Boyukshor lake rehabilitation
type: Urban design
location: Baku, Azerbaijan
year: 2017
stage: Concept
collaborators: GA, KOTSІUBA, SUEZ, TAMIZ SHAHAR JSC.
client: IQLIM
size: 120ha
authors: Maria Andriyenko, Olena Danylenko, Serhiy Ferley, Anton Gerasymovych, Mitya Gurin, Lilit Hakopyan, Andriy Helenyk, Viktor Herasymenko, Maksym Kotsiuba, Marianna Krivoruchko, Anton Oliynyk, Maria Pakhomova, Daria Podoltseva, Lina Polianskaya, Tavifa Ponomarenko, Egor Shtefan, Irina Sheptuha, Anna Vasilyeva, Daria Voitenko, Vlodco Zotov
A GREEN BOYUKSHOR
Our vision is formed by the evident urbanization processes taking place on the Absheron Peninsula and affecting the Greater Baku region. The rates at which these processes spread allow to assume that most of the Boyukshor Lake district can be absorbed by the city by the end of the construction works.
The area is near the lake and within relatively easy reach from the Olympic Stadium, from Baku center, from the airport, from two Metro lines and from Absheron’s North Coast that is already a popular recreational zone. These factors allow to assume that the area has good potential for future development.
So far the district is viewed as a very polluted one, and there is a local tradition of choosing residential districts near family. Both factors can slow down the development at this point.
Interviews with city dwellers and real estate agents show that it will not be enough to de-pollute the territory for people to change their attitude.
Therefore it’s important to create an environment transformation concept that can compete with the stereotypical perception of this land as ‘dirty’ and show people that it has potential and value.
A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS.
Good vehicle infrastructure makes residential districts accessible from the roads and includes plenty of parking spaces. Dividing pedestrian and car traffic zones makes the place comfortable and safe for children and elderly people. It can revive the Baku community’s tradition of vibrant street life. Narrow streets in the residential districts and buildings that aren’t too tall will ensure street safety, provide enough shadow to protect pedestrians from the sun and allow the residents to feel in control of the spaces beyond their backyard. Interviews with city dwellers and real estate agents show that it will not be enough to de-pollute the territory for people to change their attitude.
