esentai offices almaty: a plan split between public and private
The floor plan divides into two distinct halves. The communal zone holds an entrance lobby, lounges, a central cafe with a back-of-house kitchen, and a 40-seat auditorium. It also includes modular conference rooms, a speaker tribune, recreation areas and a sleep capsule.
The private wing takes a different form. It contains scalable suites for two to 23 workstations, executive offices, print hubs and kitchenettes. Integrated indoor greenhouses and outdoor terraces border this wing.
For a closer look at how flexible layouts reshape the way people share a workplace, see ROOM’s Creative Spaces Rethink Workplace Dynamics, which pairs well with the modular suites described here.
Keeping ceiling heights while rebuilding the services
Before the team worked on finishes here, the design team selectively demolished dense overhead MEP infrastructure, meaning the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. It also re-engineered an existing water-based fire suppression network. The goal was to preserve ceiling heights throughout the plan.
Lighting by Aledo and Flua was paired with zoned HVAC distribution. Together, these systems maintain uniform air exchange and tailored illumination across the office.
Botanical color and contemporary Kazakh craft
The lounge takes its colors from botanical Italian wall coverings. The palette stays muted, built on terracotta, olive, pastel blue and sand. Vertical decorative plaster by Gris Design forms a textured perimeter around these tones.
Flooring follows a practical split. The main circulation routes use 1524×228 mm Enviro quartz-vinyl planks. Meeting rooms use acoustic carpeting by Bloq and Clerkenwell.
Kazakh references appear through contemporary craft rather than literal motifs. Local artisans hand-molded the ceramic sconces. The regional desk seating takes its silhouette from the traditional dombra and is upholstered in Italian textiles.
Two artworks complete the cultural layer. Laila Zharkyn created a felt wall installation, and Malik Mukanov contributed original tapestries. Each piece adds local material and maker credit without relying on folk imagery.
If the felt and tapestry pieces caught your eye, Hannah Beuchler’s Loom Bands Become Textural Artworks shows how everyday textile materials can take on painterly depth.
The office shows that thoughtful almaty office design can carry regional identity without costume. Its plan, services and materials work together, so the hospitality character never competes with the work it supports.
H/T designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
Who was the principal designer of the Esentai Offices in Almaty?
Ilnara Seitzhanova was the principal designer of the Esentai Offices, which Line Arc designed under her lead. The office was completed in 2025 inside the Esentai Apartments complex in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
How is the floor plan of the Esentai Offices divided?
The floor plan is split into a communal zone and a private wing. The communal zone holds an entrance lobby, lounges, a central cafe, a 40-seat auditorium, conference rooms, and a sleep capsule, while the private wing contains scalable suites, executive offices, print hubs, and kitchenettes.
What colors and materials are used in the Esentai Offices lounge?
The lounge takes its colors from botanical Italian wall coverings, with a muted palette built on terracotta, olive, pastel blue, and sand. Vertical decorative plaster by Gris Design forms a textured perimeter around these tones.
How does the Esentai Offices design reflect Kazakh culture?
Kazakh references appear through contemporary craft rather than literal motifs. Local artisans hand-molded the ceramic sconces, the regional desk seating takes its silhouette from the traditional dombra, and artworks by Laila Zharkyn and Malik Mukanov add local material and maker credit.
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