A VIVID EXAMPLE OF THE MODERNE REINTERPRETATION OF NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries that has historically stood out for its traditions of urban planning, architecture, and craftsmanship, while successfully harmonizing its cultural heritage with continuous development. Ancient urban models such as Icherisheher, exquisite architectural masterpieces like the Sheki Khan’s Palace, and an urban culture shaped over centuries demonstrate that Azerbaijani cities are not merely places of residence, but also carriers of our identity, history, and creative spirit. Today, this rich heritage is entering a new phase through modern technologies and innovative approaches—where the experience of the past converges with the possibilities of the future within the concept of “smart cities.”
In this context, the “Forum of Azerbaijani Engineers Living in Europe” has evolved beyond being simply a professional networking platform into an important space where national intellectual potential comes together. While the initiative initially aimed at “getting to know one another,” it has now developed into a dynamic organization that serves as a bridge of knowledge, experience, and technology between Europe and Azerbaijan. Each new edition of the Forum demonstrates the breadth and strength of Azerbaijan’s human capital, further reinforcing confidence in the future.

This year carries special significance. The hosting of the World Urban Forum 13 in Azerbaijan—a globally important event—along with the declaration of the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” in the country, clearly highlights one of the key directions of national development strategy. In this context, dedicating the Forum’s main theme to “Smart cities: their planning, construction, development, and the training of professional specialists in this field” reflects both alignment with global trends and sensitivity to national priorities.

Altay Rustamli, Chairman of the Board of the Alliance of Azerbaijanis in Germany, is the initiator and organizer of this Forum. According to him, interest in the Forum, which will be held for the third time this year, is steadily growing:
“This both makes us very happy and increases our sense of responsibility. In 2024, we started this journey in Berlin with a simple idea: ‘Who are our compatriots working as engineers in Europe? Let’s get to know each other.’ Today, our Forum is rapidly evolving into a large-scale organization that brings together hundreds of talented engineers, government institutions, universities, and private companies from both Europe and Azerbaijan. Seeing the extent of our potential at each Forum further strengthens our confidence in the future. This year is particularly significant due to Azerbaijan hosting one of the UN’s largest events, WUF13, and the declaration of the ‘Year of Urban Planning and Architecture’ by the President. In dedication to this important occasion, we have chosen the main theme of our Forum as ‘Smart cities: their planning, construction, development, and the training of professional specialists in this field.’ As you know, it has become a tradition to organize a scientific conference on the topic at one of Europe’s leading universities before the Forum, where we discuss the main theme from pedagogical and academic perspectives.”

Altay Rustamli stated that this year, on June 5, the conference titled “Smart Education in Smart City” will once again be held in the city of Cottbus, hosted by Brandenburg University of Technology with the support of the Fraunhofer Institute:
“At the conference, the esteemed rector and professors of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, will participate and inform their German colleagues about the work being carried out in Azerbaijan in the fields of building, planning, and developing smart cities, as well as about potential areas of cooperation with German universities. At the same time, the goals of the ‘Technology Transfer Centers’ initiative—aimed at bringing together industry and universities—by the Intellectual Property Agency will be presented, and the opinions and suggestions of German experts on this topic will be heard.

On June 6, at our main Forum to be held in the city of Hamburg, representatives of government institutions and private companies from Germany and Azerbaijan will discuss and present potential joint projects that they can implement in their respective fields together with Azerbaijani engineers working with German know-how. We would like to remind you that, as a result of the meetings held at last year’s Forum, two more of our members have started working in Azerbaijan. In short, we are continuing our preparations with full energy for a productive and dynamic Forum. We invite everyone to register and actively participate in discussions in the Forum’s WhatsApp group.”
This Forum covers not only technological innovations but also the preservation of national and cultural heritage and its integration into the modern urban environment. For example, during the reconstruction works carried out in Karabakh and East Zangezur, while implementing the “smart village” and “smart city” concepts, special attention is paid to preserving local architectural styles and traditional forms of living. This demonstrates that innovation and heritage are not contradictory; on the contrary, they complement each other.
This initiative by Azerbaijani engineers is a clear example not only of professional development but also of a modern reinterpretation of national and cultural heritage. Inspired by the rich urban planning traditions of the past, this dialogue strengthens Azerbaijan’s role in shaping the sustainable and smart cities of the future.

Chairman of the German-Azerbaijani Cultural House, Aga Aghayev,
Chairman of the Public Union Support to Journalists in Diaspora Activities, Fuad Huseynzadeh