Baku Homes has been designed as a model sustainable urban form, combining home, work, commerce and leisure
in Baku, Azerbaijan. The development provides 40,000 m2 commercial space and 260,000 m2 of residential space,
with a range of housing sizes for people on all incomes. The scheme includes individual villas, as well as apartments
accomodated within six to twelve-storey blocks.
The masterplan is structured around an urban courtyard model with varied building plots. The grid layout and the
strong green central axis make it easy for visitors to find their way around and allow for good sightlines. The layout
of the site responds to the sun’s path so that the buildings benefit from the daylight as much as possible while
ensuring that every flat in the scheme benefits from views. The orientation of the residential blocks optimises
direct solar exposure, daylight availability and creates opportunities for comfortable balconies, terraces and
gardens.
The scheme develops relationships between private and public external spaces, providing a new model for outside-inside life with interior rooftop spaces, internal courtyards and large semi-public communal gardens. Internally, the
buildings enclose a forested courtyard that offers a quiet retreat.