The visit to Azerbaijan State Committee for City Building and Architecture aimed to familiarize students with the architectural heritage of Baku.
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, formerly part of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, is now one of the most dynamic and rapidly changing urban territories in the world. Located at a critical geopolitical nexus between Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, Baku has strong ties to all three. Today, the city is undergoing its second major oil boom and is poised to become a major player in the global economy.
The purpose of the research seminar was to analyze the development of Baku in the context of the shifting geopolitics of the region. Emphasis was placed on how architecture, urban design and planning—in the context of capitalism and socialism—have dealt with the issue of oil over the course of Baku’s modern development.
Related
“American guests interested in Baku architecture,” March 1, 2011, Today.Az