Baku: The history of urban planning in Azerbaijan is built upon rich urban traditions that have developed over centuries since ancient times. In these lands, urban culture was not limited only to the emergence of settlements, but was also formed in parallel with the development of economic relations, trade, craftsmanship, and statehood traditions.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the ancient cities of Azerbaijan - Gabala, Shamakhi, Barda, Ganja, and Baku - served as the region's main economic and political centers during different periods. Archaeological studies show that these cities had street planning, market squares, water supply systems, defensive walls, and public spaces. This demonstrates that Azerbaijan's ancient urban planning school possessed a highly developed level.
Historians write that the territory of the ancient city of Gabala measured hundreds of hectares, with craft workshops, residential quarters, and administrative centers operating there. Clay pipes discovered during excavations prove the existence of a water supply system in the ancient city. The city of Barda was considered one of the largest cities in the Middle East in the IX-X centuries. Arab historian al-Muqaddasi described Barda as 'the largest and richest city of Arran.' Merchants from various countries operated in the city, and silk, carpets, and metal products were sold in its markets.
Shamakhi was also one of the Caucasus' main urban centers during the Middle Ages. Following devastating earthquakes in the XII century, more durable construction methods were used during the rebuilding process of the city. The Juma Mosque built in Shamakhi is considered one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus and carried the function of the city center from an urban planning perspective.
The formation of independent khanates in Azerbaijan in the mid-XVIII century created a new stage in the history of urban planning. Cities such as Shusha, Sheki, and Guba began developing not only as administrative management centers but also as the main pillars of economic and cultural life. Shusha, the capital of the Karabakh Khanate, stood out for its strategic location and planned structure. The city was built in accordance with mountainous terrain and was surrounded by fortress walls. According to historical sources, the length of Shusha's fortress walls was approximately 2.5 kilometers.
The city of Sheki was considered one of the Caucasus' most important craftsmanship and silk production centers in the XVIII century. Caravanserais and markets operating in the city showed that Sheki played an important role in international trade relations. By the end of the XVIII century, thousands of poods of silk were produced annually in Sheki, and the products were exported to the markets of Russia, Iran, and Europe.
One of the biggest turning points in Azerbaijan's economic and urban planning history was connected with the development of the oil industry on the Absheron Peninsula. Marco Polo mentioned Baku oil as early as the XIII century, while German traveler Engelbert Kaempfer provided extensive information in the XVII century about the oil fields and natural flames on the Absheron Peninsula.
During the Industrial Revolution, the strategic importance of oil changed completely. The extraction of kerosene created a new stage in urban lighting, while later the emergence of internal combustion engines and the use of gasoline transformed oil into the world economy's main energy resource. This process began turning the Absheron Peninsula, and especially Baku, into one of the key points on the global industrial map.
The transfer of oil fields to private entrepreneurs by Tsarist Russia in 1872 marked the beginning of a completely new stage in Baku's economy and urban planning history. The Nobel brothers, the Rothschild family, and other major industrialists began investing heavily in Baku. In addition to establishing one of the first modern oil refineries in Baku, the Nobel brothers also created a model for the parallel development of industrial infrastructure and urban space.
The production of 11 million tons of oil in Baku in 1901 and the city accounting for more than half of the world's oil production transformed Baku into one of the leading industrial centers of the global economy. The major influx of capital generated from oil changed the city's architectural and urban planning appearance.
The role of foreign architectural schools in Baku's development was particularly significant. As a result of the economic opportunities created by the oil boom, architects and engineers from Poland, Germany, France, Italy, and Russia began arriving in the city. These architects brought European urban planning experience to Baku.
The Seaside Boulevard, established in 1867 on the basis of a project by architect Gasim bey Hajibababeyov, laid the foundation for a new urban stage in Baku's urban planning history. Initially measuring approximately 3 kilometers in length, the boulevard became not only a recreational area but also the center of the city's public and social life.
This historical line of development continues in the modern period as well. The reconstruction today of the territory of the 'Black City,' known as an industrial zone in the XX century, within the framework of the 'White City' project demonstrates the continuous character of Baku's urban transformation. Modern Baku is no longer only an energy center but is also turning into an international urban platform where sustainable development, green city concepts, smart infrastructure, and modern architectural principles are applied.
It is precisely from this perspective that Baku's hosting of the World Urban Forum - WUF13 carries particular importance. This forum is an important platform for demonstrating Baku's ancient urban planning traditions and modern urban development model at the international level.