Nizami Street

The street also accommodates the embassies of Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and Austria, as well as the European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan.

New caravanserais were being constructed along the northern part of fortress walls, each of which occupied a whole quarter, trading rows and stores.

[6] According to the group, construction of new highways, beginning from Icheri Sheher fortress in all directions, was the focus of their urban planning.

The late 19th century was characterized by rapid economic development of the city and the second massive influx of people from other governorates of the Russian Empire, the reason of which was the incorporation of new oil wells in the Absheron Peninsula.

A great number of buildings on this storied street were constructed by oil magnates such as Musa Naghiyev, Shamsi Asadullayev and Murtuza Mukhtarov, and designed by prominent architects such as N.A.von der Nonne, M.Gafar Ismayilov, A.Hajibababeyov, K.B.Surkevich, J.V.Goslavski, Józef Plośko, Zivar bey Ahmadbeyov, E.Edel and G.Termikelov.

[12] In 1896, a three-storeyed apartment house (Nizami 79) was built on the corner of Prachechnaya Street (later Gogol, now Mardanov Qardashlari Street) by architect I.V.Edel, by the order of oil magnate Murtuza Mukhtarov and in 1910, a new storey was added to it by architect Jozef Ploshko and it obtained a half-circled concept of a façade and a circled concept of a cupola.

[13] Millionaire Haji Rajabli's house, now “Vatan” cinema (Nizami 75,77) was constructed on the left side of Torgovaya, between Mariinskaya and Prachechnaya Streets.

On the opposite side was a building possessed by Mirza Taghiyev, a merchant from Shamakhi, where was located a popular shop of German confectioner Zeitz.

In 1911, an operetta building, where the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is located (Nizami 95), was constructed on the other corner of the crossroads by the order of industrialist Mayilov and by the project of G. Termikelov and N. Bayev.

In 1912, on the other side of the crossroad with Mariinskaya Street, a four-storeyed apartment house (Nizami 50) was constructed by the project of architects G.Termikelov and Haji Gasimov, by the order of Taghiyev brothers.

Namely, according to this plan, residential houses were being constructed in the architecture of which are used elements of constructivism, in the territory of the State Bank right up to intersection with Richard Sorge Street.

[20] The architecture of the street reflects a synthesis of various styles and directions, which is because, the intensive construction and building was realized in three main levels: late 19th-early 20th century, 1950s–1970s and a modern period.

According to art critics H.F.Mammadov, architectural style of constructivism was shown fully and manifold almost in Baku in the whole USSR, where it was used for giving the city a new character.

Development scheme of Baku in 1854–1918
Torgovaya in the beginning of the 20th century
Gubernskaya Street in 1913 and Rothschilds' office building (right), (Nizami 20)
Building of opera in 1914
Torgovaya (corner of Gogol Street) in 1930
Torgovaya in the present day