British urban planner shares impressions of Shusha’s transformation
Baku, August 27, AZERTAC
Marcelina Zielinska, a board member of Chapman Taylor, an international architecture and master planning practice, has shared her impressions of her latest visit to Garabagh.
In a post on LinkedIn, she wrote that Chapman Taylor specialists, together with representatives of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, reviewed the progress of projects being implemented in Shusha. Her post highlighted the results of the city’s ongoing restoration and development, as well as the phased implementation of the urban planning solutions envisaged in its Master Plan.
Zielinska paid particular attention to the new life taking shape in one of Shusha’s first residential neighborhoods. Families have already settled there, while new businesses, including a supermarket, a pharmacy and two beauty salons, have opened.
“Seeing the neighborhood come to life is a powerful reminder of the impact that thoughtful planning and design can have on a community,” Zielinska wrote.
The post also highlighted Garabagh Street, which is becoming one of Shusha’s key public and commercial spaces. According to Zielinska, the implementation of the concept developed for the street is nearing completion. Although not all retail premises are yet occupied, the street is already vibrant, filled with light and pedestrians.
The façades and street surface are finished in natural local stone, while the street itself has been designed as a shared space for vehicles and pedestrians. This approach contributes to the creation of a more comfortable, safe and people-centred urban environment.
These projects form part of Shusha’s comprehensive urban development. The city’s Master Plan to 2040 was prepared at the request of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture by Chapman Taylor in collaboration with the Baku State Design Institute and approved by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers in 2024.
Covering an area of 506 hectares, the Master Plan provides for the preservation of Shusha’s historical and architectural identity and its unique natural landscape, alongside the implementation of contemporary urban planning solutions. One of its key approaches is the “15-minute city” concept, which enables residents to meet their everyday needs close to home.
The Master Plan also identifies modern transport solutions, high-quality public spaces and environmental infrastructure as key areas of development. The results of these approaches are already visible in the urban environment. Shusha now boasts a fully electric public transport system, an underground waste collection network and an advanced recycling scheme with four types of containers, helping to keep its streets clean and pleasant.
The British urban planner’s post demonstrates how the solutions envisaged in the Master Plan are already taking shape in the city. While preserving its historic character and architectural identity, Shusha is developing as a modern, comfortable and sustainable city, with life returning to its restored neighborhoods.
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