The
Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) has announced the
transformation of a 1912 industrial building in
Tashkent into the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), set to become the first permanent institution dedicated to
contemporary art and
research in
Central Asia. Designed by the
French architecture practice
Studio KO, led by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, the project integrates preservation of the city's
industrial heritage with a new cultural identity for the
historic site. The building, originally designed by Wilhelm Heizelmann, known for the Treasury Chamber, was constructed as a diesel station and depot for
Tashkent's first tram line. After decades of serving the city's electricity network, the structure was transferred to the Foundation in 2019 as part of
Uzbekistan's long-term cultural development strategy. Under the leadership of Gayane Umerova, the project now represents a major step in shaping a contemporary cultural infrastructure for the region.