Monday, August 01, 2011

PHOTODOCUMENTARY: More historic buildings being destroyed in downtown Baku. By Ali S. Novruzov (novruzov.az)

This small mansion could decorate a back street in any European capital, but someone decided it is not fit for their vision of new Baku.



Almost a year has passed since the city authorities evicted residents from a historic neighborhood between Fuzuli and Badalbayli streets in Baku and razed it to the ground.

Located on the edge of Baku's historic Jewish quarter, the area was known as Basin [BAH-sin] and its loss was a huge anthropological and ethnographic tragedy for Baku.

As for architectural losses, Fuzuli street lost the House No 58 - a solid structure with a character; and 11 historic monuments were razed in Badalbayli street, including Melikov mansion, a slim structure with a grace.

Speaking in a language of metaphors, if the House No 58 was a rough and coarse oil magnate of XIX century Baku, Melikov mansion was a coquettish mademoiselle walking along the city promenade every evening.

However, the modern Vandals haven't finished their work apparently - without much scandal, they have started to demolish the other side of the Badalbayli street - which wasn't in the initial plan. I wouldn't notice it myself, if one day I didn't spot empty windows in a mansion that I was thinking was safe.

I have taken some photos from the area recently and here present them to you. Unfortunately, those structures in the photos will be gone in upcoming months.

Click Read more to see the photos >>>

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

With less historical architectually interesting buildings left to photograph, I am not inclined to visit Baku as a typical tourist.