Zaha Hadid, the architect of Glasgow’s Riverside Transport Museum has just been in Azerbaijan to see the opening of what us arguably one of the most astonishing structures ever built – the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre in Baku, the country’s capital.
Anyone who is interested in architecture and in public buildings will get a blast from finding out about this one.
The Heydar Aliyev has been finished for some time but has only just been opened. In the meantime its white interior has been polished and dusted daily by an army of cleaners.
Baku is making strategic use of unique public buildings to kick start a tourism economy.
This building defies the logic of normal construction. It is full of curves, sweeps, vast unsupported spaces and surprises, an unforgettable tour de force.
Reckoned to be Hadid’s most stunning building yet – and its got some serious competition – the Heydar Aliyev has sent us off to flight routes to see which airlines fliy from the UK to Baku.
Do some googling and see what you think.