Residential areas in Karabakh are being built based on the 15-minute city principle, Gulshan Rzayeva, Deputy Head of the Office of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture and Deputy National Coordinator of WUF13, said at the high-level dialogue titled “Global Housing Crisis – What’s the Plan?” held within the framework of WUF13, APA-Economics reports.
According to her, blended finance for affordable housing provision, more active participation of development banks and international financial institutions, as well as the application of digital technologies and modern construction methods are of great importance.
Gulshan Rzayeva stated that governments shape housing policy, land use and the legal framework, the private sector brings investment and innovation, while civil society conveys the real needs of communities into this process.
She noted that climate resilience and inclusive urbanization are among the main directions of Azerbaijan’s national priorities for socio-economic development until 2030.
According to the committee official, the State Agency for Housing Construction (MIDA), established in accordance with the strategic roadmap adopted in 2016, builds modern and energy-efficient apartments on state-owned lands at prices below market value.
Gulshan Rzayeva emphasized that the Great Return Program implemented in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories is one of the strongest examples of the practical implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
According to her, residential areas are being established in these territories based on “smart city” and “smart village” concepts, green energy zones and climate-sensitive planning. Housing is planned together with transport, education, healthcare, employment and social services based on the 15-minute city principle.
“Affordable housing does not only mean building houses. It means creating fully functional communities and a living ecosystem,” Gulshan Rzayeva added.
