Photo Credit: B&W Studio

Baku, Azerbaijan

Since completing construction in 2012, the Heydar Aliyev Centre stands as a symbol of Baku’s shift in culture: a culmination of decades of investment into the modernisation and development of the city’s infrastructure and architecture, departing from its legacy of normative Soviet Modernism.

Rising from the earth, punctuating the area’s natural topography, the structures’ flowing organic forms draw inspiration from historical Islamic architecture and was designed as a contemporary reinterpretation of the style. These forms are imbued with a fluid futuristic twist, notably omitting any stylistic references to the rigid Soviet architecture that occupies much of the city’s skyline.

It was the rise of a new government in Azerbaijan that ultimately resulted in the conception of the Heydar Aliyev Centre in the nation’s capital. Intending to distance from its Soviet past, the Centre was devised as the primary building for the nation’s cultural programs, comprising of a museum, conference hall, library and sculpted parkland, symbolising an aspiration for a more prosperous future grounded in the sensibility of Azeri culture.

Photo Credit: Serhat Yilmaz

Design Concept

Upon winning the competition to design the Centre in 2007, renowned Zaha Hadid Architects were appointed as the design architects for this major venue and landmark building for Baku. A 90,071m² site was chosen as the location for the Centre which had previously housed the Levinson factory – an engineering plant that manufactured oil extraction machinery from the 1850’s up to the country’s independence in 1991. Such a choice of location was fitting considering Baku’s history in the oil industry, becoming the world’s first oil town in the 1840’s and growing into an industrialised, cosmopolitan metropolis following the oil boom of the early 1900’s.

Typical of Hadid’s style, the Heydar Aliyev Centre’s design consists of flowing organic shapes – a stark contrast to the formulaic, authoritarian Soviet Modernist structures of the surrounding area and associated regime that the nation was trying to distance itself from. By delving deeper into the country’s rich history, the architects sourced inspiration from the flowing styles of historical Islamic architecture, establishing a continuous, fluid relationship between the building’s interior and surrounding plaza.

The homogenous nature of the building’s skin proved a challenging aspect of the project’s design, and which required a forward-thinking approach using rationalised panel designs for construction efficiency and aesthetic continuity. Seams were incorporated between these panels to reconcile the complex geometry of the building, forming a sense of rhythm across the skin’s fluid surface whilst making the construction process more manageable.

Photo Credit: Mikhail Nilov

Structural Systems

Conveying a deceptive sense of effortlessness, the undulating, monolithic form of the Heydar Aliyev Centre was only made possible by the complex underlying network of structural systems that were implemented throughout the design.

To provide overall structural stability, a concrete framework was constructed that included shear walls and vertical cores intended to distribute loads and resist the lateral forces of wind loads and potential earthquakes. This framework was installed in conjunction with a steel space frame system which used a three-dimensional grid of steel beams, enabling the formation of large column-free spaces throughout the structure with vertical structural elements absorbed by the building’s envelope and curtain wall, creating an open, fluid interior.

Further measures needed to be implemented throughout the structural support system to account for the earthquake-prone geography of Baku. Deep underground concrete support pillars measuring 150ft in length were used to reinforce the immense structure, designed to withstand up to 7.0 magnitude earthquakes. In addition to this, fixed and sliding supports were installed, allowing for controlled movement and preventing excessive stress caused by seismic activity.

Photo Credit: Sultan Jafarov

Cladding Materials

Zaha Hadid’s signature style is on full display in the design of the Heydar Aliyev Centre: a complex, flowing monolithic form requiring innovative materials and advanced construction techniques in its’ execution. Like in many of the architect’s extensive range of projects, Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) was used to achieve this unique vision.

A cladding system, consisting of approximately 10,000m² of GRC panels and 40,000m² of GRP panels, was implemented to achieve the smooth, homogenous appearance of the building’s curvilinear surface that smoothly transitions from the plaza surface into its’ continuous volume. Each panel was uniquely designed and manufactured to spec, leveraging GRC’s flexibility and plasticity in forming elements of both single and double-curved geometries. The visible seams between each of these panels were deliberately aligned to run parallel to one another, emphasising the wavelike motion of the building’s surface.

Manufacturers, Arabian Profile, were responsible for the production of the GRC and GRP panels, fabricating up to 70 unique GRP panels a day at the height of production. To expedite installation, an innovative system was implemented during the manufacturing process, integrating an identification chip into each panel containing all information relating to that specific element.

The functional benefits of using GRC elements in this project were numerous. The panels demonstrate remarkable UV resistance and light reflectivity, moreover they remain impervious to the air pollution caused by the oil refineries in the proximate vicinity. If maintenance is required, the elements are easy to clean and manage whilst their lightweight and modular nature enables swift repairs or replacements.

Photo Credit: Tamikazizov

Conclusion

Likely one of Zaha Hadid’s most significant works, the Heydar Aliyev Centre resonates as a remarkable feat of architecture which has cemented itself into the cultural landscape of Baku, symbolising the city’s aspirations of a prosperous future.

It was the implementation of innovative materials and advanced construction techniques that made the distinct, free-flowing curvilinear style of the structure possible – notably the incorporation of GRC into the building’s complex cladding system. Such a material gave the architects complete freedom in design, enabling the exploration of avant-garde shapes and forms in immense proportions.

We can supply all the equipment and materials required to manufacture such advanced GRC elements. For over 50 years we’ve worked in the GRC industry and have collaborated with leading manufacturers on some of the world’s most impressive GRC projects. If you’re interested in learning more about our products and services, click the links below or get in touch.