Baku is gaining recognition for cutting-edge architectural design, thanks in part to the recent design award for Hadid's Heydar Aliyev Center...

But this urban renewal comes at a price, residents tell EurasiaNet

Aliyeva is known to have a strong affinity for the look-and-feel of Paris, thus it’s not a surprise that Louvre-style pyramids have appeared at the entrance of three metro stations, and Paris-style newspaper kiosks have been installed all over the city. A “Paris Quarter” is also being constructed in the “White City.” Foster + Partners, founded by British architect Norman Foster, is among the firms involved in the White City Project.

Urban renewal often comes with a high human toll, and Baku is no exception. International rights groups, including Freedom House and Human Rights Watch, have documented widespread instances in recent years of forced evictions of local residents to make way for new projects. Protests have occasionally erupted over the forced evictions; police have resorted to aggressive methods to quell such disturbances.

Baku's "Flame Towers"
Baku's "Flame Towers" © Firuza/flickr

Local experts, such as Baku-based architect Novruz Eldarly, applaud many of Baku’s architectural additions, but would like to see officials take a more systemic approach.

“Baku has serious problems with urban planning,” said Eldarly, who is the director of the ENEL architectural firm. “After the collapse of Soviet Union, the system of urban management has changed and authorities so far do not have a clear urban planning policy for Baku. Development is mostly happening spontaneously.”

While foreign architectural firms have been enlisted for high-profile projects, local architects have also been busy in recent years. For example, architect Elchin Aliyev [no relation to the president] designed a Roman Catholic Church in Baku that has turned into a popular tourist attraction.

Eldarly said local architects need more time to develop their skills before they are ready to handle the bigger projects.

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