Zangilan Master Plan Centers On 'City Within Nature' Concept - Dunja Kovari

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21. The main idea behind Zangilan's Master Plan was to ensure that trees, having grown and matured over the past three decades, remain an integral part of the urban environment, with development carefully integrated into nature, Dunja Kovari, founding partner of the Urban Planning and Planning Agency, made the remarks during a session titled “Rebuilding Urbanism: How It Created an Innovation Laboratory for Urban Transformation in Azerbaijan,” held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), Trend reports.

According to Kovari, this is why a large share of Zangilan's trees is being preserved.

“The city's planning is based on 'cool air corridors.' We continue building on this heritage through a contextual urban regeneration approach,” she said.

Kovari noted that a large part of Karabakh and the East Zangazur region is located in mountainous terrain, an environment in which the Swiss agency feels particularly comfortable operating.

“That is why high-altitude planning became one of the key directions of the reconstruction process,” she said.

She added that Kalbajar was known during the Soviet era for its hot springs, and the current Master Plan builds on that strong and long-standing tradition.

“We introduced a new typology - Alpine typology. What is important, however, is that the Alpine residential model is integrated in balance with nature and the mountains, together creating a unified environment that, in our view, makes Kalbajar unique,” Kovari said.

She also stressed that sustainable mobility solutions are critically important for Baku's transformation.

“Currently, the main focus is on transforming public spaces from car-centered areas into open spaces designed for people - as you can see here in Baku's 28 May Square,” she said.

“No matter how often we say it, ultimately we are planning for people. That is why Baku Central Park, as well as the planning and development of green spaces across the city, are just as important for the capital as they are for the territories undergoing reconstruction,” Kovari added.

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