Zaha Hadid Architects unveils ambitious 198-hectare vision for Baku PHOTO

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has been selected to design a new 198-hectare urban district around the Baku Expo Centre in Azerbaijan.

The proposed Baku Expo City will be built in an area of pine forest surrounding the existing events venue, with plans to preserve 92% of the site's 18,000 existing trees, ArchDaily reports.

According to architecture website ArchDaily, the project is intended to respond to Baku's population growth by providing a mix of housing, public facilities and green spaces.

The masterplan will consist of interconnected neighbourhoods linked by pedestrian paths and cycle routes, alongside tree-lined boulevards and landscaped nature corridors.

The development is also planned to connect with Baku's wider public transport network, including the planned upgrade of the Bakikhanov-Bina-Gala railway line. The scheme is intended to provide links to the city centre, Heydar Aliyev International Airport and the wider metropolitan area.

The project will include one-bedroom apartments and larger family homes, as well as kindergartens, schools, shops, markets, entertainment and cultural venues. Plans also include public parks, sports clubs and medical clinics.

A central public square will feature cultural venues, cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities for residents and visitors. The wider development will support an expansion of the Baku Expo Center, including a new Congress Hall and a hotel near the airport.

ZHA says all new buildings will feature green roofs designed to improve thermal insulation and reduce cooling demand. The system will also help manage rainwater by collecting and naturally filtering it for reuse.

The masterplan takes account of Baku's climate, including the strong Khazri winds from the Caspian Sea and the warmer Gilavar winds. Wind comfort analysis has been used to position buildings as protective barriers, helping reduce wind speeds at ground level and creating more sheltered public spaces.

The project marks ZHA's second major development in Baku, following the Heydar Aliyev Center, which was completed in 2013.

By Aghakazim Guliyev