We have made a list of notable channels and blogs, authored by local architects, photographers and urban researchers. Their passionate look at Baku and the country as a whole would be interesting not only to tourists, but to curious locals as well. These people have chosen their mission - handing the country’s cultural heritage over to the future generations. Don’t forget to subscribe!
CELLAR DOOR
Alla Garagashly is a very keen urban researcher. To her, loving the city means paying attention to details, the ability to listen and hear its stories, as well as seeing something new in something ordinary. Such habit, according to Allam was born out of curiosity – taking a peek inside Baku’s inner courtyards – and grew into creation of city tourist routes as well as conducting excursions into mansions of the first oil boom period. She publishes the snapshots of Baku’s life on her Instagram blog, while her telegram channel tells us where to go at the weekends, what should be looked at and what interesting people you should meet.
GENII'S URBAN BLOG
This blog is authored by Gani Nasirov – a multi-talented man and an intellectual. He conducts walking tours in Baku, including free ones, researches architectural heritage and collects city legends. You are more than welcome to join Gani on a master class in traditional cooking or a wine tasting ceremony. On top of that, Gani writes for travel magazines in Azerbaijan and is engaged in scientific research work. Our editorial board constantly follows his Instagram account and his blog. We’ll give you a hint – his posts about mascarons and Baku’s doors are absolutely incredible!
Instagram
Blog
Post about Baku’s doors
SAVE BAKU
Member of the board at the Union of Architects Elchin Aliyev has authored more than 70 architectural and design projects, has written 20 books and 140 scientific articles in architecture, design and urban planning. Elchin also runs an incredible blog where he shares his views on development of urban landscape. He writes about the existing and the lost architectural sites of the city, calling on all passionate residents to preserve the aging residential buildings.
HIDDEN BAKU
The interest from the younger generation towards urbanism has been growing. This trend is not an exception for Azerbaijan. This blog shares surprising facts about the capital city’s history, in a non-trivial manner. Looking at pictures in the project’s Instagram account, you almost want to go and become a treasure hunter! Here you can find Soviet constructivism, luxury of mansions from the oil boom period and industrial buildings. The blog is run by Aytaj Akbarly – architect in both his education and his calling.
SAVE ŞƏKI
The city of Sheki, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List, is a historic trade and crafts center. The Silk Road trade route passed through it. In the course of its 2500-year-long history, the city has seen many architectural treasures. One of those is the Shekhi Khans’ Palace, with its shebeke*. The blog is authored by Emil Abdullayev – he gets his readers acquainted with both the obvious sights and the peculiar buildings hidden in the intertwining narrow streets.
HIDDEN GANJA
The outlook of Azerbaijan’s second-largest city – Ganja – has changed several times in the course of its history, just like its name. There were different reasons for it – natural disasters, wars for conquest and internal political fights. Ganja used to be named Elizavetpol and Kirovabad. The city returned to its historic name only after 1991. Many colorful architectural monuments have appeared in the city over the past few centuries. The author of the Hidden Ganja blog Yilkin Memedzade shows them to us.
АRCHI HUNTER
Rufat Guliyev knows Baku from the inside out – he has been working in the city improvement sphere. In his blog, he never stops from using professional terms and revealing the city’s problems through the prism of restoration capabilities. Rufat not only shows architectural monuments, but also does research work. On his channel, you can find wholesome reports with investigative approach. Together with the author, we can solve the mysteries of Baku’s buildings, follow the path of street construction and embark on a nostalgic trip to see the lost architectural monuments.
LEYLA MUSAYEVA / IRSIMIZ
Leyla Musayeva is an independent photographer, illustrator and researcher of applied crafts. She shares the moments of her travels through Azerbaijan in her Instagram account. Leyla keenly sees the world around us and passionately transmits the cultural code which we live in. Not only palaces and natural landscapes can be seen in her photos, but also ordinary village houses. The author’s eye for details and everyday rituals is particularly notable. Leyla’s other project, studying and preserving the country’s traditional crafts, is also worthy of your attention.
