Azerbaijani architect talks about Plan for Regional Development of Greater Baku project

Interview with head of the “Plan for Regional Development of Greater Baku” Project Management Group Novruz Eldarli.

Can you tell us about the ongoing work carried out as part of the “Plan for Regional Development of Greater Baku” project? What are the tasks set in this project?

At the moment work is underway to determine contractors and sign contracts on project implementation. "Plan for Regional Development of Greater Baku” (PRDGB) will be realized by firms and professionals with extensive international experience. These firms and professionals will be selected through a tender, which is currently being held by the Project Management Group. Azerbaijan’s "BAKIDÖVLƏTLAYIHƏ” project institute will coordinate the whole project.

"Plan for Regional Development of Greater Baku” is a project that is designed to determine the basic strategy for urban planning decisions to be made within the next 20-25 years. In the future, the project will schematically define the follows: development of transport system of Greater Baku (roads, subways, railways, etc.) and zoning throughout the Greater Baku. These decisions will be made based on environmental assessment of the region, economic calculation and planning analysis of the entire territory of Greater Baku.

Does this project envisage laying new residential areas and demolition of illegal buildings?
 
The statistics of recent years demonstrates a lack of social housing in Baku. Of course, it is important to build new housing estates in future. But this should not be commercial housing. More detailed and specific solutions will be defined in a future PRDGB draft.

What will the fate of residential buildings constructed in Soviet times?
 
It is very difficult to talk about future plans prior to the designing of the project. I think the project will entail much more.
 
Can you list universities and industrial facilities that to be relocated beyond the capital in the future?
 
Relocations will probably occur in the years to come. We have already witnessed foundation laying of a new port and a ferry not far from Alat settlement and transfer of the oil terminal in the Sangachal settlement. I think industrial facilities will continue to be relocated outside Baku in the future, too. Perhaps, a number of universities will also be relocated. But it requires us to do huge work and involvement of not only architects and town planners. 

Will any works be carried out in Icheri Sheher architectural and historical reserve as part of the Plan for Regional Development of Greater Baku?

As far as I know, the Icheri Sheher Directorate has designed a very lengthy and detailed master plan for future steps to conserve this historical heritage.

Are there any plans to enlarge the capital's roads?
 
Ministry of Transport has already embarked on upgrading the capital's roads. Along with this, today the Azerbaijani government attaches great importance to all infrastructure projects. I am sure transport system improvement process will proceed in Baku and entire Azerbaijan in future, too. As for enlarging roads, I would say that width of the roads is not key to perfect traffic in the city. The issue of city transport is a separate, complex and very lengthy question which must be answered by transport experts.

By what the height of buildings constructed in Baku is determined?

In all countries with town planning regulations, the height of buildings is determined by two factors: first of all, spatial urban planning decision (urban composition, insolation, fire regulations, etc.) and structural constraints (geology, constructive scheme of the building, seismic).


/Day.Az/