Address Signage for the Almaty Design Code
Objective – creating a unified, modernly designed system of address signage that will enhance navigation convenience for city residents and visitors, highlight the architectural identity of the streets, and form a harmonious visual environment.
The existing system of address signs in many city districts is outdated and fails to meet modern standards for readability, uniformity, and aesthetics. The variety of forms, fonts, and materials complicates wayfinding, especially for tourists and new residents.
While designing the signs I focused on accessibility: fonts and contrast were chosen to ensure information remains legible for people with various degrees visual impairment. The placement of signs was strategically planned to ensure clear visibility and readability for both pedestrians and drivers.

The lancet arch shape is a nod to characteristic elements of the city's architectural identity: arched openings, facade lines, and decorative details. This not only gives the signage a unique character but also allows it to seamlessly integrate into the existing urban aesthetic, complementing and enhancing the city's visual image.
A clear structural framework for the address signs was developed to ensure readability, intuitive perception, and uniformity across all city districts. This framework dictates the optimal arrangement of elements — the house number, street name, and any additional information fields. The dimensions and proportions were carefully calibrated to strike a balance between functionality and aesthetics, while also guaranteeing clear legibility of information both from a distance and while in motion.
In cases where a building address includes a building section or block, this information is placed in the lower part of the sign. This solution preserves the visual hierarchy of elements, avoids clutter in the main field, and ensures the additional information is immediately legible. This simplifies navigation for both pedestrians and drivers, helping them orient themselves quickly.
A consolidated sign format, developed for single-family houses, features the street name and house number on a single placard. This solution makes the structure more compact, saves space on the facade, and eases information perception. This is an optimal solution for this housing type, since maintaining a clean aesthetic and architectural coherence are top priorities.
The implementation of the address signage project has provided the city with a modern, intuitive, and aesthetically pleasing navigation system. Unified design code, well-thought-out structure, and attention to detail have made the signs easily legible, durable, and seamlessly integrated into the architectural landscape. New solution combines functionality, readability, and visual identity, enhancing the comfort of the urban environment and forming a recognizable city image. This is a high-quality, long-term outcome that will serve the city for many years to come.