This is a personal blog about documenting Baku’s decaying urban life and architecture of the past. The past that we are nostalgic and sentimental about, but we believe that it is worthy of protecting as a heritage.
Unfortunately, the material and financial drives of capitalism is much more stronger power. It is capable of erasing any traces of past to build in according to necessicites of the day. Another way to look at is that innovation is an important drive in any soviety to develop. Our past generation, who we value very much, did it for good or bad to achieve what we value very much. That is the sheer reality of any time.
But I refuse to accept this as the only path. We believe in a strong cultural conscience, a commitment to creating value beyond just the material. This is why we’re dedicating ourselves to a series of documentary photographs that capture the essence of Baku’s urban environment.
Through these photographs and surveys, I aim to:
Raise awareness about the importance of preserving Baku’s architectural heritage.
Spark conversations about the tension between progress and historical preservation.
Inspire action by engaging the community in safeguarding this irreplaceable legacy.
Join me on this journey to unveil Baku’s past and advocate for its future.
Gani Nasirov
Gani is based in Baku, Azerbaijan and is a tour guide and urban explorer about architecture, urban legends&stories, oil heritage, and food&wine.
He has published and featured in travel blogs and magazines, CNN Travel, Lonely Planet, BBC Travel, Visions of Azerbaijan, Experience Azerbaijan, and DestinAsian.
Reach out to me at gani.nasirov@gmail.com or on:
urban architecture blog by genii 