Bluewater architect designs a pleasure dome for Borat

If Borat came to Britain for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Sacha Baron Cohen's fictional reporter would be sure to regard Bluewater, the Kent mega-mall, as one of the nation's jewels.

So it seems weirdly appropriate that Eric Kuhne, the London-based designer of Bluewater, has designed a 21st-century version of the American presidential retreat, Camp David, for Kazakhstan. This will be no secluded mountain camp, however: the central Asian nation's idea of a gathering-place for statesmen seems to be just what Borat might imagine.

Part of the $1bn (£500m) development on the shores of Lake Borovoye, in northern Kazakhstan, is a private island where the government will host foreign dignitaries, with Camp David-style cabins and a ceremonial hall for treaties.

But instead of forest-cloaked mountains, the Kazakh retreat will be surrounded by a racetrack, five luxury casinos, 45 holes of golf course and up to 70 bars. As Borat would say, "Niiice!"

Construction of the complex, already dubbed "Kaz Vegas" by locals, will begin later this year. "This is nation-building," said Mr Kuhne. "We wanted to increase the country's visibility to the rest of the world, and here you'll have a president meeting world leaders in an innovative environment."

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