Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The architectural presentation of Heydar Aliyev Center, one of the world's masterpieces in architecture, was held in Baku on November 5.

Heydar Aliyev Foundation Vice-President Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva attended the event.

Azerbaijani officials, representatives of foreign countries, and acclaimed architects, including Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid who designed the center were also present.

Addressing the audience, director of the Heydar Aliyev Center Anar Alekperov said that nationwide developments were carried out in all the regions of Azerbaijan.

He said that Azerbaijan was changing on a daily basis thanks to the successful policy of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who had created a new image for the country.

"In recent years, rare masterpieces that attract attention for the idea and architecture have been constructed in our capital," he said.

"One of them is the building of the Heydar Aliyev Center that is distinguished by its modernity and multiple functions. With its original style, the building makes Baku's architectural structure particularly attractive," Alekperov added.

Alekperov said the projects of Zaha Hadid, whose innovative ideas are well known all over the world, adorn many countries.

The centre's building in Baku, as well as every other architectural project by Hadid, astonishes the audience with its design, the harmony of its external and internal façades, and its aura.

Alekperov thanked Zaha Hadid for implementing this unique project in Baku.

Zaha Hadid, a renowned architect and the first woman who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize, thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva for inviting her to Baku.

Hadid's buildings are characterized by distinctive futurism, powerful and curving lines, multiple perspective points, and fragmented geometry.

She said that constructing the complex which was almost an impossible task was an incredible experience for her and her team. "It is amazing. This has been a really incredible experience for us," she said.

Hadid also thanked everyone involved in the project and also her old and new friends from all over the world, including Lebanon, Turkey, the U.S., and China.

"It's really very humbling for me to have this experience. And it is a great honor for me to work with so many great people," she said.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Architects Union Elbay Gasımzade said Zaha Hadid was elected as an honorary member of the Union, and awarded her with the Academician Mikayil Huseynov Medal.

"Azerbaijani architecture has a long and rich history and traditions. Today, as in the beginning of the last century, wonderful creations are being built by famous architects in Azerbaijan," he said.

Later, Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva had a meeting with Zaha Hadid.

The event was followed by a concert featuring Azerbaijani classical music and dance.

The Center, which opened in the Azerbaijani capital on May 10, 2012 on the 89th birthday anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, was established in December 2006.

The overall shape of the building resembles a wave-like ascension from the ground towards the sky followed by a gradual descent towards the ground. This is not only a tribute to post-modern architecture, but also a portrayal of an eternal cycle.

The lines on the building connect the past to the present.

The harmonious link between the exterior and the interior aspires to remove any boundaries in the building's perception considering the fact that this place is meant to be open to anyone irrespective of gender, race, and origin by bringing people together and uniting them by shared ideas.

The metal construction network with an overall length of 90 kilometers was used for the building's roof covering only. Over 12,000 pieces of panels with a very unique shape, varying from triangle to trapezoid and from rectangle to parallelogram, were used for the center's roof that has an overall area of 40,000 square meters.

The Center houses a conference hall, a gallery hall, and a museum. The project is intended to play an integral role in the intellectual life of the city.

The Center holds exhibitions and concerts with the purpose of supporting the development of culture and introducing world culture to Azerbaijan, and tries to expand the relations between countries and people through its projects.