Baku’s architectural history and urban identity shaped during the oil boom era were presented at WUF13, researcher Fuad Akhundov said during the event titled “The Global Housing Crisis – What’s the Plan?” held within the framework of WUF13, APA-Economics reports.
In his speech, Fuad Akhundov provided information about Baku’s architectural development, housing culture, and the formation of the city’s identity.
According to him, Baku, with a history of approximately 2,000 years, transformed from a small fortress city into one of the largest industrial and cultural centers of the South Caucasus as a result of the oil boom in the late 19th century.
The researcher noted that in 1901, Baku accounted for nearly half of the world’s crude oil production, and this economic rise fundamentally changed the city’s architectural appearance.
The presentation demonstrated historical buildings commissioned by local oil millionaires and their role in shaping Baku’s modern urban image.
Fuad Akhundov emphasized that Baku is one of the rare cities where Eastern and Western architectural traditions are harmoniously combined, and that this feature shapes its unique cultural identity.
