00:00I believe that human-centred urban design is absolutely essential.
00:05At all times, we need to remember that cities are made for people, not people for cities.
00:15New Baku, Master Plan 2040.
00:19Ambitious plan set by the government to turn Baku into an unforgettable adventure.
00:25It's where comfort meets sustainability, modernity couples with tradition, and culture embraces harmony.
00:34They're trying to create such kind of opportunities for the local businesses for establishing certain type of the businesses all
00:41across Baku.
00:42Specifically, such kind of the places sometimes called the third places, because one place is a house, second place is
00:49a work, but the people need a third place.
00:51And this is, we're talking about a certain type of the social houses, we're talking about cafes, we're talking about
00:57cafeterias, we're talking about the restaurants.
00:59There are distinctive areas of intended changes.
01:03Polycentric urban development, a modernized economic structure, and creation of new growth strands.
01:08The polycentric city is a city with several cores, which are well-developed, both economically and from a population standpoint,
01:18connected with each other with well-developed transport issues,
01:21and giving the population the opportunity to get all the services amenities within 15 minutes.
01:28From employment and infrastructure to economic growth, Azerbaijan already has firm economic foundations generated from traditional industry.
01:37But a new urban economy will open up new finance streams.
01:41What's a new district? The new district is a new possibility, the access to the real estate.
01:46And Baku White City is a good example of that.
01:49If we see how very well-established locations give an accessibility to the cafes, stores, and generally small, medium enterprises.
02:01Integrating a green approach is a priority for the future of the city to ensure sustainability and quality protects natural
02:09environments, old and new.
02:11So one of the projects that we have been involved in is something called the Green Corridor, which is linking
02:16one park to other parts of the city through one full pedestrian green area.
02:22These parks are going to become the new highways of cities.
02:26It's really going to change the aspect of people in terms of how homes are built, how business is going
02:31to be done,
02:32because all of a sudden, all of your catchment area is going to be within this green network linking the
02:37cities.
02:40Being known worldwide for its cultural heritage is a huge advantage for the capital,
02:46with its stunning architectural designs reflecting its rich past and visions of the future.
02:53So, Fuad, tell me about the mix between the traditional and the new.
03:00Well, in fact, what we did right now, we haven't just walked through the wall.
03:04We walked through the border between Asia and Europe.
03:09And when people ask me, is Baku Europe or Asia, my answer is never clear.
03:13It's French. It's like Sadepon.
03:14When you're inside, you're in Asia.
03:16When you're outside, you're in Europe.
03:19And the border is a cleavage in between them.
03:22But it's these two elements of East and West, Orient and Occident,
03:26that really shape the identity of Baku and its residents.
03:33It's not that this city is better than the other one, or worse than the other one.
03:37I'm not putting any city above or below.
03:39It's just having the city that is recognizable.
03:43The Master Plan 2040 has several key objectives,
03:47integrating as many elements of urban planning as possible.
03:50The best marker of the well-developed area is an ability of its inhabitants to meet all their essential needs
03:59locally.
04:00Nowadays, we all agree that time is the most precious currency.
04:05New Baku allows to use time in a smarter way to achieve a better result and higher profit.
04:12It also means lower rental costs, less pressure in the survival game and being closer to the target audience.
04:21In the next several years, there will be a number of multi-billion projects realized,
04:27already started being realized in Baku, outside of city center and the historic city center.
04:33And this will also make Baku more interesting, not only from the city center point of view,
04:38but also will support the polycentric idea of the city.
04:42The Master Plan has years to realize its transformative aspirations,
04:47to retain the old beauty and intelligently blend in the new.
04:51So, by 2040, it's likely that we really will be seeing a very new Baku.
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