Comments on: Zira Island masterplan by BIG

By: SMALL

SMALL — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:58:01 +0000

Dear Helen-LG, I too have problems with the landscape derived building forms, and as an aspiring landscape architect, they hurt me deeply. They are conceptual one-liners and brutally gimmicky. BIG prefaces their form by noting that “As a young post-soviet democracy, Azerbaijan is rediscovering its national identity by imagining Zira Island as an architectural landscape based upon the country’s dramatic natural setting.” Deep in their hearts, does BIG truly think that this overly manufactured landscape is going to provide an emerging democracy with a positive, empowered national identity? Yes, Dubai is now known worldwide, but to what end? When I fly into Las Vegas, does my heart swell with pride for my country, and do tears of joy run down my face as I peer down upon my nation’s greatest spectacle? And lastly, how is this sustainable Disneyland going to age? The architecture is too fast, too cool, and too concerned with what it can accomplish at this exact moment in time.

By: SMALL

SMALL — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:40:54 +0000

Dear ALLSGOOD, you have called to attention one of my many problems with this project. However visionary, sleek and slimy the renderings may be, I sense that there is an exorbitant amount of fluff in this proposal. Massive liberties are taken with the use of the word sustainability. Will BIG be taking into account all the carbon released into the atmosphere by the construction of this new Epcot Center, and planting enough trees elsewhere (there is simply not enough space on the island) to negate this quantity? What are there plans for all the construction debris? Will it be left on site to erode over the next several thousand years, or will instead they be using mycological remediation techniques to speed things up? Also, mentioned discreetly in the proposal is that there is going to be a golf course in the middle of the island? When I hear the word sustainability, golf courses aren’t usually what comes to mind, but then again, neither are master plans that look as audacious and buildings as squeamishly synthetic (but they’re, like, mountains) as these.

By: Capt.Aslan

Capt.Aslan — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:40:54 +0000

I think this island will be a great casino center in this region.Oil and gas gettin us richy thanks oil,gas

By: ASphere

ASphere — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:38:37 +0000

will it be as Architects’ thought?
-the wind
-the sun
-an abstract of resources using

as many projects of many architects
that just always be architects’ thought
and never came true
?

By: ARRAQ

ARRAQ — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:43:14 +0000

Key,

If it’s built as planned, I’ll be happy

we have enough oil for this and other similar projects. However, I think this will be built with investor and not oil money – not sure. Does anybody know what the plans are?

it will not be an island of rich separating themselves from the poor. Not sure if you realsie, but the rest of Baku and the coutry are improving fast, too! Baku can hardly be called a city of poor, or a poor looking city. Not today, no.

I love the idea of this eco project and love the idea of mountians recreated in miniature on this island! Why not? better that than the barren polluted eyesore in the middle of the bay! And, answering Gus, it might require some traditional buidling and materials but once built, it will contribute into reduction of CO2 emissions. Imagine if those 10,000 people lived in a normal city, where same money is spent to build houses and amenities for them, but with traditional energy recources? There you go! Well done BIG and Azerbaijan. Now, please try to find the investors, to build it.

By: key

key — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:45:46 +0000

I would agree with jc….but use the oil that belonf to entire 8 mln nation for build zero energy ciy model for 10,000 people, luxury 300 villas for people who just want to separate themselfs from poors and unhappy people…is it excitig??? The initial cost of the poject is $4.5 bln I believe it will rise for time being…Tihs is the main social side of this project wich is by the way not so impressive…sorry for being too emotional

By: gc

gc — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:58:12 +0000

I agree with what jc said above. You can say what you will about the architectural elements of this project, but I think that the underlying social and ecological implications are much more important.

I applaud BIG for proposing something both beautiful and green for this island. Another designer would have proposed concrete cubes, coast line capital objects, zip line courses. I think that it’s, well, big of Bjarke to start to morph his practice in order to confront the new currents in our changing world.

By: yongyong

yongyong — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 06:32:01 +0000

Puiton!!! C’est bien!

By: jc

jc — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:27:01 +0000

amen boris. Yahoo Baku!!!!

Definitely has potential to work. This island and piece of coast is nothing but old soviet oil derricks and pollution. Anything is better than that, but let’s hope that the vision gets played out as designed. All or nothing, otherwise it will just be another pile of concrete.

Fast arguments and breezy diagrams aside, it has the potential to propel one of the last countries to flout their wealth of oil reserves into the realm of intelligent energy production. Use the oil to build a zero energy model city that can be an inspiration not only for the rest of the countries on the caspian sea, but the rest of the oil consuming world who has already spent their surpluses on antiquated infrastructures. Azerbaijan has the potential to turn their oil into wind power that will slingshot their country past any western nation that is so rocked by the current crisis that they are unable to keep their banks lending, much less divest from deleterious dependencies.

Again, yahoo Baku.

By: Boris Abdul

Boris Abdul — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:42:44 +0000

Generally speaking,exelent and talented design ! It seems to be incongruous,but not for azeri ’s living in Baku . We are see unsightly buildings in Baku every day.This project by BIG has hope,courage and endless.Magnificent !