An urban event “Shaarkana” took place in Bishkek, dedicated to the theme “General Plan: how nomadic thinking shapes a living city.” Experts such as former chief architect of the capital Marat Joroev, urban architect Nurislam Myrzakanov, anthropology lecturer at the American University of Central Asia Emil Nasretdinov, and founder of the “Shaarkana” platform Atai Samybek uulu participated in the discussion.
For over six months, key points of the main urban planning document have been actively discussed in Bishkek. However, meeting participants noted that residents still have important questions.
Center densification and adobe belt
Marat Joroev noted that the development of Bishkek remains uneven.
“Kyrgyz people are nomads by nature, but now we have settled in the capital, and our task is to make it more livable. The city continues to be surrounded by an adobe belt, which was also present in the previous General Plan. Changes are minimal: everything is concentrated in the center, while the outskirts remain fragmented with low population density, although traffic jams still occur,” he added.
According to Joroev, the new General Plan is primarily focused on the construction of multi-story buildings rather than creating a comfortable urban environment.
The architect also emphasized that the southern part of the capital, which was previously considered a green recreational area, is now actively being built up. “Buildings are placed like elements of Tetris. This could lead to the formation of ghettos,” he expressed his concerns.
In addition, he commented on the idea of returning trams to the city, calling it controversial. In his opinion, the previously existing trolleybus system was abolished due to the wires, and returning to trams with their wires seems counterintuitive.
“It is only in Bishkek that it is possible to remove trolleybuses because of the wires and return to trams, which themselves require wires,” noted Marat Joroev.
General Plan or master plan?
The founder of “Shaarkana” Atai Samybek uulu pointed out that during discussions, residents were primarily interested in issues related to their personal homes and plots, rather than general strategies for the city’s development.Experts concluded that the format of the General Plan as a rigid document for long-term planning is becoming outdated. A more modern tool is the master plan — a flexible document for strategic spatial development that is easier to adapt to changes.
Emil Nasretdinov, anthropology lecturer at the American University of Central Asia, also expressed the opinion that both the General Plan and master planning methodologies have become outdated.
“Planning a city 25 years ahead in a rigid form is impractical. Perhaps it is worth abandoning the traditional approach to the General Plan and seeking our own solutions,” he believes.
Car-centric approach and “happiness index”
Urban architect Nurislam Myrzakanov emphasized that the density of development and its character directly affect the quality of life of city residents.
A car-centric city makes people unhappy.
Nurislam Myrzakanov
“Today, Bishkek is focused on cars. Designers demand parking spaces, which leads to increased stress and decreased physical activity,” he noted.
In his opinion, the city is becoming less convenient for pedestrians, while the ability to walk makes the environment more comfortable. He cited Istanbul as an example, where the city center is filled with public spaces and attractions accessible for walking.
The participants of the meeting came to a consensus that Bishkek needs a more adaptive and human-oriented approach to planning, with an emphasis not on square meters of built-up area, but on the quality of the urban environment and the well-being of residents.
