Abstract
The article deals with the main factors and peculiarities of the transformation of public spaces in large cities of Kazakhstan in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. It gives a retrospective review of significant historical, existing and emerging public spaces of Almaty. The study is conducted from the standpoint of socio-economic, natural, environmental and urban development factors of a large city. The positive trends in the transformation of the modern urban environment are highlighted, and the difficulties and disadvantages arising in this process are pointed out. As a result of the study of the situation in Almaty and the foreign and domestic experience, the authors formulate principles that can be useful for professionals in the field of architecture and urban management to optimize urban public spaces.