Created by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, the highly anticipated Heydar Aliyev cultural center in Baku, Azerbaijan is nearly complete and set to open in September 2013. The project was started in 2007 with hopes of becoming a landmark and source of beauty for the city of Baku. The multipurpose building will house a library, museum, conference rooms, small galleries, and act as a hub for Azerbaijani culture.
The outer skin of the structure is made up of over 12,000 panels and not a single straight line is found on the curvilinear exterior. The form arises from the ground and reaches into the sky creating an iconic image from any vantage point. A series of glazed slits in the folds allow for natural light to flood the white interior spaces that wind throughout the building. The center has already been nominated for awards at the World Architecture Festival and the Biennial Inside Festival.
