The Peace Street

In the 1960s, the number of Tselinograd residents increased, necessitating urgent redevelopment of town blocks, often resulting in new construction. Peace Street, formerly a northern pasture, was the first area to undergo transformation, marking the beginning of Akmolinsk's change into Tselinograd. Previously, the area was prone to flooding during bad weather. Standard five-storeyed buildings soon became common, with Leningrad builders introducing their own project—houses without balconies. During this period, the profession of builder became very popular, second only to railway workers. Tselinograd resembled a large construction site, evolving from cob to large-panel houses. 29 Moscow building plants were involved in this transformation. The city developed into a model town reflecting Soviet town-planning principles, with precise functional zoning. This lack of a stable central area and unrestricted space for architectural projects were among the reasons for the capital's shift here. For more information, see Urban Planning.