"A visually engaging and thoughtfully presented concept, with clear spatial organization and a strong central focal point."
-------- Review from Future Art & Design Award
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Project description
Serenity Square is a contemporary reinterpretation of the urban plaza, situated in the heart of Baku's bustling business district, Azerbaijan. The project emerged as the winning entry in a national architectural competition held by the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan, responding to the growing demand for accessible, healthy, and meaningful public spaces within the dense urban fabric.
Positioned between towering office blocks and government buildings, the site presented a challenge: how to create a space for rest, reflection, and human connection in a context shaped by speed, formality, and routine. The design introduces a sense of calm into the city’s rhythm, not by negating the energy around it, but by offering a contrasting pause. It is a plaza built around slowness, greenery, and sensory comfort.
A gentle interplay between soft organic pathways and structured seating modules defines the geometry of the square. A sunken central garden, surrounded by layered platforms, creates varying zones of activity from quiet, solitary contemplation to casual group interaction. Water elements and native plantings enhance the microclimate and act as passive cooling elements during Baku’s warmer seasons.