BAKU TO "KEEP ITS FACE"

"Baku has changed a lot in recent years - you have to admire the scale of construction in the city." This phrase can be heard from most visitors to the Azerbaijani capital who have been here at least once before. And it is impossible not to agree. Sometimes it is even beyond the power of Baku residents to keep up with the changes - you suddenly notice several skyscrapers where old neighbourhoods once stood...

However, it also has to be acknowledged that sometimes these changes are saddening, because in an effort to scoop a jackpot from yet another building, business people lack even a spark of desire to preserve the unique beauty of our city. But recently Baku-lovers acquired hope that the chaotic construction in the city is coming to an end - there is finally a master plan of Baku. In fact, plans to transform the city centre and its most distant suburbs are now considered at different levels. All this hard work is being done with the direct participation and leadership of the Baku State Design Institute (BSDI).

"There is the spirit of Baku here, there is the scent of Baku here…"

The centre of Baku, of course, is the most attractive morsel for builders and investors, but it is there that the spirit of the ancient city of winds soars, the ancient city that is still a magnet for tourists from around the world. And if the harmony of this location is destroyed, this spirit will disappear too. Therefore, the draft detailed plan of the city centre, developed by the BSDI and agreed with many state agencies, is a product of very hard work by our city planners. In an interview with R+, the director of the Institute and the chief architect of the project, Ilgar Isbatov, said that the city planners decided to preserve the overall historical structure of the centre and adapt all the innovations to it. Of course, something will inevitably be lost, but it is impossible to avoid that in our modern world, given the emergence of new engineering and communication technologies that can ease people's everyday lives. The very existence of a specific plan that can protect at least the centre of the capital from new buildings that do not fit into the overall architectural canvas is already a major victory for the city planners. It is much better when there is a barrier to the desire of another businessman to erect a ridiculous high-rise in the heart of the capital, blocking sunlight and fresh air for neighbours and overloading the transportation and utility infrastructure, not to mention the irreparable damage caused to the appearance of the capital.

"In the project, we have tried to resolve the problem of traffic in the centre of the capital and improve the environmental situation," Isbatov said. "In particular, we plan to build new road junctions, bridges and even a tunnel that will begin on Neftcilar Avenue. Thus, we expect to reduce the burden on the city centre in terms of traffic. As for parks, according to our plans, a huge green area will appear in Baku. This envisages not only the extension and expansion of the Baku seafront promenade, but also its connection with other parks. As a result, there will be a large network of parks. New green avenues will appear in Fizuli Street, around the Taza Pir mosque, in Bakixanov Street, between Narimanov Avenue and A. Shaiq Street, etc. We also plan to expand the pedestrian area, connecting the existing ones in the former Torgovaya Street and Fountains Square with the future park between Fizuli and Badalbayli Streets."

There is talk that cottages and villas will appear instead of the buildings of architectural interest in the city centre.

"Not exactly. No-one is going to knock down buildings of architectural interest - that is for certain! We are talking about knocking down homes that are currently not comfortable to live in. As for what will appear there instead of these semi-slums, we recommend building low-rise buildings ranging from four to six floors, but not necessarily residential complexes, possibly business centres, hotels, etc. So we do not expect a noticeable increase in the number of residents in the centre. In any case, I think that the public service infrastructure here will be reconstructed and improved."

- Many are wondering today how soon we will be able to see the new "face" of the city centre?

- "It is very difficult to say. But I want to note that interest among investors is high, and there is already a class of local entrepreneurs who do not want to make an instant profit from their new buildings. They are also concerned about their architectural and historical value. We can therefore hope that our plans will be implemented. But I want to stress again that we only provide a blueprint of how the city may develop, and unfortunately the master plan is not law."

Great plan for Greater Baku

Of course, the development of the capital cannot be confined to the centre alone. The city outskirts have long been involved in a construction boom, albeit chaotically too, but they are surely contributing to the overall town-planning cause. And it is high time things were put in order here too.

The government of Azerbaijan has been receiving support from the World Bank on this. The World Bank has agreed to finance the "Regional plan for the development of Greater Baku" project, which covers Baku, Sumqayit, Xirdalan and the entire Abseron. Its implementation will help to make the metropolitan development process more controllable. The results of research and analysis will form the basis of the master plan and the urban cadastre of the capital. The BSDI is acting as a coordinator in this.

"According to our proposals, the industrial zone should be moved from the centre in the first place, and new housing estates will be built instead. At the same time, the project envisages residential construction in the settlements of Zig, Turkan and Dubandi," Isbatov said. "We also want to move higher education institutions out of the centre, in particular the University of Economics and the Oil Academy. In all developed countries of the world universities have their own campuses, with university buildings, dormitories for students and teachers, sports facilities, libraries, etc. Such campuses are to be set up in Turkan. This would take the burden off the city centre."

- And the industrial enterprises will be moved to Qaradag?

- "Yes, and as we know, specific steps are already being taken on that. The emerging vacant space will accommodate youth sports complexes, residential areas and parks. While planning new settlements in Dubandi, Turkan and Zig, the project also provides for the development of the Abseron settlement, with a view to transforming it into a resort in the near future."

- So what will Baku be like in the future?

- "It will be a large and developing metropolis that has preserved its ancient history of urban development in parallel with current trends. It will be attractive to tourists, comfortable for the residents of Baku and as beautiful and dear as ever."