Baku's Architecture: Zaha Hadid vs. The 12th Century
Culture & History

Baku's Architecture: Zaha Hadid vs. The 12th Century

📅December 25, 2025

Baku's Architecture: Zaha Hadid vs. The 12th Century

Baku is a city of contradictions.

On one side, you have the Icherisheher (Old City)—a UNESCO World Heritage site with 12th-century stone walls, narrow alleys, and the enigmatic Maiden Tower.

On the other, you have the Flame Towers—three glass skyscrapers that light up the night sky, and the Heydar Aliyev Center—a flowing, futuristic masterpiece by Zaha Hadid.

This is Baku: where ancient history and cutting-edge modernity exist side by side, creating one of the world's most visually striking capitals.

The Old: Icherisheher (12th Century)

The Fortress Walls:

  • Built: 12th century (with earlier foundations)
  • Purpose: Defense against invaders
  • Today: A living museum, home to 1,300 families

Key Landmarks:

  • Maiden Tower (Giz Galasi): 29-meter cylindrical tower, purpose unknown
  • Palace of the Shirvanshahs: 15th-century royal complex
  • Caravanserais: Ancient inns for Silk Road traders

Architectural Style:

  • Material: Local limestone
  • Design: Narrow, winding streets (designed to confuse invaders)
  • Influence: Persian, Arabic, Caucasian

The New: Modern Baku (21st Century)

The Flame Towers (2012):

  • Height: 190 meters (tallest buildings in Azerbaijan)
  • Design: Three towers shaped like flames
  • LED Displays: At night, they display moving flames, the Azerbaijani flag, or other animations
  • Symbolism: Represent Azerbaijan as the "Land of Fire"

Architect: HOK (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum)

The Heydar Aliyev Center (2012):

  • Design: Flowing, wave-like structure with no straight lines
  • Material: White fiberglass-reinforced concrete and glass
  • Purpose: Cultural center (museum, exhibitions, concerts)
  • Awards: Winner of the London Design Museum's Design of the Year (2014)

Architect: Zaha Hadid (Iraqi-British architect, 1950-2016)

Why It's Special:

  • No Columns: The entire structure is self-supporting
  • Fluid Form: Represents the flow of Azerbaijani culture
  • Iconic: One of the most photographed buildings in the world

Baku Boulevard (Seaside Promenade):

  • Length: 25 km (one of the longest in the world)
  • Features: Parks, fountains, cafes, Ferris wheel
  • Architecture: Mix of Soviet-era buildings and modern glass structures

The Crystal Hall (2012):

  • Purpose: Built for Eurovision Song Contest 2012
  • Capacity: 25,000
  • Design: Glass and steel, illuminated at night

The Contrast: Old Meets New

Visual Juxtaposition:

From the Highland Park viewpoint, you can see:

  • Foreground: The ancient Maiden Tower
  • Background: The glittering Flame Towers

This single view encapsulates Baku's identity—rooted in history, reaching for the future.

Architectural Styles in Baku

1. Medieval (12th-15th Century)

  • Examples: Icherisheher, Maiden Tower
  • Characteristics: Stone, defensive, compact

2. Persian-Islamic (15th-19th Century)

  • Examples: Palace of the Shirvanshahs, mosques
  • Characteristics: Intricate tilework, domes, courtyards

3. Russian Imperial (19th Century)

  • Examples: Ismailiyya Palace, Baku City Hall
  • Characteristics: Neoclassical, ornate facades

4. Soviet Modernism (1920s-1980s)

  • Examples: Residential blocks, metro stations
  • Characteristics: Brutalist, functional, concrete

5. Oil Boom Baroque (Late 19th-Early 20th Century)

  • Examples: Mansions in downtown Baku
  • Characteristics: Eclectic, ornate, influenced by European styles

6. Contemporary (2000s-Present)

  • Examples: Flame Towers, Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku White City
  • Characteristics: Glass, steel, futuristic, bold

Must-See Architectural Landmarks

1. Heydar Aliyev Center

  • Location: Near Koroglu Metro
  • Entrance: 15 AZN (museum), free to walk around outside
  • Best Time: Evening (beautifully lit)

2. Flame Towers

  • Location: Uptown Baku
  • View From: Highland Park, Baku Boulevard
  • Best Time: Night (LED displays)

3. Icherisheher (Old City)

  • Location: City center
  • Entrance: Free to wander, fees for specific sites
  • Best Time: Morning (fewer crowds)

4. Baku Boulevard

  • Location: Seaside
  • Entrance: Free
  • Best Time: Evening (sunset)

5. Fountain Square

  • Location: City center
  • Highlights: Mix of 19th-century and modern buildings
  • Best Time: Evening (lively atmosphere)

Architecture Tours

Walking Tours:

  • Old City Tour: 2-3 hours, focus on medieval architecture
  • Modern Baku Tour: 2-3 hours, Flame Towers, Heydar Aliyev Center

Guided Tours:

  • Price: 30-60 AZN per person
  • Book Through: Local agencies or hotels

Self-Guided:

  • Route: Start at Icherisheher → Fountain Square → Baku Boulevard → Heydar Aliyev Center
  • Duration: Full day

Photography Spots

Best Views:

  1. Highland Park: Panoramic view of the city
  2. Baku Boulevard: Flame Towers reflected in the Caspian
  3. Inside Heydar Aliyev Center: Abstract, flowing lines
  4. Old City Rooftops: Ancient meets modern

Conclusion

Baku's architecture tells the story of a nation in transition—honoring its past while boldly embracing the future.

Whether you're marveling at Zaha Hadid's curves or tracing your fingers along 12th-century stone, Baku offers a visual feast unlike any other city in the world.

Next up in our series: 24 Hours in Ganja: The City of Poetry