Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has been selected to design the masterplan for Baku Expo City, a 198-hectare urban development adjacent to the existing Baku Expo Centre.

The project responds to Baku’s population growth over the past decade by delivering a range of housing, spanning one-bedroom flats to large family residences. The walkable district combines residential units with essential community infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, local shops, medical clinics, sports clubs, cultural venues and public parks.

The masterplan arranges interconnected neighbourhoods within pine forests, featuring nature corridors and tree-lined boulevards connected by cycle paths and footpaths. At the core of the development lies a public square lined with cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities. This central hub will serve residents as well as visitors attending the planned Baku Expo Centre extension and Congress Hall, which are both embedded in the scheme. A new hotel will also accommodate conference delegates and travellers from the nearby international airport.

The design directly responds to Baku’s unique climate, specifically the cold winter Khazri wind from the Caspian Sea and the warm, humid summer Gilavar wind from the Iranian plateau. Through detailed pedestrian wind comfort analysis, the layout positions buildings to act as barriers, deflecting ground-level winds to create sheltered outdoor spaces for year-round public use.

Furthermore, the design preserves 92% of the 18,000 existing trees on the site to support natural cooling, microclimate regulation and wind buffering. A forestry management scheme will oversee the canopy, alongside a replanting initiative to strengthen natural shelter.

New buildings will feature green roof systems to lower cooling energy demand, assist with stormwater management through rainwater harvesting, and reduce the urban heat island effect. The development incorporates passive design, low-carbon materials, renewable solar and wind energy, and water management systems.

In line with Baku’s 2030 transport strategy, the development connects to the capital and airport via public transport links, including the upgraded Bakikhanov–Bina–Gala rail line.