The Aqorda — the White Horde — is the official residence and workplace of the President of Kazakhstan. Completed in 2004, it is a blue-and-white building topped by a 80-metre golden dome and spire, set in a wide formal forecourt on the central axis. The design references both the traditional white Kazakh yurt of the steppe khans and the neoclassical conventions of European presidential palaces.
The interior is closed to the general public, but the exterior plaza is open and the building is one of the most photographed landmarks in the country. It is best viewed from across the river, on the long axis from Bayterek, where the gold dome lines up with the surrounding ministries to form a single ceremonial vista. Security around the perimeter is significant; do not approach the gates or attempt photography close to the cordons.