Government House, Baku
Encyclopedia
The Government House of Baku, also known as House of Government, is a government building housing various state ministries
of Azerbaijan
. It is located on Neftchiler Avenue
and faces the Baku Boulevard
. The rear side of the building faces busy Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street of central Baku. Government House was designed for 5,500 people.
. In 1934, the Soviet authorities announced a tender for construction of Baku Soviet Palace (later renamed to Government House). The competition was won by well known architects Lev Rudnev
, V.O. Munts and K. Tkachenko (participant). With some alterations to the project, the building of the Government House was built in 1936 - 1952. Construction of this building led to construction of Lenin Square (later renamed to Azadliq Square
) in front of the Government House. In 1955, a monument to Vladimir Lenin
facing Azadliq Square and sculped by D.M. Garyaghdi was installed in front of the building. In addition to this, a large complex of buildings around the Government House was built in 1960 - 1970s which included hotels "Azerbaijan" and "Absheron", 16-story buildings on Uzeyir Hajibeyov street, building of Azərpoçt
. Lenin's statue was later removed during the Azerbaijani independence movement in the aftermath of bloody Black January
and Lenin square was renamed Azadliq Square (Freedom Square).
, Ministry of Agriculture and Produce, State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources, State Committee for Hydrometeorology, State Committee for Material Resources, State Committee for Improvements of Soil and Water Economy.
In 2006, the government of Azerbaijan started renovation works of the building and completed the project in 2010. $40.8 million Azerbaijani manat
s were spent for reconstruction and enrichment of the park surrounding the building. Being in the center of Baku, the Government House is among the mostly visited tourist attractions of Azerbaijan.
Currently, several ministries including Ministry of Culture and Tourism
, Ministry of Agriculture
, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population
, State Procurement Agency (Azerbaijan)
and Copyright Agency (Azerbaijan) of Azerbaijan Republic occupy the building offices.
Cabinet of Azerbaijan
The Cabinet of Azerbaijan is the chief executive body of the Republic of Azerbaijan.-The Executive Power:The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state....
of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. It is located on Neftchiler Avenue
Neftchiler Avenue
Neftchiler Avenue is an arterial road in Baku, Azerbaijan. It begins at the west end of the Bayil district of Baku and continues east until terminating at Javanshir Bridge intersecting Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street....
and faces the Baku Boulevard
Baku Boulevard
Baku Boulevard is a promenade that runs parallel to Baku's seafront. Its history goes back more than 100 years, to a time when Baku oil barons built their mansions along the Caspian shore and when the seafront was artificially built up inch by inch.-Location:...
. The rear side of the building faces busy Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street of central Baku. Government House was designed for 5,500 people.
History of the building
In 1924 - 1927, construction of several big government building was planned in the budget of BakuBaku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. In 1934, the Soviet authorities announced a tender for construction of Baku Soviet Palace (later renamed to Government House). The competition was won by well known architects Lev Rudnev
Lev Rudnev
Lev Vladimirovich Rudnev was a Soviet architect, and a leading practitioner of Stalinist architecture.-Biography:Rudnev was born to the family of a school teacher in the town of Opochka . He graduated from the Riga Realschule and entered the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg...
, V.O. Munts and K. Tkachenko (participant). With some alterations to the project, the building of the Government House was built in 1936 - 1952. Construction of this building led to construction of Lenin Square (later renamed to Azadliq Square
Freedom Square, Baku
Azadliq Square , in Baku is the biggest city-centre square in Azerbaijan. It lies next to Baku Boulevard.-History:The square, then named after Vladimir Lenin, was laid in 1960–70s, after construction of the Government House of Baku was finished in 1952 and monument to Lenin was erected in front of...
) in front of the Government House. In 1955, a monument to Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
facing Azadliq Square and sculped by D.M. Garyaghdi was installed in front of the building. In addition to this, a large complex of buildings around the Government House was built in 1960 - 1970s which included hotels "Azerbaijan" and "Absheron", 16-story buildings on Uzeyir Hajibeyov street, building of Azərpoçt
Azərpoçt
Azərpoçt is the company responsible for postal service in Azerbaijan.Azərpoçt was founded on September 23, 1999 by the Ministry of Communication of Azerbaijan, by order "Number 151" titled "On continuation of reforms and improvement of a structure in post communication field"...
. Lenin's statue was later removed during the Azerbaijani independence movement in the aftermath of bloody Black January
Black January
Black January , also known as Black Saturday or the January Massacre, was a violent crackdown of the Azerbaijani independence movement in Baku on January 19–20, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
and Lenin square was renamed Azadliq Square (Freedom Square).
After independence
The building housed many organizations and business firms after restoration of Azerbaijani independence in 1991. After complete renovation of the building, all business firms were moved to other locations in the city and the offices were provided to governmental organizations. Among them, State Committee for Ecology and Environmental ProtectionMinistry of Ecology and Natural Resources (Azerbaijan)
The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulation of the activities in the country relating to ecology, environmental protection and use of natural resources of Azerbaijan...
, Ministry of Agriculture and Produce, State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources, State Committee for Hydrometeorology, State Committee for Material Resources, State Committee for Improvements of Soil and Water Economy.
In 2006, the government of Azerbaijan started renovation works of the building and completed the project in 2010. $40.8 million Azerbaijani manat
Azerbaijani manat
The Manat is the currency of Azerbaijan. It is subdivided into 100 qəpik. The word manat is borrowed from "moneta" which is pronounced as "maneta"...
s were spent for reconstruction and enrichment of the park surrounding the building. Being in the center of Baku, the Government House is among the mostly visited tourist attractions of Azerbaijan.
Currently, several ministries including Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Azerbaijan)
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Republic is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulation of the activities in and development of tourism in Azerbaijan and promotion of Azerbaijani culture...
, Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture (Azerbaijan)
The Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan is an Azerbaijani governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulation of the economic activity in the agricultural sector of the country with a purpose of increasing the sector's production capacity. Agriculture is Azerbaijan's...
, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population
Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population (Azerbaijan)
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of Azerbaijan Republic is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulating the labor markets and ensuring social protection of the population of Azerbaijan...
, State Procurement Agency (Azerbaijan)
State Procurement Agency (Azerbaijan)
The State Procurement Agency of Azerbaijan Republic is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulation of activities related to procurement of goods purchased by state funds in Azerbaijan Republic...
and Copyright Agency (Azerbaijan) of Azerbaijan Republic occupy the building offices.