From Tradition to Modernity: Historical and Cultural Heritage in the Formation of Modern Ornamental Identity in the Sustainable Architecture of Turkestan

In the architecture of Kazakhstan, ornament is not just a decorative element but a significant expressive tool that shapes a spatial identity, lending meaning and cultural depth to the architectural environment. The ornamentation is particularly significant in the sacred space of the city of Turkestan, which has become the spiritual and cultural centre of Kazakhstan in accordance with the law on granting special status (2025). The ornamentation contained in the structure of the Azret Sultan Historical and Cultural Reserve, which includes the mausoleum of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, acts as a semiotic element that carries spiritual and cultural meanings, not only following the canons of Islamic art, but also organically fitting into the local cultural tradition, forming a unique visual-sacred code that symbolises the identity of the region. The aim of the study is to analyse the results of the transformation and integration of ornamental heritage into the contemporary architectural environment of Turkestan. The following methods were used in this work: qualitative analysis of the visual, plastic and functional features of ornamental forms, comparative assessment of heritage and contemporary reforms, as well as semiotic examination of symbols and signs as a visual-semantic system in the context of Turkestan's cultural identity, and a review of the systematisation of ornaments by Kazakhstani scholars. Research into the reinterpretation of historical and cultural heritage, which ensures continuity and strengthens traditional memory, will determine the significance of contemporary ornamentation in shaping the visual identity of the city of Turkestan and reveal its potential for sustainable development.