The basic aims of the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture”: the reconstruction of Karabakh and the progress of Baku

As reported, by the relevant Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, 2026 was declared the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture”.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the “Dendrology Garden” public legal entity (PLE) under the authority of the head of the Executive Power of Baku City, Doctor of Philosophy in Biology, Associate Professor Samira Baghirova made a statement to Azertag on the subject. We present the statement: 

The declaration of 2025 as the “Year of Constitution and Sovereignty” in Azerbaijan made a significant contribution to strengthening national memory by covering the first crucial stage of our statehood history, the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution and the 34th anniversary of the restoration of our state independence.

This decision once again demonstrated that adherence to the principles of a legal state and the protection of national sovereignty are a priority in state policy. As a continuation of this logical and ideological sequence, the declaration of 2026 as the "Year of Urban Planning and Architecture" by the relevant Decree of President Ilham Aliyev is a high assessment of our rich historical and cultural heritage by the Azerbaijani state.

This was stated by Samira Baghirova, PhD in Biology, Associate Professor, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the "Dendrology Garden" public legal entity under the authority of the head of the Executive Power of Baku City, in a statement to AZERTAG.

According to her, the "Year of Urban Planning and Architecture" has essential goals ahead. First of all, the renewal of the master plans of cities, the adaptation of urban planning norms and rules to contemporary requirements, the protection of architectural heritage in urban planning, the inventory and restoration of historical buildings, the expansion of protected areas and improvement of protection mechanisms, the establishment of a contemporary urban environment and infrastructure, the expansion of cultural and recreational parks, squares, pedestrian zones and the implementation of other projects will be in the foreground.

“The construction work carried out in the liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions of Azerbaijan is based on environmentally friendly, “green technologies”. Currently, our cities and settlements that have been under occupation and razed to the ground for nearly 30 years are being rebuilt in the national architectural style. This process will continue rapidly during the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture”.

In recent years, our country has become a new center of urban planning and architecture. The buildings, residential complexes, and ecologically clean giant urban planning projects implemented in Baku in the national architectural style are eye-catching. It is gratifying that Baku has become the safest, ecologically clean tourist city in the world. The Azerbaijani state pays special attention to urban planning. Thus, eye-catching cultural and recreational parks are being built in Baku, and the transport system is being rebuilt in a human-oriented way. About 400 parks have been created or renovated in the capital. The main philosophy of the policy implemented in this direction is the construction of sustainable urban infrastructure and the creation of high conditions for residents and tourists,” he added.

As the “Dendrology Garden”, we have accelerated our work by establishing our activities in accordance with the calls of the head of state and the spirit of the declared year. We are implementing the protection of the Dendrology Garden, the expansion, enrichment, and care of plant species and green areas in the garden, the organization of the protection of rare and endangered plant species, and at the same time, the preparation of integrated measures based on high efficiency against plant diseases and pests. 

One of our basic purposes is to support the environmental protection, biodiversity protection, green city, ecologically clean environment and sustainable urban development strategy implemented by the country's leadership and the Executive Power of Baku City in the Khazar district of Baku and the Absheron Peninsula as a whole. "Following the goals set in the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” should be the main task of every citizen, scientist, official, and civil society activist," S.Baghirova noted. (AZERTAG)