R&B and pop diva Whitney Houston continues her comeback with a great performance in Astana, Kazakhstan on July 6, 2008 at the Presidential Palace.   Her performance was in celebration of the city’s tenth birthday and President Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev’s 68th birthday.

[Nazarbayev] was elected in 1991 when Kazakhstan achieved independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Building work on his official residence, with a 43,916sq yd floor plan, began in September 2001 and took three years.

In design terms it appears to have drawn inspiration from eclectic sources – the White House and Senate in Washington, Istanbul’s Blue mosque and a hint of a Holiday Inn.

Towering over the surrounding flat and barren plain, the palace has two basement levels and five overground storeys topped by a blue-and-gold dome – the colour of the Kazakh flag – rising 260ft into the air.

The building is constructed from monolithic concrete blocks but the brilliant white exterior colour is from a cladding of Italian marble, which ranges from 8in to 16in thick.

The interior is no less lavish. As well as residential areas and offices, there are 13 large state rooms, including a 956sq yd ceremonial area, a library, a winter garden, the Solemn Hall, Gold Hall and the Halls of Extended Negotiations. These feature chandeliers, marble inlays and elaborate parquet flooring.

Source: The Wider View: Whitney’s palace performance as Kazakhstan’s capital city turns ten

Photo: Whitney Houston, May 8, 2008 at the Caudwell Children Legends Ball in London
We will update with Kazakhstan photos if/when available.

See also related posts:

• Photos: Whitney Houston Dazzles London at Caudwell Children Legends Ball (May 8, 2008)
• Whitney Houston Performs in Morocco (Video & Photos) 5-24-08

Via – That Grape Juice – Whitney Performs in Kazakhstan

Video: Whitney Houston Performs in Kazakhstan 7-6-08