"Baku between castles and skyscapers": city's transformation on AnewZ VIDEO

A new segment titled “Baku: Between castles and skyscrapers” aired on the AnewZ channel, dedicated to the historical and architectural development of Azerbaijan’s capital. 

The creators of the documentary trace the city’s journey from a medieval fortress on the shores of the Caspian Sea to a modern metropolis with futuristic districts and skyscrapers.

In the segment, Baku is presented as a city at the crossroads of East and West. The stone alleys of the old city — Icharishahar — stand alongside contemporary architecture, while areas that once hosted oil fountains have now been transformed into modern green spaces.

Special attention is given to the historical core of the capital — Icharishahar. The creators describe it as a “living organism” over a thousand years old. Narrow streets, caravanserais, mosques, and limestone houses demonstrate the natural ecological design and thoughtful urban planning — from wind protection to natural cooling of interiors.

A significant part of the segment focuses on how oil transformed Baku. Since the 19th century, the small port city has turned into an industrial center of the Caucasus. Alongside the oil fields, new districts emerged, European-style architecture appeared, and houses were built by wealthy oil magnates.

The climax of the segment is White City — a modern urban project built on the site of former industrial areas once known as the “Black City.” Here, contaminated lands have been cleaned, landscaped, and transformed into green spaces, residential districts, and pedestrian zones. The project is being implemented according to the “five-minute city” concept — everything necessary is within walking distance, with priority given to pedestrians and green infrastructure.

In the finale, the creators compare Baku to a Caucasian carpet — diverse in textures, patterns, eras, and cultures, yet whole and alive.