BAKU | Baku White City | U/C

[MareCar]

Originally Posted by schmidt

Well yeah, but nobody says that when the UK builds stuff like in the Canary Wharf or the Parisian La Defense. Nobody would say that it lacks London or Paris style and looks too American.

Every modern city in the world has its modern areas, Baku should also have its own.

A copy of Hausmann's Parisian architecture from the mid 18-hundreds, in fact building a whole "little Paris" of the size of several blocks, has nothing to do with "modern", it's kitsch. This whole project is a huge blanket, patched together by different Western architectural styles of the past 150 years, which made it an easy sell to the authorities, their craving to be in "Europe" (instead of accepting that they have nothing to do with Western Europe) is obvious.
I can also see 70s, 80s, 90s architecture in there (in fact, most of which already exists as buildings somewhere, and no I will not find them for you), a stereotypical "here's a sculpture in front of which tourists can take pictures, so we look like a tourist city" in the form of a "Cloud Gate" copy and many other things.

Will the buildings, streets and squares look good? Probably. Will it be any less ridiculous? No.

[Emperor Diocletian]

Originally Posted by MareCar

A copy of Hausmann's Parisian architecture from the mid 18-hundreds, in fact building a whole "little Paris" of the size of several blocks, has nothing to do with "modern", it's kitsch. This whole project is a huge blanket, patched together by different Western architectural styles of the past 150 years, which made it an easy sell to the authorities, their craving to be in "Europe" (instead of accepting that they have nothing to do with Western Europe) is obvious.
I can also see 70s, 80s, 90s architecture in there (in fact, most of which already exists as buildings somewhere, and no I will not find them for you), a stereotypical "here's a sculpture in front of which tourists can take pictures, so we look like a tourist city" in the form of a "Cloud Gate" copy and many other things.

Will the buildings, streets and squares look good? Probably. Will it be any less ridiculous? No.

of course they have nothing to do with Western Europe, but Europe is not only Western Europe.

but I agree with you, this project is realy kitsch. they are trying to build history that did not exist. instead of this they could have built a complete modern city and it would be a great project.

[Galandar]

Originally Posted by Emperor Diocletian

of course they have nothing to do with Western Europe, but Europe is not only Western Europe.

but I agree with you, this project is realy kitsch. they are trying to build history that did not exist. instead of this they could have built a complete modern city and it would be a great project.

Please check pictures of downtown Baku, see historical buildings of the end of 19- beginning of 20th centuries then come back and say whether it existed or not.

[Emperor Diocletian]

Originally Posted by Galandar

Please check pictures of downtown Baku, see historical buildings of the end of 19- beginning of 20th centuries then come back and say whether it existed or not.

that is not the point. building NEW buildings in 18 century style is building a fake city.

[MareCar]

Exactly. And the same goes for faux mid-late 20th century architecture.

[Galandar]

Originally Posted by Emperor Diocletian

that is not the point. building NEW buildings in 18 century style is building a fake city.

Let us decide what to build, ok?

[Emperor Diocletian]

Originally Posted by Galandar

Let us decide what to build, ok?

well, who said you must not build it?
build what ever you want, it is up to you, but it is also our right to say it is just kitsch. or you think we should say only nice words about project?

[Galandar]

Originally Posted by Emperor Diocletian

well, who said you must not build it?
build what ever you want, it is up to you, but it is also our right to say it is just kitsch. or you think we should say only nice words about project?

Well you can say that. That is your right to share your thoughts

[BE0GRAD]

Originally Posted by MareCar

A copy of Hausmann's Parisian architecture from the mid 18-hundreds, in fact building a whole "little Paris" of the size of several blocks, has nothing to do with "modern", it's kitsch. This whole project is a huge blanket, patched together by different Western architectural styles of the past 150 years, which made it an easy sell to the authorities, their craving to be in "Europe" (instead of accepting that they have nothing to do with Western Europe) is obvious.
I can also see 70s, 80s, 90s architecture in there (in fact, most of which already exists as buildings somewhere, and no I will not find them for you), a stereotypical "here's a sculpture in front of which tourists can take pictures, so we look like a tourist city" in the form of a "Cloud Gate" copy and many other things.

Will the buildings, streets and squares look good? Probably. Will it be any less ridiculous? No.

Indeed! Although I am in favor of building in LOCAL traditional styles both authentic or newly interpreted ,especially in old city centers, this copying of FOREIGN traditional styles is just kitsch.

[BE0GRAD]

Originally Posted by Galandar

Do you know what is the approximate value of this project?

[Galandar]

Originally Posted by BE0GRAD

Indeed! Although I am in favor of building in LOCAL traditional styles both authentic or newly interpreted ,especially in old city centers, this copying of FOREIGN traditional styles is just kitsch.

Well it is kitch, so what? Let Baku also have some kitch Especially in the case when from the very start this area within BWC is called 'French Quarter'

[Galandar]

Originally Posted by BE0GRAD

Do you know what is the approximate value of this project?

No idea but it definitely costs some billions. The government will pay for infrastructure while the housing, business area and the mall will be private investments

[toca]

Its a cool project. no need to argue if its fake or not, because this is the small part of a huge project. it will create job for thousands of people, it will encourage young architechs or project planners to make better things.

[petrb]

Interesting project. We would like to seriously consider to invest to this kind of projects in approx. amount of EUR 200m. Is anybody able to advice me the best way how to do that? We are the group from EU active in development area in many european countries. see www.ppf.cz
Many thanks for the answer. Petr

[Galandar]

Originally Posted by petrb

Interesting project. We would like to seriously consider to invest to this kind of projects in approx. amount of EUR 200m. Is anybody able to advice me the best way how to do that? We are the group from EU active in development area in many european countries. see www.ppf.cz
Many thanks for the answer. Petr

If you are interested in BWC please send me a PM I will give your their contact information. Thanks!

[petrb]

babica@ppfreal.com Thanks. Petr Babica

[Ras Siyan]

Wow! This will make this beautiful Baku a marvelous city.

[Azer_Akhundov]

Olympic Village

Concept Materplan - ATKINS

One of the largest districts of Baku White City was designed as part of Baku city's bid to host the Olympic Games in the year 2020.

Proposed Olympic Village is planned to accommodate residential apartments for around 18000 athletes and officials, along with media and broadcasting centers, tennis stadiums, velodrome and BMX, and large areas of open space, including continuation of Waterfront Boulevard.

PROGRAM:

- The Olympic Village for a 18000 population (213000 sqm)
- The Media Village for a 16000 population (187000 sqm)
- International Broadcast Center (48700 sqm)
- A Tennis Stadium (72300 sqm)
- Velodrome and BMX track (50800 sqm)

LEGACY:

After the Games, the Olympic Village intends to be a lasting legacy of es-sential new housing for City, by transforming it into a new residences and public spaces and expanding the City towards existing developments in eastern part of Baku.























Source: www.bakuwhitecity.com

[hater]

wow awesome

[Ervin2]

This looks great, needs more tall buildings though, and a vertical subway line. Otherwise I'm really looking forward to this developing.

This whole project is a huge blanket, patched together by different Western architectural styles of the past 150 years, which made it an easy sell to the authorities, their craving to be in "Europe" (instead of accepting that they have nothing to do with Western Europe) is obvious.

I completely agree, the blatant attempt at looking European is one of the first things I noticed. It looks great, but at the same time they're completely pushing aside they're own culture to worship another.